The Crotchety Old Man

Category: Tropical Fish

  • My Perfect Tank

    I’ve had some gorgeous aquariums in the past 60 years or so. The aquarium of my dreams is densely planted and chocked full of fish. Thanks in no small part to AI, I (finally) accepted too many fish create tons of problems. For the densely planted part, I start with the grower’s choice assortment of…

  • Fishing with AI

    The AI mode for searches has turned up lots of useful tips for my aquarium. The fish are much healthier. Blackbeard algae is less likely to be a problem too. “Preventing Blackbeard algae” was my first AI search. Overcrowding–my middle name–is a primary cause. The tank of my dreams is chock-full of colorful fish. Unfortunately,…

  • Starting Over, Part 2

    Earlier this month, I shared about losing the war with Blackbeard algae in my aquarium. Since that post, I’ve restocked the plants and added a few fish. To make the tank less attractive to BBA, I’ve reduced the number of hours the light is on every day and cut back on food. Aquarium Plants Factory…

  • Starting Over

    Blackbeard Algae finally won the war in my aquarium. The outcome was inevitable. My choices created the ideal environment for the nasty stuff to thrive. Removing infected plants, washing equipment with peroxide, and replacing at least a fourth of the water every week kept the algae at bay for about three years. I knew it…

  • Guppy Population Explosion

    I added three pairs of red cobra guppies to my 29-gallon tank in May 2023. The original fish are gone, but lots of their offspring have survived and gone on to produce offspring of their own. The newest batch of babies is likely the fourth or fifth generation. The blurry photos are the best I…

  • Winning…So Far

    Blackbeard Algae (BBA) is a nasty aquarium pest with no redeeming qualities. Few scavengers eat it and none in sufficient quantity to make a difference. Unlike other algae, UV filters don’t kill the spores. Getting rid of it is next to impossible. There are several prevention strategies. Keeping the light on less would solve the…

  • Big Momma Molly

    My love for black mollies started in grade school when I had to read aloud a short article about them. The accompanying picture of a sail-fin molly is etched in my memory. I’ve wanted the hard-to-find fish ever since. Last year, I finally had the opportunity to order two pairs. I’d registered to be notified…

  • My Aquatic Garden

    My Aquatic Garden

    The aquarium runneth over with plants. Earlier this year, I ordered a grower’s choice selection of six varieties. USPS lost the package and customer service didn’t respond, so I ordered from another place. I ended up with the original order, the second order, and a replacement for the first order. All three packages included a…

  • Fish Keeping, My Way

    An employee at a local pet store often shares pictures of her pristine aquariums. They are lovely. She has three rules for success: No livebearers, no live plants, and no lights when she’s not looking at the tank. I’m happy for her, but no thanks. I’ve loved livebearers since grade school–especially guppies and mollies. Even…

  • Guppy Rebound

    At long last, my dream of a guppy tank is coming true. After months with no guppy babies, a few finally appeared. I watched in horror as the surviving platy adolescents hunted them down and ate them. Three hours later, my 29-gallon tank was finally platy-free. The last eight brought the total removed to more…