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Say those two words and anyone in my family will know what you're talking about. 'The tank' is, and has been for many years, an old 100g slate bottom tank.
It has been in my family for many years....starting with my Grandpa who kept large South American cichlids. My Grandpa had it for years before giving it to my Dad. Dad is an Oscar man. He had some of the biggest Oscars I have ever seen when I was growing up. Teaching them to do tricks was one of his specialties....twirl your finder in front of the tank, and Oscar would roll over....dangle a goldfish 6 inches above the water, and Oscar would jump out and snatch it. Play with a toy boat in the tank with your little pinky sticking out, and Oscar would jump out after that too.
Dad had a few Oscars over the years that he had the tank. One day, he passed it on to me.
I'm an African Cichlid kind of guy....I like colors and contrast. Which is what brought me to HFB.
Back to 'The tank'....as I said, it's an old slate bottom, and at 100g, it's one of the biggest I have ever seen. There's what looks like an arched crack along the bottom close to the middle of the tank. But it has never leaked....there. Leaks....yes it does.
But only after you completly tear it down and let it dry out. Has been this way for as long as I can remember. Clean her up, and fill her up....then get the buckets out. Leaks for 2 days after each cleaning....then stops.
Only thing we can figure is the slate shrinks when dry then swells when wet....just takes it a couple days to absorb the water and swell. It's been resealed a few times over the years....most resently by me about 4 years ago. The trim is this cool stainless, another thing you don't see these day. But it has it's share of scratches. I'm thinking of buffing them out since I have it tore down right now. I also have the original stainless hoods....although the lights were replaced long ago. Was no fun sticking your finger in the water when the old lights were still installed. A nice 'ZAP' would remind you to adjust the bubbles and light. The glass of couse has it's scratches....wish there was a way to polish it out....installing new glass is imppossible without having to bend the trim. Then you have to deal with the black tar substance that holds it together. Even with all it's faults, I love this tank. Wouldn't trade it for anything!!!!
The piece of holey rock sitting in the tank is just as old....
well, we know it's 'old', but I mean it's been with the tank from day one. Actually, it sat in my Grandma's flower garden until the tank came home with Pawpaw that fateful day. It use to be a bit bigger....but, washing it one day as a youngster I let it slip when flipping it over and a nice chunk broke off. I still have no idea what happened to the piece, been lost for years.
So there you have it....call it sharing or call it bragging....I call it both.
It has been in my family for many years....starting with my Grandpa who kept large South American cichlids. My Grandpa had it for years before giving it to my Dad. Dad is an Oscar man. He had some of the biggest Oscars I have ever seen when I was growing up. Teaching them to do tricks was one of his specialties....twirl your finder in front of the tank, and Oscar would roll over....dangle a goldfish 6 inches above the water, and Oscar would jump out and snatch it. Play with a toy boat in the tank with your little pinky sticking out, and Oscar would jump out after that too.
Dad had a few Oscars over the years that he had the tank. One day, he passed it on to me. I'm an African Cichlid kind of guy....I like colors and contrast. Which is what brought me to HFB.Back to 'The tank'....as I said, it's an old slate bottom, and at 100g, it's one of the biggest I have ever seen. There's what looks like an arched crack along the bottom close to the middle of the tank. But it has never leaked....there. Leaks....yes it does.
But only after you completly tear it down and let it dry out. Has been this way for as long as I can remember. Clean her up, and fill her up....then get the buckets out. Leaks for 2 days after each cleaning....then stops.
Only thing we can figure is the slate shrinks when dry then swells when wet....just takes it a couple days to absorb the water and swell. It's been resealed a few times over the years....most resently by me about 4 years ago. The trim is this cool stainless, another thing you don't see these day. But it has it's share of scratches. I'm thinking of buffing them out since I have it tore down right now. I also have the original stainless hoods....although the lights were replaced long ago. Was no fun sticking your finger in the water when the old lights were still installed. A nice 'ZAP' would remind you to adjust the bubbles and light. The glass of couse has it's scratches....wish there was a way to polish it out....installing new glass is imppossible without having to bend the trim. Then you have to deal with the black tar substance that holds it together. Even with all it's faults, I love this tank. Wouldn't trade it for anything!!!! The piece of holey rock sitting in the tank is just as old....
well, we know it's 'old', but I mean it's been with the tank from day one. Actually, it sat in my Grandma's flower garden until the tank came home with Pawpaw that fateful day. It use to be a bit bigger....but, washing it one day as a youngster I let it slip when flipping it over and a nice chunk broke off. I still have no idea what happened to the piece, been lost for years.
So there you have it....call it sharing or call it bragging....I call it both.
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