Howdy From Montana!

Sky King

New Member
Jan 26, 2019
19
6
3
Billings, MT
1st lesson, 1965 on MN ranch,
1 gal. bowl doing well until we drove to KS for Xmas. Returned a week later, found dead fantail goldfish in middle of bowl. Hired man saved time, dumped all fish food at once.

2nd: 1978 Gladstone, ND.
20L, brown tap water from coal seam smell of petrol, UG filter, fluorescent light, plastic plants. Neons, dwarf frogs, pleco, etc, thrived.

3rd: 1980 Mpls, MN.
Roommate's 55 gal. breeding pair Oscars, Dempsey, Salvini, Tire Track Eel & Pleco.

4th: 1981 Silver Arowana out grew
20L-55-130 gal. tanks, so...

5th: 1982 bought small existing tropical fish and aquarium store.

6th: 1983 bought illegal (unaware at time of purchase) Green Asian Arowana. Became first jumper when crude 2' high plywood extension was added over 130 gal.

7th: 1986 built 4' high "jumping hood" for Sky King, a perfect 12" silver arowana traded in by Tor, a loyal fish customer from Norway. Sky King became a star eventually having a greater vertical than Michael Jordan. He was so popular with customers we had to charge $1 every time he jumped.

8th: 1992 sold store.

9th: 1996 sold all big fish but kept 130 gal. with red flint gravel, heater, HOB filter, 3 fluorescent lights, all remaining live plants, a few White Clouds and a couple Corys. I was burned out on hobby so began severely neglecting the tank. Very few water changes, almost no feeding. To my surprise the plants flourished and baby White Clouds began to appear like slivers of glass at first eventually growing into adults.

10th: 2000 moved to Billings, MT, gave 130 gal. to my old roommate who had the Oscars, now living in Lewistown, MT, gave plants and White Clouds to my brother's girlfriend for her 55 gal.

11th: 10/4/2018 4.5 gal. fish bowl.
After watching an excellent YouTube video, (probably been posted to this forum), on a Walstad type set-up in a large bowl by Foo Flowerhorn hashtagged/titled;
"No filter, No CO2, No ferts!"
I decided to get back in the hobby. I'm satisfied with the results but feel it can be improved with help from this forum. I'll post details, progress, pics & solicit help in my journal.

Sorry for the long introduction. If there are any questions regarding my above-described experiences I will do my best to answer them.

Very truly yours,
Pete.
 

Sky King

New Member
Jan 26, 2019
19
6
3
Billings, MT
Thanks Phishless,
Been checking out various journals to get ideas for mine.
Really enjoyed your recent 80 gallon entry. Very clear and informative, sets the standard for journals.
 
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Greggz

Lifetime Members
Lifetime Member
Jan 6, 2016
450
591
93
Nice introduction.

Looks like a very interesting path took you here.

Good luck and remember.....pics or it didn't happen!:D
 
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Sky King

New Member
Jan 26, 2019
19
6
3
Billings, MT
Thanks Greggz,
I do have a few 20th century aquarium pics that I will eventually post, but after an 18 year hiatus they are not readily accessible, nor do most of them pertain to this site.

Presently I’m learning about planted aquariums by browsing posts and articles on this excellent forum so I can improve three 5 gallon fish bowls started in October. Plenty of these photos are piling up on my outdated galaxy note 4. Eventually I will post some of the better ones to my second journal and attached to a few questions I have. However competing with the high-quality photography on the Barr report is a bit daunting.
 
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