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I wish I could say I love cleaning the tanks but I do it anyway. It wouldn't be a problem if I didn't have rheumatoid arthritis. I only have 2 tanks - a 10 gallon and a 20 gallon - but moving the water cause a lot of pain and I can't do them both on the same day. I use gallon jugs to transport the water from the sink to the tanks and also use gallon jugs for the dirty water which I use to water outdoor plants. One time I did them both on the same day and couldn't use my right arm for a week after that so I won't be doing that again any time soon. It's the moving and lifting the jugs that causes the problem with my shoulders. I end up moving the full jugs a lot of times each.
I feel for you. I have degenerative arthritis and every time I clean my 45G I end up with shoulder pain for several days later. The tank is way too high. I have to get a step stool. I’m so sorry you have to live with the rheumatoid arthritis. Have you tried Humira or anything? I take it for psoriasis and it worked great for that. I use to have terrible knee pain and it is gone. I wonder if the Humira helped there too.
 
I have to take grandkids to school 2 days a week and take my sister who had a stroke out one day a week so it’s easier for me to knock them all out at once. I guess it all depends on our schedules. :)
Life. Life can be a lot of things but it wouldn't be life without our loved ones. All the fish and aquariums in the world wouldn't be fun without our people.
 
Wow. Reading about people's health issues stuff bums me out. I've been fairly lucky. No real health issues but I'm quitting my part time job next week and going to be fully retired. I'm too tired from it. And it kills me. I never ever thought that work would be too physical for me. I thought old age was going to be cool. I'd be like Grampa on the Munsters but I'm starting to see that it will have it's own special set of challenges. I was reading a post on the AKA forums and a gentlemen was writing to say that he was giving up his fish after fifty years in the hobby. He said that his fish were a habit and not the joy they once were. That struck me. When I come to that day how will I feel ? Enjoy life now, today, my friends. That day will come for us all eventually. :(
 
How true. If and when I have to get rid of my tanks, I can always keep fish videos from youtube playing on my 50 inch tv. :D
 
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My shrimp stir who is 18 months younger than me had a massive stroke at 55. Spoke to her on the phone at 10:30 PM. Said she wasn’t feeling well. Got a call less than an hourly later that she had the stroke. Can’t read, write, talks in broken language, right sided weakness. She was brilliant. Can’t even do simple addition anymore. Life changes in a minute. Take care of yourself and appreciate the moment.
 
Life changes in a minute. Those changes are not cool either. Life changes in a minute. Thanks a lot for that thought Madame'. That's one of those that haunt a person.:(
 
I was reading a post on the AKA forums and a gentlemen was writing to say that he was giving up his fish after fifty years in the hobby. He said that his fish were a habit and not the joy they once were.
That's a really common thing to happen and quite often it can be avoided by setting up a fish room properly and not having too many tanks.

Instead of having tanks in every room, you put them all in one room. It's cheaper for heating.
Have water storage containers and a gravel cleaner you can run out the door.
The water changes are the biggest issue and the reason most people stop fish keeping. If you can streamline this, it makes life a lot easier and fish keeping more enjoyable.

If you can breed some fish, it can help cover the costs associated with keeping them. Even setting up a few ponds during summer can let you breed most aquarium fish and make a few dollars to pay for their food, power and water.
 
Yeah I really need to develop a better system that's not so physically difficult. The 20 gallon tank is a little high so I have to lift the jugs shoulder high to refill it. I did the 10 gallon today and filled up the jugs and dechlorinated to do the 20 gallon tomorrow. I really like the ideal of running a hose out the door since the 20 gallon tank is only about 6 feet from the door and the plants I use the water for are alongside my ramp - it wouldn't even have to be too long of a hose. What kind of pump would be needed to execute that idea?
 
Linda, that is the perfect solution for you. A pump. You would never have to lift anything ever again. I wish I was more familiar with them and could say but I know you can get them at reasonable cost. Perhaps someone else can advise on type, manufacturer and model.
 
What kind of pump would be needed to execute that idea?
I used an AquaClear 800 power head to pump water into the tanks. I could fill up a 4 ft tank in less than a minute. But you can use any sort of power head or pond pump.

Just attach a length of hose to the outlet of the pump and make a U shape out of pvc pipe and stick that on the other end of the hose. The U can hang over the edge of the tank and will direct the water into the tank so your hands are free to turn off the pump when the tank is full.
 
Not a fan of the Python. Too easily to get little curious fish sucked in. I have a 50 foot hose - it takes me longer to get all of the water out of the damn hose than it did just to empty and refill the tanks. I use a smaller suction device and dump dirty water in the toilet. I then refill with water I've had sitting out for a few days (which means I can only clean one tank every few days) or I just refill it with warmed water from buckets filled in the bathtub. Far more faster than the python. I swear if it didn't take the python hose so long to drain I would consider using it again (and when I'm filling 8 buckets of water to let sit - I do use the python - but I don't use it to suction water out - too big of risk of killing a fish.
 
You can put a strainer in your sink to catch any fish the python might suck up. I watch the python tube and tap the glass if any fish go near it. Works for me.
 
What kind of pump would be needed to execute that idea?

I use an eco 396 about $23.95 on amazon

eco396w.jpg
 

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