June 16, 2008 – 8:25 am
Recently, I bought an aquarium.
But let me start about a year ago, when we saved three “feeder” goldfish. One for each of my kids. Soon, my daughter’s goldfish was the only survivor. Her name is Allie. After the pastor performed funerals for the two deceased fish. The fish died days apart, so the funerals were on separate days and due to my cat we held to the Jewish tradition of burying the departed expediently. Almost immediately my kids wanted replacements and I was able to hold them off. Until, one fateful day when my wife went for her new driver’s license…
The place she needed to go was next to the PetSmart. So, I was going to drop her off and take the kids on some errands. In a whim and to satisfy my kids year long yearning for replacement fish, I decided to take them into the pet store armed with a quarter each ($.25) for two new feeder fish. I knew the fate of these fish and I was now giving two death row fish at least a slim chance. The margin of survival was not good against Allie the now monstrous goldfish that already occupied the tiny little tank, but hey - I was giving them a chance.
Well, the next twist of fate was unexpected and brought on by the yet-to-renew-my-license lady. My wife was unable to get her license because she only had 16 official forms of identification and needed 17, so she called me on the phone and then meandered over to PetSmart. My kids excitedly told her what the plans were and she promptly pulled me aside and told me that she couldn’t handle anymore fish funerals. So we had to do something else.
Well, what ensued was the creation of self-contained 30 gallon biosphere living in my dining room. Slowly this biosphere (AKA, our Aquarium) began as a somewhat small concept. Probably kinda like Manhattan was 300 years ago. But now there are 5 snails, 4 red tailed sharks, a bala shark, 6 tiger bards, some kind of catfish, an angelfish, and a big ugly eel.
At first, it was challenging and the learning curve was steep as we tried to regulate the water (pH, ammonia levels, etc.). Then it was learning about live plants and figuring out how the general rule of sunlight is bad for your tank can translate into light is good. It was a crazy, tenuous time. We were living on pins and needles. The tension was thick and at any moment anyone could erupt from the pressure. We had to perform CPR on several fish as the water regulated and unfortunately had a couple more funerals.
What has ensued is pretty miraculous.
At first our tank was cloudy, but the pet store’s fish expert - Dr. Fishlady, told us that in about 2-4 weeks “healthy” bacteria will grow and the tank will clear up. Patiently waiting day after day for that moment cause me to wrestle with my faith. The Dr. Fishlady said that seemingly out of nothing these invisible things will grow. But where did these things come from and how can the be helpful, (later I understood them to be from trash (leftover food) and poo)? Can I trust the person who told me, she didn’t look like much of an expert (with her two months experience working at the store)? How could she know? She told me what to do, and I admit I didn’t go on blind faith, I did some research and read for others’ Aquarium experiences. With enough testimony behind her words and advice, I began doing what she suggested.
Hour by hour I waited, carefully watching the water temp., pH, and other factors. Hour by hour, I looked at the fish and the clouds beginning to pessimistically wonder which one would need CPR next, how long would it be before I would sell the tank because of disastrous results, and how I would break my pessimistic ideas to my kids (as they prophetically became reality). I hoped for the best, but I just could not get beyond the experience of struggling fish and cloudy water.
Aside: One thing I have learned about my pessimistic prophecy is that it is always wrong. In all of the Bible their is always life and hope.
So, the family and I left for a little 5 day trip. No one wanted to leave because we feared the unknown, what would happen to the fish in this delicate state with out constant attention and care. With tears, we bought the week long tank auto-release feeders for the tank and left. As we left, the cloudiness was thick and the ammonia and pH were in the danger zone. (I though for sure the fish were goners.)
We arrived home from our trip, miraculously, the tank was crystal clear. The fish were thriving and the pH/ammonia level was great. To this day, the tank is very much a self-regulated system that is easily maintained. Those little invisible bacteria that somehow grew out of nothing have created a healthy biosphere teaming with life. Forgive me for doubting the Fishlady about the invisible stuff that really made life in the biosphere flourish.
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