How to Maintain???

[aharris]

I'm in something of a difficult position right now. It seems I have a ruptured disc in my neck, and it makes doing much in the way of normal activity agony. I've been waiting for the past couple of months to see the surgeon, so my water changes have suffered a lot. Now, I find out that I have to do a month of physical therapy. If this doesn't work, it adds another month of drastically reduced maintainence to my tanks.

What kind of schedule is the absolute minimum for me?

[SGypsyMermaid]

that's a tough question...i can't answer it. no way to get hubby to help out? sorry to hear you're not feeling tip top.:(

[chc]

You can always stretch the time between changes by using various chemical media like Chemipure, Poly-Filter, etc.

Also, you can definitely lighten up on feeding for several weeks without any negative results (actually, it might result in some positive things!). You could feed every other day for instance with little problems, and that would reduce the bioload.

How do you change water at the moment? What will you be able to do? You could get away without vacuuming the gravel for that entire time (I'd give it one good one now though), so have you considered pumping the water out of the tank with a powerhead and using a Python to put it back in? You can leave the pump in the tank indefintely. Lots of ways to do it, but one I like is to attach a piece of tubing to the pump and end it with part of a quick connector. That just barely sticks out of the water (the pump is off except when changing water). Put the other end of the connector to tubing that runs to a drain, outside..... wherever. Whenever you want to get rid of water, just hook them up and flip the switch (you can plug the pump into one of those extension cords that have the toggle switch on the end...... the kind you use for Christmas Tree lights). Use a Python to put water back in. Will you be able to do something like that? I know you won't be carrying any buckets around!

Give us a little more detail on your bioload, etc.

[aharris]

Jim helps as much as he can, but I don't feel it fair to ask him to do all the work. He's also afraid that he'll mess up and kill something through shock.

I wish our python hooked up to the sink faucet but it doesn't and we've never found an adaptor that works in any of the DIY centers (read the contractor used big lots of the cheapest stuff so it's all odd shaped). Since that doesn't work, we drain and haul with buckets.

I have a 135g with 4 adult C. furcifer (I've lost 2 and I'm afraid it may be my fault) and numerous fry of various sizes (say 20), 8 C. leptsoma, 7 S. petricola, and 2 L. meeli. That would be my heaviest bio-load. I have reduced feedings to an every other day affair.

The 55g has 4 A. stuartgranti, 4 A. compressiceps (not full grown), 2 S. casuarius (soon to be moving out I hope). It can most likely coast the easiest.

[chc]

I dont think either tank is overloaded......... you should be fine.

Have you considered storing water in a clean (new) rubber garbage can? You can fit it with one of those wheeled dollies that's made for them and roll it wherever you want. Then just pump the water into the tank. As far as putting it in goes, just use the garden hose (pull it to a window or door). Through a heater and an air stone in the can and you good to go.

[Overawed]

sorry you are feeling bad aharris, hope you get to feeling tip top soonly!

I agree with chc, but you could also got home depot or lowes and get a long vinyl tubing that you could run out your windows or into the sink. Its probably too cold to have your windows open up there so the sink would work best.

You could also arrange a powerhaed near the bottom of the tank that would keep the crap off of the substrate and get it in the filter. Then you could have Jim clean the pads while you rest your neck.

Hope those ideas are of some value.

[aharris]

Thanks. I'll look into those options.

[usafschue]

hope you feel better as soon as possible! and thats a great idea chc, i think everyone should know that ! :ok:

[2petuniasmom]

You could change out a faucet to one that you could thread the python to. Not the cheapest solution, but the python makes the water changing so very easy.

Hubby has had a disc problem in lower back for the past year. I am sure you are in a lot of pain. Prayers for a speedy recovery!!
Julie

[cichgirl]

Sorry to hear that aharris... I hope you have a speedy recovery. Neck pain is the worst pain.:(

Polyfilter will help you a bunch, as chc mentioned. I've used it when I was away for a stretch and left my tank with someone who liked to feed them (Mom - who knows better but can't resist my oscar's begging, pleading eyes)... It does help keep the water cleaner. Relax and reduce the need to strain yourself. Hope all is well & your pain goes away.... :)