December 15, 2020

Why?

If you've been in this hobby long enough, you start recognizing a few "universal contents." Stuff that you can pretty much guarantee! Of course, one thing that you CAN guarantee is that there are always those little "detours" that you didn't seem to expect...Or, did you?

Well, sure you did! As fish geeks, we sort of expect detours...We don't necessarily welcome them, but we expect them!

Yet, we question why stuff happens. Thats what we do, right?

Here are some classics:

Why is it that:

-The fish you've been trying to breed for two years won't even pair up- but the one you were given by a friend as an unwanted "gift" and have been trying desperately to rid your fish room of for years- reproduces like..freaking rabbits?

-The fish you saw in the "clearance tank" at the LFS and failed to purchased on impulse- because you knew you'd grab one "next time"- is never seen at the LFS again? #$%^#$#@@#$

-The only time you experience a major spill is: a)when you're already in the "doghouse" with your spouse/significant other/relative, and he/she is standing right there, b)when there are no dry towels handy, c)when you're running late for an important event and just HAD to sneak in the "quick water change" before heading out, or d)when you've just installed a brand new hardwood floor?

-You experience the a sudden, inexplicable, and unprecedented failure of a previously perfectly reliable aquarium component (pump, heater, canister filter, lighting system- or worse yet- the electronic controller that oversees the function of these devices) the night before you're about to embark on your 10 day overseas vacation?

-Your favorite cichlids spawn right when you run out of brine shrimp eggs? And it's (choose one): Christmas Eve, New Year's Day, Thanksgiving Day, or another major holiday on which the local fish store is closed for business?

-You get the urge to tweak that "one damn branch that's out of place" in your aquascape before leaving for work in the morning...and are still at it by 2PM?

-You purchase the wrong diameter hose you had the correct one in your hands minutes before...and you told yourself not to get the other one?

-You always lose track of how many drops of pH or other reagent you're adding to the test vial after like the third drop? (Pro tip- just get a digital pH meter!😎)