@thomas@thomaspreece.net
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

thomas

@thomas@thomaspreece.net

30-something from #Bristol, UK. Interested in #boardgames #genealogy #esperanto #music #ukulele #ocarina #RetroTech #vinyl #cassettes #gramophone. #golang and #colemak user. #gameshow and #BlueJays #baseball fan. #ActuallyAutistic #ace.

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ashleyspencer, (edited ) to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

The water conditioner I used to clean up my fish tank water when I first filled it up doesn't work.

So I put too much stuff in the tank trying to balance the water levels.

Now the water is gross.

So thinking... Do I empty the entire tank and start over with plants, or do I attempt to fix it.

My total lack of impulse control last month got me in this mess.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer What water conditioner did you use, and what happened?

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Do a big water change, probably most of it, maybe even all of it. Try with just Stress Coat and see what happens - you don't really need anything else except as an emergency short-term fix.

thomas, to tokipona Toki Pona
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

lipu tenpo li kama li pona a!

ashleyspencer, (edited ) to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

I can contribute to :)

Added 3 little moss balls and 3 rocks with juniper moss to the fish tank for my future betta fish.

Once the new heater gets here I’ll start the cycle process.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer You can start cycling the tank right away if you like, as it's not dependent on the water temperature. The positioning of the heater might be part of the issue - it needs to be diagonal, so the thermostat is higher than but not immediately above the heating elements. It's always a good idea to have two heaters all the same, just in case one fails.

astronomerritt, to random
@astronomerritt@hachyderm.io avatar

patiently explaining to my shamefaced dad that the reason I can rattle off the offside rule verbatim is because he isn't the first bloke in the world to attempt to challenge my football knowledge and he won't be the last

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@astronomerritt I'm not even a football fan and it always seemed reasonably straightforward to me.

BigJackBrass, to random
@BigJackBrass@vivaldi.net avatar

I really need to work out how best to digitise the 16" transcription discs I bought for the Cliff Edwards Project, given that I don't currently own a turntable capable of playing them. It would be nice to retrieve the music from them, given that it doesn't seem to be available elsewhere.

Obviously, paying someone to do it for me is an option, but not until I can scrape some funds together.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@BigJackBrass Paying someone to do it for you is probably going to be significantly cheaper than buying a turntable with enough clearance to fit a 16" disc. But if you do find a way to do it, I'd be interested to hear about it!

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

Would I be a horrible person if I shut down Autistic Bookshop? It’s costing me $1,200 to run this month and that’s money that could go towards taxes and my own bills + my rent is going up $300. It’s just such a gigantic money drain on a store that I am 100% certain will never be profitable. It will always be a money drain on The Autistic Innovator. My employee is so good at her job, but the store will never cover her wages. It’s bad business to spend $1,200 in a month at a loss.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Definitely not a horrible person. That's how business goes sometimes - the first year or so of a new business is mostly about working out whether the idea will actually work in practice, and quite a lot of them don't. It's a good thing to shut down an idea that isn't working and move on to the next one.

jessica, to MotoGP
@jessica@beige.party avatar

Cracking first half to the race, but now all focused on the play-off final! 😬 :epl_leeds:

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@jessica 😭

thomas, to random
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

The books for the 1980s TV show "Yes Minister" / "Yes Prime Minister" were presented as Jim Hacker's diaries, declassified and edited in the far future. The last of those far future dates is...

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

My fish aquarium is complete!

Time to add water and start cycling the tank!

Lucky little Betta fish will get a big pretty 20 gallon home.

And 6 different kinds of food to choose from with shrimp, fish, insects, and bloodworms.

Shall be a very spoiled betta living a lavish lifestyle lol

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer My experience with moss balls was mostly that they clogged my filter. Live plants are nice to have but you don't absolutely need them.

thomas, to music
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

New video - The Can-Can for ukulele quartet. This is one of the five pieces from my new book, Simple Ukulele Quartets, released yesterday.

:youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkslVn0-Z6c
:peertube: https://video.thomaspreece.net/w/h3QNm2z8sohZ7gWksLwWWu

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@wroof Unfortunately I can't dance while playing the ukulele... I can't dance even when I'm not playing the ukulele, but I definitely can't dance while I am! 😂

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

Got my 20 gallon fish tank. It looked so gigantic in the store, and looks so tiny on my counter lol.

The fish will go from a tiny closet (the cup) into a 900sqft apartment (the tank).

I’m getting a neat house thing with lots of little caves in it to put in the tank.

Good living space for one fish. :)

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer It looks really great, your fish is going to love it!

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer The corners of the mould will be rounded, and the greenery will be soft plastic, so it shouldn't be stabby. No reason not to flood the tank right away - it's good to put the water in and have the filter running for at least several days before you get the fish, as it gives everything a chance to settle.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Cycling is basically waiting for the bacteria to grow in the filter. If you wait for that to happen on its own, it'll probably never happen, because there's no ammonia in the water. Quick Start is basically just a bottle of ammonia, which will start it off, but in practice the only thing that really works is adding fish. You then test (and potentially change) the water every day until you stop detecting ammonia, which takes a few weeks.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer The nitrogen cycle is ammonia (fish pee basically) -> nitrite -> nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite are both harmful to the fish, so you want them to be as low as possible. Nitrate isn't harmful, but it will encourage algae growth so you remove it with a water change once a week or so.

Basically - put the fish in, and test every day, and while you're still detecting ammonia or nitrite do a water change to dilute it. Eventually it'll drop to undetectable levels and your tank is cycled.

thomas, to music
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

My new book is out today, with arrangements of five famous classical pieces for a "ukulele quartet" of soprano, tenor and baritone ukuleles and classical guitar. The arrangements have been deliberately kept simple, to be accessible to the widest range of players. Find out more or get your copy in print or as a pay-what-you-like ebook at https://preecemusic.com/simple-ukulele-quartets

#music #SheetMusic #ukulele #ClassicalMusic

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@jessica Thank you! :)

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

I went to the pet store to get some water treatment stuff for the fish tank.

The 5 gallon tanks looked too small to me. It would be cramped in there still.

However, the 10 gallon is the perfect width for my counter and it's like penthouse apartment size. Couldn't take it home myself, but the lady said they could do same day delivery.

Saved a bunch of money buying the tank online vs in the store.

My cats are so much happier in a big apartment, so I'm sure a fish would feel the same.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Yeah, definitely don't keep fish in such a small tank! Even if it's theoretically possible, it's cruel to the fish - and much harder work for you, as with less water you have to change it all the more often to keep the waste at a safe level. I kept tetras and mollies rather than bettas, but happy to help if there's anything you need advice on! :)

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer 20 gallon is a good size for beginners. Large tanks are actually easier than small tanks, because they're much more forgiving on the chemical balance - a 5 gallon tank can go from completely fine to killing your fish quicker than you'd even notice if you're not really careful. Have you checked to see that your bar counter will support the weight of a 20 gallon tank? It'll weigh nearly 200 lb including the substrate and water.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Should be fine then. The other thing is to make sure that it's completely level, so that the water doesn't put too much stress on the joints between the panels - you'll know when you fill the tank, because if it's not level the water line won't be parallel to the top of the tank.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Yeah, it looks like it should be pretty strong. Nice place for a tank as well, you'll be able to see in both sides - although that does mean you'll have to make all sides look nice when decorating it!

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer My mollies would always crowd around the side of the tank nearest the door whenever I came into the room, and whenever I opened the cabinet where the food was kept they'd immediately swim to the top!

ashleyspencer, to random
@ashleyspencer@autistics.life avatar

The manufacturer sent me photos of my Heart chew necklace pendant with the necklace string attached.

They added the adjustable necklace string, made the hole bigger so it would fit, and raised the little dip part up a little so it won’t fall off.

It’s perfect! I love it! 😍

I’m going to order the dark pink and red colors.

The heart chew pendant and adjustable necklace string.

thomas,
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

@ashleyspencer Congratulations!

thomas, to Eurovision
@thomas@thomaspreece.net avatar

The video of how different countries' TV stations join and leave the feed is back for another year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYlIbalC7P0

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