I've been talking to a few Oregonians here, Medred, minsc, Jeremy and others, about planning a get together for everyone to meet and trade plants and have a little fun!
I propose we meet at a restaurant of some kind, like a pizza joint, Sharis, Dennys, something like that right on I5, somewhere south of Portland between Portland and Salem. I know people in and around Portland, Oregon city, Beaverton, Newport, and Salem. I am sure there are others all over the place. Anybody would be welcome, even if anyone wanted to make the drive down from Washington. Then there is the GPAS people, the wetspot people...
I also propose we do it on a Saturday afternoon. None of this workday evening nonesense!
who would like to come? I'm thinking like the middle/end of September?
Lets hear from people! I have lots of plants to give away!
I am setting up a 50gal paludarium right now for the sole purpose of growing plants out. Nothing fancy, but I have a roll of screen to make a moss drip wall and all the moss I got should grow quick emersed. I plan to use several small screen squares to keep moss sp. separate. Hopefully I will have some nice portions to bring for the next swap, but I get the feeling I should leave the java moss at home!
Minsc- I won't get out to tromp through the mud until next year, but we will definitely set something up! My brother and I go to Chinook Landing in Fairview to fish a lot, and that is where I see a lot of hopeful marginal plants that might work. I've failed at growing them submersed so far, but I have extreme low light and no co2, so who knows what could happen if they were put in a high tech tank!
I would also like to set up a trip to Eagle creek if you or anyone else is down for that. Tons of moss that gets flooded, might survive submersed. This is where I found my favorite driftwood that Logan's Daddy got (the smaller piece), tons of this wood is submerged, worn down and heavy, plus it shouldn't leach any tannins. This wood is unquestionable and won't turn to mush! Shorts and a pair of cheap shoes are required for this trip, but you only have to wade knee deep. We have a while to plan this out, it takes 30 minutes to drive from Gresham to Eagle creek, so that would be a long trip for a lot of you guys
J.O.P.A. sounds good! Since we have so many trees in the NW, I guess it wouldn't hurt if Bpimm took a couple of pieces from OUR side of the river...
I'm sorry I missed the meeting. After Robert picked up my plants I ended up sleeping for over 3 hours so I guess it was for the best I didn't come. It helped though as I'm finally feeling more or less human.
I'm definitely interested in attending a future meet. Mid to late January would be good. Everything should be pretty overgrown after the hectic holiday season.
I'm glad you made it Jason. You gotta come back and join us again!
Including me and three people from the WET spot, and not including kids and significant others, there were 13 people there. Nobody from Salem, Eugene, or north of Washougal, and only one person from GPAS.
Does anyone want 4 Dwarf Puffers? I like MTS snails, but only 5 out of 50 might survive, and I want the MTS for my substrate. All other snails/eggs are gone in 2 weeks. Great for eliminating snails, these guys don't pick on tetras or other fish, but any shrimp or snail is fair game. They even ate my apple snail bit by bit...out:
These guys have got to go, let me know if you want them and I will bring them to the next swap, or else I will trade them in for magical beans at the LFS.
JOPA sounds pretty good, anyone from Washington can just lie about where they live[smilie=l:
zer0zax, I'm not going to have any time until next year either, but I would definitely enjoy any sort of wilderness excursions.
About the puffers, have you had them in community tanks? I would love to see my snails die, but I don't want any fish to get hurt.
Do you think they would attack full grown amanos?
The puffers are in a community tank, and I have kept them with tetras and gouramis and they left them alone. When I first added my fan shrimp (atyopsis sp.) the puffers went straight for it, but the shrimp batted one with his antenna and another with a flick of his tail. Those two puffers went flying like baseballs and none of them look at the shrimp anymore, that was a year and a half ago and they are all in the same tank still. Long story short, the fan shrimp is 4" long and I would not bet on the amanos living long.
I will print out a couple of maps for possible trips and bring them to the next swap, Chinook Landing is right on the Columbia but the driftwood sucks, probably not worth organizing a trip for that spot. Eagle creek is worth it, but it will take up half of a day. One of these days I will have to take a look at Swift creek, I saw Bpimm's eyes light up when he was talking about it, so it must be good! If I make it to the north side of the river I will look, but I won't take any driftwood until people aren't looking at me taking the driftwood...I hope that makes sense
Swift creek reservoir catches everything coming off the south side of Mt. St. Helens, The Forrest service contracts someone to clean out the reservoir every year. I don't know what they do with the wood, maybe pulp, but last year the pile was probably 40' tall and 60-70 feet across. once they have it in a pile you can't touch it but there is still plenty on the shores, I have found nice stuff around the camp ground. Most of the good stuff comes out of the many nooks and crannies down the edge of the lake. Maybe next spring we can make a trek up there with the boat.
Zer0zax, I'm interested in the puffers. Somehow I've gotten pond snails and they're driving me crazy. With 7 tanks and at least 4 of them with pond snails I have a good bit of cleanup needed. I should also be able to find the puffers a long term home.
I don't suppose there's anyone interested in kribs? I have at least a dozen that are 1+" long. Some look like they're close to maturity and others are definitely still juvies.
Bpimm- sounds good, I'm up for a trip in your boat (just don't laugh if I fall in)[smilie=l:
yikesjason- it was nice meeting you to! Were you with the Wetspot or the guy on the OTHER side of the room? I was amazed at all of the co2 stuff Wetspot gave away, and I really appreciate the potatoes and apples that one guy brought, they got eaten quick! I am horrible with names, half the time I don't even remember my own
cs gardener- Sounds like you need a couple of puffers! If Minsc still wants some I could always split them up! Honestly only one is needed per aquarium, and in a month's time snails have to be added to the aquarium so the puffers can sharpen their beaks on the snail shells. Having a separate aquarium to grow snails works good for me, I bait snails from that aquarium and feed puffers in my snail free aquarium. You can tell when the snails are almost gone because there won't be any more adults and the puffers will all hover around the remaining egg sacs waiting for the last hatch.
Thanks for your offer on the kribs, they are awesome fish! I don't have any room right now, but I feel multiple-multi tank syndrome setting in! You people are absolutely no help at all. Being able to share and trade whatever excess you have on hand is awesome and it makes the hobby a lot more fun! We really do need to set up a club, the plant swap was everything I hoped for, everyone was chill and and got to share experiences, just be yourself and no one will put you (or your crazy ideas) down (and lots of plants)!
These are the pea size, green freshwater puffers right? I used to keep them. They don't bite thru the shell like their larger cousins. They actually suck the snail out of their shell! They prefer small snails, babies, and eggs. They do a good job at irradicating. They like to be in groups and sort of school, very much unlike their larger cousins who tear each other apart. If its one of the larger species, then I would keep them separate.
I would take them if nobody else wanted them, but it sounds like you got takers!
JOPA sounds pretty good, anyone from Washington can just lie about where they live
Oh common, we can do better than that! If we are going to form a club, I suggest we don't invite the wet spot people again. I could be wrong, but I don't think they are really plant hobbyists themselves, and this was billed as more of an "event" which is why I think they came. They probably expected more people. Maybe that woman is into it, but I don't think Steve is, and I still can't figure out who that guy was that came with them! Am I being wierd, or do you understand what I am talking about?
Well its been 5 minutes...can I post now?
Yes these are pea puffers, they do school around a bit but they nip at each other once in awhile to, so they do like a little space. That's the only nipping I've seen though, just between themselves like they are playing tag and then they will go right back to inspecting every surface for food. All of my empty snail shells are whole, no bite marks, but I read online that the puffers need to sharpen their beaks on snail shells or else the beaks will grow to long and they can starve. I don't know how true that is or why they wouldn't use a small piece of gravel for their beaks, but better safe than sorry!
I think the Wetspot enjoyed the whole thing, Marci was excited about her new tank! I think we could arrange something for you guys who brought a lot of plants. All of the excess plants that no one had room for went to the Wetspot, better than going to the compost pile. We should setup a deal with the Wetspot for store credit if they would like to come back, any excess plants will be given to them and the donors will get a receipt with store credit on the spot. It would be convenient for both parties and done all at one place and one time, no extra trips involved.
Thanks for hooking me up Robert! I can't wait to get my package!
Well I can take excess plants too! Thats not a problem. In fact I can take them in trade, or pay cash, whatever... Catherine has traded lots of plants with me! If we start going to peoples homes and having a more intimate atmosphere, or a study group, discussion, that sort of thing, I thought those guys would feel out of place. I could be wrong, it doesn't really matter.
I am glad I didn't bring plants though, we really didn't need them.
Zer0zax, if Catherine can provide a good home for the fish, they should go to her. If I remember correctly, they enjoy being in groups, and might be happiest if they aren't split apart. If I decide I want some, I'll just buy them I think I'll probably try to track down some assassin snails for this particular tank though.
Robert, I was under the impression all the plants that Marci and Steve were taking were either for their own personal tanks, or for the display tanks at the store, and not to be resold. I will be going there either tomorrow or friday, so we shall see...
At any rate, I thought they were enjoying themselves, and as long as they are interested in learning about planted tanks I see no reason to exclude anyone. The third person was an employee of theirs, who is one of the more knowledgeable plant people at the store. I'm pretty sure he came because he wanted to be there! If I'm not mistaken he is the yikesjason that just posted, but I could be wrong... we need some clarification here
Robert- I am also sure that the plants the Wetspot people raised their hands for were for their own personal tanks or else the store display tanks. Whatever plants that no one raised their hand for were given to them and probably sold, and I felt it was pretty clear. The main problem is we just don't have enough aquariums!
I know I didn't contribute many plants at all, but I don't mind sharing plants with people from the Wetspot, they are hobbyists to. As far as the leftover plants, maybe the contributors could get a discount from them or something. I don't care about trying to make a buck or trying to see what kind of deal I could get, I just enjoy the hobby and meeting fellow hobbyists. Any plants or items swapped are just the frosting on the cake. They already lost any possible profit by giving all of that co2 equipment away, I think they would be just as excited as we are about having an Oregon/Canadi...er...Washington aquarium club.
MinsC- You read my mind! I have been eyeballing those assassin snails to!
Logan's Daddy- You might have been joking, but I get the feeling were not!
NWPCASFPWPTORWHATEVERWOOTWOOT!
Yikesjason- I really do appreciate you sharing the potatoes and apples, I like food! Don't feel bad if your remembered as Apple Man, at least your not That Guy! See you at the next swap![smilie=l:
I have no problem with the Wet spot, everything is cool, I just wish more hobbyists were there, and I guess that sounds wierd coming from me! I don't even care if they sell the plants, thats not the point. I sold the plants I got! If ony six peope came and 3 of them were from the wet spot, wouldn't that be a little wierd? Don't worry, its all good.
Jason, I love your apples and potatoes! In fact I am eating the last apple today with my lunch. I should have grabbed more.
Just saw that you shipped my plants out Robert! I feel like a kid waiting for Christmas!! The funny thing is they will arrive here at the perfect time, I am about to do a water change in my new tank and build a plant shelf for some emersed growth. Hopefully it will be ready by the time the plants come in!
I don't think we will have to worry about a lack of people, there will at least be a handfull of us showing up quarterly. I am sure more people will join in as time progresses, but it is nice being able to converse with everyone without having a large crowd or society. I am still looking forward to the next swap, and I have a 50# bag of plaster of paris if anyone wants it! If you are really bored you can read how I ended up with it by clicking the 50Gal Ugly Tank in my sig. It will waste your time though...and you guys/gals might not let me come to the next swap[smilie=l:
Well, thats what my goal was in starting this, to bring together all the people in this area, many of which I talk to regularly, and see what would happen! I didn't forget your plants! Don't get to excited now, they are just average plants, nothing that special!
It looks like I will be bringing some shrimp to the next swap. I bought 4 blueberry shrimp from the Wetspot, and one was berried! I keep them with 3 ugly brown cherries also, so some of them will be mixed. I only see 7 babies crawling around right now, but 3 more shrimp are berried, so my horde is growing....anyone want some ugly shrimp? Here is a pic of my favorite shrimp (which happens to be berried ATM):
Unfortunately the eyes are not orange, just the flash from the camera:doubt:.
I decided I like Christmas moss, so I will be bringing back all of the flame moss I got from MedRed (can I have my soul back?). I have been propagating it emersed, and am about to make 2 new mesh squares, flame moss really does grow fast!! Here are a couple pics:
Shrimp? Did someone offer shrimp? The blue is beautiful, I can see why it's your favorite. I need to set up a dedicated shrimp tank though. Right now I have cherry shrimp in two tanks and almost never see them because they're always hiding from the fish.
You're right about the flame moss, it does grow very quickly. It makes a rather neat groundcover for lower light areas. I may just have to use it for that whenever I get around to setting up my shrimp tank.
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