[Tex Gal]

Poor Martha! I think you should send Martha on a pleasure trip with some of her friends to some great place. Finish all the dirty work while she is gone. Send her photo updates ONLY as things get better. Tell her how much you love her, how amazingly terrific she is and how unlike she is to many of the tyrannical wives you read about on the forum. With that and the house new and improved AND MOST IMPORTANTLY all the things on her "Honey Do" list completed as well - the renewed honeymoon will commence!

I will stay tuned! LOL

 

[Tex Gal]

Loving your sense of humor.... won't miss your next "reality episode"

 

[Tex Gal]

My UV is hooked up all the time. My water flows through the UV so it doesn't have any stagnant water. I use it 24/7. I did disconnect it after several months to re-plumb my set up and there was no slime/sludge whatsoever, even after a horrid Amazonia 2 melt down. That has been my experience. I want it to kill all the bacteria in my tank. The nutrifying bacteria live on the surface of things so whatever may end up in the water column is not needed/minimal. I also run it on a separate pump from my filters.

 

[Tex Gal]

Jerp - I have looked at the glass in my UV after months and there was no slime. I don't know what to tell you. I was surprised myself. Perhaps it's the heat?...

I run in and the CO2 reactor in line with a mag drive 9.5 which pushes 950gph. It's under the tank so that limits it some and there are right degree turns which also cuts down on the 950gph. My UV is an Emperor Aquatics 25 watt smart UV Sterilizer. I got it from FishtTanksDirect.com. That was a year ago. Seems to still be working fine. I wonder if it's time for a new bulb, since it's a fluorescent? Here is the link: http://www.fishtanksdirect.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=245

 

[Tex Gal]

Alotta talk - no action. I wanna see a px of that wall and what you've done to it since Martha's been back. I know it's not how you left it with us. Martha wouldn't allow it...

 

[Tex Gal]

Tex Gal,
You have more experience than me with UV's. I did my research, trusted the advice, and followed it. If the bulb stays clean then you shouldn't have a problem.

As far as lifespan of the bulb goes. A UV bulb does not burn out for several years, it just puts out less and less UV light until then. You really can't check it visually since Light in the UV spectrum is not visible and the bulb is in a sealed container. The bright blue color of the bulb is more of a byproduct of the UV bulb and really just tells you that it's on. A UV sterilizer is for preventative purposes and is not needed for the daily health of the aquarium. Your aquarium is healthy enough that the UV could even be off and you'd never notice from the results. Your bulb if pretty high powered. I would think a 25W bulb can degrade quite a bit before it stops being useful.

FYI, I emailed the company and they said you should replace the bulb every year. I guess that means I need a new one. When I change it, that will give a chance to check again for cleanliness.

Looking forward to the holiday episode!

 

[Tex Gal]

Sheeesh, I just want to personally greet everybody that stops in. I am certainly going to need their help in episodes to come. I'm shakin' it here boss, we got a special holiday episode coming up.

O, and are you kin to Martha? You sure sound a lot like her.

Us women folk gotta stick together. Enjoyin' the show! Can hardly wait to see what you come up with next!

 

[Tex Gal]

Probably got caught in the $690 billion stimulus package.... waiting for his $20 one time tax rebate...

 

[Tex Gal]

I'll contribute to the "Martha Defense Fund". If we have any other "Honey Do" challenged out there with a long list, while all the other "departments" are out there futzing with the "dream of a lifetime" unapproved project- we might think about starting our own forum. Of course, it would be complete with pxs. and YouTube links. We could have contests with title like
If I Do It Myself, It'll Only Cost....
I Can Have It Done In Less Than A Week
This Will Be An Easy Project
Think What We'll Save....
By My Doing This, You'll Be Abe To Have ....

 

[Tex Gal]

If I Do It Myself, It'll Only Cost....

A case of beer and the medical deductible.​

I Can Have It Done In Less Than A Week

Of Sundays.​

This Will Be An Easy Project

If you'll help me.​

Think What We'll Save....

Maintenance and insurance doesn't count.​

By My Doing This, You'll Be Abe To Have ....

Plenty of bait.​

...Those subtitles would surely exist under the YouTube videos and pxs. [smilie=n:

 

[Tex Gal]

Way to go Martha! Hope you have a good time.

Love the reds! The Lobelia looks so nice nestled in there. Is that red Ludwigia palustris?

 

[Tex Gal]

Look here http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/plantfinder/details.php?id=121&category=genus&spec=Ludwigia Does it look like this?
I don't think it's what you said.

 

[Tex Gal]

I asked Cavan to take a look and he says it's Ludwigia repens x arcuata. Just a beauty of a specimen!

 

[Tex Gal]

What a nice requiem. We should all leave such a legacy. You have my sympathies.

 

[Tex Gal]

Giypsy - it's all over but the shoutin' Once you've joined the wet side there's no hope save a sane life's partner that puts the brakes on for you. Lookin' forward to your journal...

Intothenew - he's right. Martha deserves the champagne glass tub with an aquarium side-table for wine, cheese & chocolate.