Trish

Looks sort of like a composting toilet...

When friends ask if they can bring a goodie when they visit for coffee... a-huh, stop at the LFS.

It looks like a King Kong, they are very interactive and friendly, I could touch mine too. He was in the kitchen and social with everyone who came for coffee!

Your BN pleco would appreciate a small piece of drift wood to hide in and rasp.. it's good roughage and a fibrous source of food. They also love a weighted down slice of blanched zucchini. You won't be cycled until you have Nitrate readings of 5-20 ppm. Add a few fish slowly letting the bio load keep up then wait a week, or you could have a cycle stall with too many. Some tanks once cycled will run naturally at .25 ppm ammonia such as mine. Should It read .50ppm for any reason (overfeeding, dead fish) then I do a water change. @NewerFishPersonWelcome to the forum!

What variety of garlic do you like the best @Daniel? My raised beds need to be replaced in a few years 2x6 cedar 4'wide 10' long. The price of lumber has tripled since Covid.. so it might be awhile. Your bees are going to love all that thyme. Is that mint I see on the loose out front?

The creator had his/her paint brushes out that day @Patrick_G The body of the plant is a bit weedy looking but the flowers are spectacular!

Hi @Hobbit...Are you applying that to plants/trees in general, I would agree. I've never noticed new growth to be a problem in the tanks unless it's being "mowed over" by the fish!

Welcome @Lauren A This is such a wonderful forum to learn from!

I might be OCD with my plants but I've found if I don't remove any offending or sick leaves immediately, there seems to be a progression of others declining. Bacteria? New growth seems to return faster. I've never grown swords but understand they are real fertilizer hogs... are you feeding regularly?

I am seeding Painted Tongue ( Salpiglossis ) this week... it is my all time favourite annual. Goes all summer, and if cut back will live to bloom again!

That's really nifty @Streetwise "hands on" I wouldn't be losing my shears all the time!

We see evidence of beaver here as well... but never the beaver. Guess they don't like having their photos taken! What a wonderful place to take your mini-me.

Gorgeous shot of the hummer face on!

@Mmiller2001That is a nice piece of drift wood... fish store or did you source it yourself. I'm envious!

We had no deer for the first 15 yrs, all plants out in the open like yours. Our backyard mountain was logged by the timber barons due to root rot. The only good to come out of it, there is light for the first time... everything grew left or right before and not up haha! Anything considered Elk salad has to be locked up.. my ghost town compound. Not pretty but functional, now an ancient 2x4 and stucco wire protection surrounding raised beds. I wouldn't have a lily otherwise.

That's a seriously beautiful garden @Patrick_G

Welcome.. the bluetooth is fantastic isn't it!

I use it to get pitch off my hands, in that case it wouldn't be a condiment! In my family we make butter roses for special occasions... too pretty to eat.

@Isaac MWish I had a fence like that! Wonderful fruit trees. Your Bird of Paradise is stunning, as well as the Iron Begonia, wow!

@Patrick_G I try to seed the Columbine along with poppies every year. For about 8 yrs I've been working on a "wild meadow". Sowing what I want and pulling the dandelions, blackberries that are much stronger. It cycles, first Forget me-nots, then pink Lychnis, followed by Columbines, foxgloves, California and other poppies. Maybe Borage this year. The Siberian iris that is outside my "compound" won't last long with the clod hopper elk tiptoeing through the yard! Luckily the things they don't touch are bleeding heart, orange and yellow Welsh poppies, Rhodo's, and my favourite... Peonies. The Welsh poppies will go all summer if they are dead headed, some consider them invasive. Everything else has to be locked up! While it's not pretty, this ghost town keeps them out. The Dogwoods are in full bloom right now and I am surrounded by them. Ah... paradise!

I have only early Spring flowers and LOTS of weeds here on the Island!

My house plants sure thrive on tank water.

@Vanessa K This is so sad. Very kind of you to refund. This is what happens when you don't listen to good advice. I hope it is a structurally sound thing for him to do as well.

You are right it makes a lot of sense to account for the future of all ones pets in wills. I also plan my fish life spans when getting new additions.

Get a smaller container such as @ laritheloud did and put it into a slightly bigger bucket. Put half the water the shrimp arrived in in the small container and start the drip line. It's a good idea to check the PH of the fish store water to your own tank water, if you are lucky they will be the same. Drip acclimation will help equalize this if it isn't. Tape your airline so a section is inside your temperate tank. You will need a flow regulator or clip to do a slow down the drip. Once the container is over flowing dump and resume dripping at a slow but regular rate. I cover with a towel to try and hold some heat in. When most the old water has been changed, net them and put into your tank.. dim the lights for a while so they are not stressed.