11.11.2025 Through a glass darkly.

 ~o~

  Tuesday 11th 45F/7.2C [8.30] Another grey day but with extra rain. 66F/19C in the room after reaching 72F/22C at bedtime.

 Up at 7.30 after failing to get up at 6.00. I was having chest and back pain last night. I shall need another 5 liter dunk of nitro at this rate. 

 No immediate plans for today. The room could do with a tidy. 

 The goldfish in the 1500 liter greenhouse pond are doing fine. As the temperature falls continuously. On a grey day, like today, the air temperature is 50F while the water is at 52F. The water is crystal clear. Thanks to the Oase internal filter in the left, front corner. Where it is least visible. The pump has a simple pipe facing upwards for minimum surface disturbance and zero noise. While providing maximum flow for filtration. The tank surface dimensions are 165x125x70cm deep. With sloping sides.

 The Elodea canadensis plants are the only survivors of the many I have tried. Costing around £5 equivalent each. These other plants were very expensive salad! The elodea is forming long chains across the pond floor. While sending shoots upwards from the gravel. The initial, heavy coating of algae on these plants seems to be melting away. As summer's high light levels fall naturally with the changing seasons. I hope these plant continue to grow abundantly to absorb excess nutrients from the water. They also provide hiding places and visual interest. This species is considered a pest in some parts of the world. Being so hardy and quick growing it takes over many waterways.

 The fish like to browse on the algae on the inside walls of the pond too. I like the dark walls this algae forms. Rather than the original light grey, GRP tank material. 

It is unfortunate that the aluminium skeleton of the greenhouse features so strongly in photos. Here gamma has been greatly reduced in this darker image. For increased surface penetration. I have temporarily switched off the filter for a steady water surface.

 I would probably have to drape a black cloth above the pond. To allow a camera to penetrate the strong reflection off the water surface. Perhaps with some form of internal underwater lighting. Though I am not keen on that idea in the long term. Pond fish have their own circadian rhythms and might prefer to be asleep after dark. 

 The two largest fish are about 20cm long. To the right of centre in the image above. I have had these two fish from the very start. They were half the size of my little fingers and at first enjoyed the tiny tank. Only June of last year but it seems longer. Which had triggered my renewed interest in fish keeping. Before moving them into the 100x50x50cm [again recycled] tank. All of them are growing rapidly. Currently eight of them at the last count. More than enough for such a limited pond size. They could all reach 30cm or 12" in length eventually. 

 11.45 Back from a short walk. Looping along the parallel, shared drives. It was cool, damp and slightly misty.

 15.30 Brief glimpses of the low sun through holes in the overcast. 

 Dinner was a chopped up omelette on toast. I forgot how to do scrambled. 

 

  ~o~