Mad Oboe Aquaria! 

Imagine that.

When OboeWorks left the DC area, Margaret graciously let me take the shop's 20 gallon aquarium home with me to my own shop.  I dutifully took notes on how to care for the fish and plants, including routine water changes, the use of tap water dechlorinator and a gravel vacuum, how much to feed the fish and how often, plant fertilizer and how to battle the dreaded ALGAE OUTBREAKS.  After all, I had watched her doing the weekly maintenance for quite a while at the shop.

I took it home and the first time I did a water change by myself, I mixed up the bottles of chemicals and the fish didn't make it.  One by one they just... died.  I felt absolutely HORRIBLE!  How could I explain to Margaret that I killed her fish!!

I took it upon myself to learn how to keep fish without killing them.  It has proven to be an enjoyable and challenging hobby.  I even go to monthly aquarium club meetings and frequent fish forums and websites to learn more about fishkeeping and aquatic gardening.  I love the idea of creating a healthy little aquatic world right here in my home.  I do realize that playing the oboe, keeping planted aquaria and keeping parrots is sort of like the Triple Crown of Nerdiness, but, oh well.

Madera Oboe Repair Resident Aquatic Flora and Fauna:

75 gallon

56 gallon

45 gallon

30 gallon with Angel Babies!

2.5 gallon X2

Zubin Betta and Spook, the Half Moon

There are many wonderful resources available here in the Washington, DC area for those of us that enjoy keeping Aquaria. 

I am a member of :

The Potomac Valley Aquarium Society  www.pvas.com

Capital Cichlid Association  www.capitalcichlids.org

Greater Washington Aquatic Plant Association  http://gwapa.org/wordpress/