A Fish Called Harold

It was a little underwhelming putting the fish in the system as they quickly swam to the murky depths of the 275 gallon tank. But then came snails! Not only do they look like poop in the picture (below), they sank like rocks to the bottom of the tank when I released them. We are partyin up in here.  Said the fish and snails.

I bought the snails to see if theyd help control algae growth in the tank. In hindsight, I wish I bought four so I could put a couple in the sump tank as well.

I decided to put off growing edible fish for two reasons. The first, I am broke and forty-two gold fish and two snails cost me less than ten dollars. The second, its already October and goldfish can handle any temperature the Seattle winter is going to throw their way. With very low risk, Ill be able to monitor the tank temperature and try cheap/energy efficient methods of controlling it as I go.  Ill report back this winter.

Apparently, there is a "free fish" section at The Fish Store. The two big ones on the right were donated when they outgrew their previous residence. Im told they wont eat the little guys, which are the same species.

 Free fish arent the only selling point of  "The Fish Store" on Roosevelt, just north of Ravenna. It is unmissable with its brightly blue painted facade.  If youve never been, and you dont really care about fish, its still worth a pop in.  The interior presents a stark, and refreshing contrast to the sanitized shopping experience of a Petco. This is the classic Hardwicks hardware store of fish emporiums.  It has the character, the layout and the smell of a fish store thats occupied that spot since 1970.  A friend of mine said he went in while on psychedelic drugs during college.  This is the exact kind of store you want to wander into on psychedelic drugs during college.  Its small and dark, with a low ceiling.  All the fishtanky accoutrements are in the front- plastic skeletons to sink to the bottom of your stylish (yet fun!) aquarium, pink glass rocks, fish flakes, fish nets for those naughty fish and roll after roll of fake aquarium background stickers. There really were quite a few choices for the one glass wall of the glass box your fish would inhabit- tropical neon landscapes, dark-"whats that?! Whos there?! The Titanic!" landscapes, semi-decaying barrier reef landscapes, and plain.  They could almost be used as a border for a childs fishy themed bedroom...but I digress...

The rest of the store beckons you in to explore- tanks framed in black wood boxes and lit from within.  Coral and day glo colored fish, fancy expensive-ass fish, and what I was looking for- regulation goldfish, all swim around in a quiet cocoon of fishiness.  Prices are marked with white grease pencil on the tanks.  The staff are knowledgeable and friendly.  There are water puddles on the floor.

 Another highlight of my week was going to the hippie food Co-op in my neighborhood and describing myself as a "local farmer."  While I may have put the cart before the snail a bit with this statement, I did have a really helpful conversation with the produce manager and got my face/name in the local ring. 

My crackteam of fishheads and I have been debating how to handle this aspect of the aquaponic bloggers moral code.  We think the audience would appreciate knowing how the two large free goldfish got their names.  The large goldfish were named in honor of two other beings who poop a lot because the hope is these fish reach their full potential as poopers and create some legit doodies for the system.  One is Ollie, named for the cat that resides in the house that the aquaponics setup is attached to.  Ollie. Poops.  A lot.  And he is big and orange.  The goldfish are also orange.  This was an obvious symbiotic match.  The other we named Harold.  This is where the aquaponic bloggers moral code comes into play.  Harold was a recent student in the life of this blogger, a blogger who sees many, many, many different students.  But, Harold always left something special behind.  And this is why we want to name the second goldfish Harold.  Does this compromise Harolds identity?  Could he possibly make the connection to the fact that a fishpoop hopeful was once named for him?  Because he, at one point during his career, could be counted on as a pantspooper?  Only time and the success of this blog will tell...or Harold (the fish) will die and Ill delete all this.  Or Ollie(the fish) will die, and then Harold will die of loneliness with one of those, yicky strands of fish poop hanging out of his fish butt even though he is already dead.  Or Harold (the kid) will find out when hes twenty-five and in love with a Victorias Secret Model whos Swedish and shell think its a cute and charming story because it has to do with Swedish fish (which it doesnt), but Harold will be so happy, and his pantspooping days will be so far behind him, he wont care and Harold the Fish can poop up the jam in his little aquaponics tank til his little pooping fish heart is content.  And it will be because Harold was always that kind of fish- content.

Ghostfish Writer: Maeve Stephenson