exploring the beauty of changing seasons

[graye]

As many of us keep tropical fish, our locations experience drastic seasonal changes. I was cleaning up in my backyard after the hurricane and realized it's nearly time for my outdoor Daphnia to shut down due to the weather.

I'll soon have to test the few heaters I use, and I've already had to close windows that were open since Spring. The dehumidifier will need attention again. I've cleaned the baseboard heaters that haven't been on since April and washed the windows in my garage fishroom. This time of year, I inspect equipment and review breeding projects since I won't be spending as much time outdoors.

Autumn means an increase in fish sales and local clubs resuming meetings. I'm aware this varies in other areas. Autumn is a season I enjoy, but I'm less fond of what follows it. What preparations do you make for the changing seasons?

[eleNt]

As many of us keep tropical fish, our locations experience drastic seasonal changes. I was cleaning up in my backyard after the hurricane and realized it's nearly time for my outdoor Daphnia to shut down due to the weather.

I'll soon have to test the few heaters I use, and I've already had to close windows that were open since Spring. The dehumidifier will need attention again. I've cleaned the baseboard heaters that haven't been on since April and washed the windows in my garage fishroom. This time of year, I inspect equipment and review breeding projects since I won't be spending as much time outdoors.

Autumn means an increase in fish sales and local clubs resuming meetings. I'm aware this varies in other areas. Autumn is a season I enjoy, but I'm less fond of what follows it. What preparations do you make for the changing seasons?

I'm not much of a seasonal person, but I do find myself doing a few things to prepare for the changing weather. As the temperatures drop, I start to think about my outdoor equipment and whether it's still in working order. I've got a few heaters that I need to test out, just to make sure they're still good to go.

I've also been closing up the windows that have been open since spring, and I'm going to have to break out the dehumidifier again soon. I've been putting off cleaning the baseboard heaters, but I know I need to get on that before it gets too cold. I've also been washing the windows in my garage fishroom, just to get everything spick and span.

I'm not a huge fan of the cold weather, but I do enjoy the fact that autumn is when fish sales start to pick up. It's also when the clubs start meeting again, which is always a good time. I've been thinking about my breeding projects and what I want to work on over the winter. I'm not looking forward to the winter, but I'm trying to focus on the positives.

[bettaMagenta]

Fall is a time of preparation for the animals on our farm, making sure we have the necessary supplies to get them through the winter. Heaters for the water tanks are a must to prevent them from freezing over. We stocked up on hay a few weeks ago, as much as our storage space would allow, since the drought has forced us to feed them hay instead of pasture grass. Unfortunately, our storage space isn't equipped to hold nine months' worth of hay, so I'll need to make another purchase to get us through the winter.

I still have a roof that needs finishing, and I've been trying to find the time to get it done. Our outside hydrants also need attention, one of which I'd like to repair, but it'll require some digging to replace it as it's buried four feet deep to prevent freezing.

With the new Tilapia tanks, we'll need to harvest the fish, drain the tanks, and store equipment like tank heaters and air pumps inside for the winter. Additionally, I need to get the bucket on the tractor ready for snow removal on the driveway and around the farm yard.

[graye]

It must get really hectic on a farm. I just started teaching an adult ed class for newcomers, and it struck me how everyone was still in short sleeves despite the season. In 9 weeks, we'll likely be well below zero and probably have had the first snow - that's usually the case, but weather's been unpredictable lately. I can see the ocean from my window, and the warmer water temperature is a wild card that could impact our weather.

The days are getting noticeably shorter, though - it's dark when I wake up, and night's falling earlier and earlier. We've already lost a few hours of sunlight. I've been meaning to adjust the lighting periods for my tanks, too. With the room lighting from the windows, it was a luxury during summer. But when it's dark at 4:30, I'll need to change the off/on settings or I'll hardly see my fish.

[bettaMagenta]

I've rigged up a string of greenhouse grow lights over my Tilapia tanks - not for the veggies, but to give me extra daylight hours so I can squeeze in a couple more feedings. Plus, those early morning feedings were getting tricky - I'm up at 4:30 AM, out the door by 5:00 AM, and in the summer, natural light was enough for that first feeding. But once the days started getting shorter, it was dark by the time I left for work, so the lights were a must. Now I can get them fed before I head out for 8-10 hours.

I've also got some LED lights set up in the farm yard - we still do daylight saving here, and when we fall back, it's dark when I get home from work. So, starting in October, all my night chores are done under artificial lighting.

[BadgersSong]

I used to have a pond with goldfish and bluegills, and fall was the time to start prepping for the cold weather. I'd dig out the aerators to keep the water oxygenated and catch excess fish to prevent overcrowding. If I didn't thin out the population, they'd all die under the ice when winter hit. So, I'd harvest some for the kitchen and use the rest as fertilizer in the garden.

Now that we live in town, things are much simpler. I've been trying to find time to reseal and set up a 55-gallon aquarium before the weather gets too cold. Setting up a new tank in the winter is not my favorite thing to do, so I'm hoping to get it done soon.

[infold]

I'm not looking forward to the cold, but I am ready to break out the warm clothing.

[WildFins]

I keep my fishroom air conditioned year-round, mainly for two reasons. Firstly, without it, the space gets really stuffy and the tanks would overheat. Secondly, it's far easier to maintain precise temperatures in the tanks by cooling the room and using a heater. Since I don't have a cooling system for the tanks themselves, this setup works best for me.

[WildFins]

I'll miss collecting mosquito larvae now that the season's winding down. This was my first time trying it out, and it was a great way to supplement my fish's diet. Next year, I'm planning to set up more containers so I can harvest and freeze some for the winter months.

[wandg]

As the seasons change, I've been making the most of the time left with my backyard hummingbirds, feeding them as much as I can. Their big migration to Central America is just around the corner, and I want to make sure they're well-prepared for the long flight ahead. It's also a good time for me to receive fish shipments, with the temperatures being more moderate.