Multiple Tank Syndrome and Mothers
- Thread starter Goodcreature
- Start date
The strategies of dealing with MTS and love ones are a delicate art. Any imbalance and strife and anguish result. These are a few simple steps that will allow you to fully maximize the quantity of tanks in your residence.
1. Be selfless in other area's where money is concerned in other area's. Wear you shoes and clothing until they have extreme levels of ventilation. This has an added side effect of random strangers handing you money as you wait to cross the street. My wife says it's 'cause I look like a bum but I think they understand my selflessness and are supporting me in my hobby.
2. Use guilt shamelessly. My favorite time to go fish shopping is after my wife has done a little clothing shopping. So I spend a hundred or so at the LFS. It's still less than her little spree.
3. Be sneaky - I would say that this should not be attempted by those under 18 but they already know how to do this best. By the time I was 13 I was a master in the art of subterfuge. Garage's and closests are great places to add in a few new additions. Any other area where they are out of direct site also work well.
4. Make it organic to the decor: The art of making something seem to appear in a natural way is a great way to get more tanks. Say a small betta tank with a nice plant growing out of a custom filter with flowers of course. Who can complain about flowers?
5. Have a show tank. Yep have a tank that you keep in pristine condition and only the best and most beautiful go into. Keep it clean or from all angles. If it is in a prominent position friends and neighbors will compliment you on the tank. You can slowly convince the resistant members of the household to start thinking of adding more tanks. They might even suggest other place to put one.
6. Be patient. Take your time and pretty soon there will be more water than air in your house. It may take many years but eventually if you follow the right steps it will happen.
1. Be selfless in other area's where money is concerned in other area's. Wear you shoes and clothing until they have extreme levels of ventilation. This has an added side effect of random strangers handing you money as you wait to cross the street. My wife says it's 'cause I look like a bum but I think they understand my selflessness and are supporting me in my hobby.
2. Use guilt shamelessly. My favorite time to go fish shopping is after my wife has done a little clothing shopping. So I spend a hundred or so at the LFS. It's still less than her little spree.
3. Be sneaky - I would say that this should not be attempted by those under 18 but they already know how to do this best. By the time I was 13 I was a master in the art of subterfuge. Garage's and closests are great places to add in a few new additions. Any other area where they are out of direct site also work well.
4. Make it organic to the decor: The art of making something seem to appear in a natural way is a great way to get more tanks. Say a small betta tank with a nice plant growing out of a custom filter with flowers of course. Who can complain about flowers?
5. Have a show tank. Yep have a tank that you keep in pristine condition and only the best and most beautiful go into. Keep it clean or from all angles. If it is in a prominent position friends and neighbors will compliment you on the tank. You can slowly convince the resistant members of the household to start thinking of adding more tanks. They might even suggest other place to put one.
6. Be patient. Take your time and pretty soon there will be more water than air in your house. It may take many years but eventually if you follow the right steps it will happen.
LiveMermaid07
Bloody Mary. As in, hand me one.
If you have an extension cord, an outlet / lite bulb adapter, some push pins / wire, and or a metal clothes hanger, you can jerry rig a light to hang over it. 
If it has a lid, the bulb can sit on that, then just use some aluminum foil or an aluminum mini loaf pan to make a reflector.
Good luck!
If it has a lid, the bulb can sit on that, then just use some aluminum foil or an aluminum mini loaf pan to make a reflector.
Good luck!
LiveMermaid07
Bloody Mary. As in, hand me one.
The strategies of dealing with MTS and love ones are a delicate art. Any imbalance and strife and anguish result. These are a few simple steps that will allow you to fully maximize the quantity of tanks in your residence.
1. Be selfless in other area's where money is concerned in other area's. Wear you shoes and clothing until they have extreme levels of ventilation. This has an added side effect of random strangers handing you money as you wait to cross the street. My wife says it's 'cause I look like a bum but I think they understand my selflessness and are supporting me in my hobby. ---- Lmao!
2. Use guilt shamelessly. My favorite time to go fish shopping is after my wife has done a little clothing shopping. So I spend a hundred or so at the LFS. It's still less than her little spree.
3. Be sneaky - I would say that this should not be attempted by those under 18 but they already know how to do this best. By the time I was 13 I was a master in the art of subterfuge. Garage's and closests are great places to add in a few new additions. Any other area where they are out of direct site also work well.
4. Make it organic to the decor: The art of making something seem to appear in a natural way is a great way to get more tanks. Say a small betta tank with a nice plant growing out of a custom filter with flowers of course. Who can complain about flowers?
5. Have a show tank. Yep have a tank that you keep in pristine condition and only the best and most beautiful go into. Keep it clean or from all angles. If it is in a prominent position friends and neighbors will compliment you on the tank. You can slowly convince the resistant members of the household to start thinking of adding more tanks. They might even suggest other place to put one.
6. Be patient. Take your time and pretty soon there will be more water than air in your house. It may take many years but eventually if you follow the right steps it will happen.
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I don't think steps two or three are going to fly with my Mom, but I can certainly use the others. Thanks!
If you have an extension cord, an outlet / lite bulb adapter, some push pins / wire, and or a metal clothes hanger, you can jerry rig a light to hang over it.
If it has a lid, the bulb can sit on that, then just use some aluminum foil or an aluminum mini loaf pan to make a reflector.
Good luck!
It pains me to say that I'm a noob with DIY, but it's the truth. Could you re-explain that?
As a mom of 2, I have a suggestion. Offer to keep the room the jar will be in clean. As in you do all the dusting, sweeping, etc. in that room while your tank is there. That would work for me in a heartbeat whether it went with my decor or not. Oh..and then keep the promise! lol
Okay, I don't know your age but take it from a 55 yr. old male married 26 years:
"If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".
Some other advice I gave our boys:
On ANY anniversary, birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas or special occasion, NEVER give her anything which entails work or her having to work. No vacuum cleaners, toasters, etc. NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE SAYS IT'S NEEDED. Don't....DON'T.....DON'T...
Once you are in a relationship(dating, living together, or married), when she cooks anything, NEVER say these words: "This doesn't taste like mama's does".
"If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy".
Some other advice I gave our boys:
On ANY anniversary, birthday, Mother's Day, Christmas or special occasion, NEVER give her anything which entails work or her having to work. No vacuum cleaners, toasters, etc. NO MATTER HOW MUCH SHE SAYS IT'S NEEDED. Don't....DON'T.....DON'T...
Once you are in a relationship(dating, living together, or married), when she cooks anything, NEVER say these words: "This doesn't taste like mama's does".
1. You don't pay the bills that keep the house running.
2. If you disagree with your parents decisions, see rule #1.
3. Move out get your own place while you still have all the answers. If it doesn't work out, see Rule #1.
I rarely turn on the lights over my tanks. The only ones I do are the planted ones. Putting a tank near a window and using ambient light usually is good enough. The main reason for lights is is that they are for our enjoyment. Don't be too hard on your parents. After all, they are parents and not roomies. Being a parent doesn't mean always being right or logical in the eyes of their children. There are some things that they won't agree to. It doesn't make them wrong, it just means they get to play the parent card and you lose. Heck I have been married for many years and there are some things that when my wife says "No!" I don't argue with her over it. Everyone needs to have their area of the domain to rule over. When my wife says "Don't put that on MY wall-unit" I don't. It doesn't matter that I am the one that bought it. Your Mother may feel the same way about the (her) kitchen. Good luck.
2. If you disagree with your parents decisions, see rule #1.
3. Move out get your own place while you still have all the answers. If it doesn't work out, see Rule #1.
I rarely turn on the lights over my tanks. The only ones I do are the planted ones. Putting a tank near a window and using ambient light usually is good enough. The main reason for lights is is that they are for our enjoyment. Don't be too hard on your parents. After all, they are parents and not roomies. Being a parent doesn't mean always being right or logical in the eyes of their children. There are some things that they won't agree to. It doesn't make them wrong, it just means they get to play the parent card and you lose. Heck I have been married for many years and there are some things that when my wife says "No!" I don't argue with her over it. Everyone needs to have their area of the domain to rule over. When my wife says "Don't put that on MY wall-unit" I don't. It doesn't matter that I am the one that bought it. Your Mother may feel the same way about the (her) kitchen. Good luck.
Sounds like your Mom wants nothing to do with it. That being the case, it makes sense she would not want your little shrimp jar in her kitchen. That "perfect spot" is probably open because she doesn't want the area cluttered up.
Your best bet is to find a cheap desk lamp or reading lamp second-hand.... yard sales, thrift shops, Craigslist. It shouldn't take you too long to scrounge one up. When you've got that, use a CFL bulb.
Your best bet is to find a cheap desk lamp or reading lamp second-hand.... yard sales, thrift shops, Craigslist. It shouldn't take you too long to scrounge one up. When you've got that, use a CFL bulb.
