There goes the sun,,,

I think I have to give in and recognize that Fall is here, and winter is coming fast. My Daphnia cultures out back are slowing right down, and the heaters are out of their boxes, being readied to go back into a couple of tanks. Grrr.
It's a funny hobby. When summer is here,with its almost ideal fishkeeping conditions, we are all busy out leaping through flowery meadows. Then Fall hits and we want to play with our tanks - only shipped fish freeze in the new Canada Post outdoor boxes (don't ask me how I know), shipping ends, live food for breeders gets complicated...
Does anyone else have a routine to get ready for winter? Today is super tank cleaning and prepping day for me.

GaryE wrote:My Daphnia cultures out back are slowing right down

Oh interesting. Are you planning to let them overwinter ?? They will begin to lay overwintering eggs instead of live young.

Probably only two weeks left for shipping and only hardier fish right now with low temps overnight. I am still able to order from the biologic supply houses up until early December.

For me, cleaning tanks outside is good until mid November, just enough to keep your hands from freezing with the water from the outdoor tap. I would think most hobbyists are getting back into the routine of looking at the aquariums with less daylight time outdoors and more focus on indoor activities.

My Daphnia have overwintered and returned for several years now. I just make sure there are lots of leaves in the bins they live in.

I just lost four beautiful killies shipped here, pretty well due to the new outdoor mailbox problem (my first try since). Just in the time I was at work after the early afternoon delivery in the box, the fish were in ice water. In previous years, with home delivery, I would have had two more safe weeks.

I'm going to seek a commercial drop off for the future. The regular mail to my address is no longer reliable. I won't be shipping again either. Such is Fall.

My white worm cultures will like the cooler house temps.

The outdoor tub was emptied months ago, thankfully as winter set in early this year in Edmonton (snow has been on the ground forever it seems). The cherry trees still have frozen green leafs on them and the black pits of cherrys still hang from branches (so many cherries this year I couldn't eat them all). Also ate strawberries and raspberries right up until the snows hit. Only other thing I do for winter is put the heater back in the living room tank (it's in front of a large window so it gets pretty cool, fish would probably still be fine but I want some of them to continue producing). I bought a LED light set up for the same tank back in the summer but have yet to install it. One of these, dreary, days!