on the salmon front...

all is not well.

i tested the ammonia levels today. they're rising. i knew it was time. tank cleaning.

so apparently i'm supposed to siphon water out of the tank with this hose thing but the only way i can think of to get the water out is to suck on the end of the hose. there's no way this is how this thing must work. i go and get my principal to help me. he inhaled on the hose until water came out of the tank and he got the end of it into the bucket before it hit his lips. hmm - i guess that IS the only way to do it. shoot. i guess next time, it'll have to be me.

so as the water is pouring out into the bucket, i'm supposed to be pushing the other end of it around in the gravel, making sure i'm getting all the excrement out of the rocks. (like that word?) but as i do this, i'm realizing that really, all the alevin are inside this little rock fort that we've made and i'm sure all the excrement is in there too. what do i do? start pulling rocks away? freak them all out? as if they're not already totally scared as they look out their little fort windows and see this giant hose poking around in the gravel. so i don't bother them. i fill up my bucket of water, empty it, get new water, clean it, pour it back in. retest the ammonia.

NOTHING CHANGED! the ammonia levels are still too high! and you know what will happen if the ammonia levels are too high...(say it with me now) all the salmon will die!

i sent off a quick email of questions to my salmon guru and have yet to hear back. oh man...what have i gotten myself into?