I'd agree to avoid smaller heaters, too much chance of overheating and they are of cheaper quality (which tend to malfunction). I put my betta rescues in a larger container with a heater. (container in container) Not pretty but works in winter. Others have own tank higher up which stays warmer. Also, many of my tanks have no heater (Betta rescue is near wall with window) so I use a room heater in dead of winter or when heater from building is off. RE: eclispe. I have a 2.5 gallon with betta male. I do not use the lid filter as I have found it too strong for the betta finnage, in such a small space especially. I take it off and use one of those small penn plak filters that stick on with suckers. I use a valve you can get to slow the filtration. (blueish things and very cheap) Cut tubing and stick one inbetween, then you adjust the flow, plus I stick the filter up higher to reduce air bubbles from tossing him around. They often like to hang near this though, and chase the bubbles. I think you can find a 2-3 gallon tank with glass lid and lighting. (they don't like esp bright light as well). Live plants are best mho, help with water quality, and they feed off of them (little things we can't see). I don't use gravel in such small spaces and do very little sweep off bottom once daily. Clean out completely (save part of water and filter with culture) when warranted, about once every other week. (just stuff on glass walls) Smaller sizes need extra care with re to water quality. Or a sponge filter with slower adjusted water flow. I like Anubias plants as they can deal with the low light and are easy to care for, ie no sand, just put on rock or wood piece. I attack a suction thing to wood then attach plant then put plants where I want them. Make sure rocks, wood so on are soft edged, betta fins are one cell thin and rip easily. (that little 7 watt bulb keeps the water pretty warm, although mine are on a higher ledge where warm air rises) Nana would be good for them. He sleeps under and on top of the little curled leaves, plus micro bugs are on them and he nibbles. I cut one of those coconut huts in half (don't have to) and one guy loves to sleep in there. Female in other tank could care less, lol. She sits on top of it though to rest. I was going to grow java moss on them but didn't have time nor does my java do well, except in betta rescue bowl (he can't swim so low bowl with moss tiles for him to scoot on, with small penn plax filter (I love these filters) and heated second containter. You can get a coconut hut and put Anubias, java fern or moss on them. As some were rescues, I have too many for larger tanks for each, hence the 2.5. A five would be a great size. PS. I was thinking of some sort of heating pad myself. Nice to see someone has invented them, so will look at that. Thanks. Good luck, Sherry

Hi, I'm assuming you wish to save the fish when dredging the pond. First you will need a large container. I use a 50 gallon oval garden pond mold that you would use for a garden pond. Depending on the size of the pond and fish, you could just use a large tote. Just make sure it is rinsed out and has never had anything in it that may kill or hurt the fish. Put this somewhere flat and fill it with water from the pond. You will need a large air stone and an air pump. If you really want to be nice. Get some Aquarium salt and throw a hand full in. This will make the fishes temporary home like a Jacuzzi. Do not feed the fish while in this home. Put a netting over the top, but don't enclose it. Fish may attempt to jump. Removing the fish from the pond. You will need two nets, or a fine net and something to direct them with. Lower the pond to 6-10 inches, they will be hard to see. Don't be surprised if there are more fish in there than you imagined. Use something that wont injure the fish to direct them into the net. As your draining water, listen for splashing, you will miss a few. Don't leave the fish in their temporary home for more than a few days. Accumulate the fish back to the pond. Remember, if you have allot of fish, don't put them all back in, pick your favorites and donate or trade the rest. You don't want to overload the pond. Hope this help, Craig

We are building a 1500 ga pond and will be adding fish within the month. Although this is an old post, I was hoping someone with extra koi might see it. I'm in Columbia, MD. You can reach me at 301-758-6864. Thanks!

buehl- I have the estimate from Ken Griffin (I do need him to break out the plumbing portion for me), but I don't have Mark Brew's in yet. It seems like Calvert didn't want the job- they never got back to me. Much to my surprise, my mom's GC (the one who does great work and was supposed to do it in the first place), and his plumbing sub said that they couldn't give me an estimate until they "got in there". I am not to keen on doing this scope of a project on time and material. I don't know for certain if the origianl GC was insured, but I think he was. He is now on MHIC. I will have to call tomorrow and have them check the records for that time period. I will definately look into the insurance angle. Oh, we had great news today (HA!!). Our electrician was out and discovered that we have 14g wire wher it should be 12g (GFCI), not everything in the bathroom is on a GFCI that should be, the shower light isn't right (we knew that one), and he has 14g going into junctions and 12g going out, and we found 2 junctions (with no covers), but there may be some hidden..... It just keeps getting better and better.... BTW, I am working on my new draft, hopefully to have done by the weekend...