tan.b

makes a change from -10F!....whats the warmest it gets up there in the frozen north?

susitna-flower

Good Morning tanb. It is -2F here this morning, and I only tell you this to help connect with all you folks, not to complain. We are in a bit of a cool stretch right now, but it also has it's up side. The sun is shinning which raises spirits. The temperature is so fickle. I think for this time of year the norm is +20. By April we can expect +30, then summer it will range from 55 - 75 here in our area. I did see 5 moose on the way to the bus stop today!

tan.b

no worries!! i'm curious to know what everyone is up to!! the uk is so dull and boring!!!!! thats quite a temp range! it does get reasonably warm then!! you'd laugh, but i have to look on my tank thermometer strip to calculate your F into C temps when i dont have my phone to hand to do the convertion!!!! - that of course only works when you're not freezing!!!
at least you see wildlife!!! i've seen none today!! the odd bird here and there, dogs on leads, neighbours cats in my garden, squashed rabbits in road ( ), but thats about it! are moose dangerous? in the uk the nearest we have is deer, and they're petrified of humans so run away when you're about half a mile away from them!! we had some domestic reindeer at work a few years ago for the kids to see at christmas and they were obviously very tame...and small! moose are big arent they? like cow/horse sized? the reindeer i saw were goat sized. anyway, i'm rambling...AGAIN!!....better get back to my water changes!!!

susitna-flower

tanb, I think people from all over are curious about how other people live.* I am including a link here that Anchorage our largest city just put out. click on the word brand and you will see a video of the "fun life in Anchorage".* http://www.bigwildlife.com* The moose walking across the road is similar to what we have around where I live.
* We are 120 miles north of Anchorage, so there are fewer roads and people, and a different mix of things to do.* We are in a very rural community. The moose* are dangerous, many are hit by cars on the highway, which does lots of damage.* We had a friend killed a couple years ago in an accident with one.* Then they can be a danger because if you get to close they will 'charge' striking out with their hooves.* But for the most part if you see them out and about, they are more interested in eating the shrubs and bushes than worrying about what you are doing.* One thing though, if you are out on a 'trail' and that is where the moose wants to walk, you don't argue, give them the trail and step behind a tree to be safe. *

tan.b

lol, i wouldnt argue with any animal that is bigger/stronger/more dangerous than me!! i know when i'm beat!!!* that link was good! what sort of bears do you get up there? have you ever seen one? feel free to tell me to stop being nosey!!! i wont be offended!!! - Tan*

susitna-flower

* I don't think you are being nosey. The bears are around.* Of course in the winter time they hibernate, so don't come out till mid April, earlier if the weather is really warm.* That is the time they really are hard on the moose, as there isn't anything else for them to eat.* They go after the moose calves.* Since we have a salmon stream going through our property, we do see bears quite often in summer.* One thing I would love to do around here is to develop a pond/waterfall out in the front yard, stocked with koi, but do worry that would draw the bears. We dug a 'pit' out front, to gravel our drive, which has left the perfect spot to put that pond, just too many other things to do.* *
Fish in the Frozen North!* -10 F this morning! *

tan.b

i didnt know bears ate moose!!! i've seen them on tv catching fish before though. never thought about domestic ponds and bears though!!! i also didnt know they hibernated!!! the things you learn on here!!! how clever are bears....could you use fencing around your property to keep the bears out? or electric wire fencing? they wouldnt touch that!! costly though if you've a big perimeter.
my mum has a pond and has fencing around it to keep the dogs from jumping in (and my kids!!) - they are swimming dogs which love water! and then to keep the herons off the fish she has netting over the pond so the herons cant snatch the fish.
you'd need a really deep pond too wouldnt you so they can hibernate under the ice rather than IN the ice!! i expect you'd get fairly thick ice up there!!
there's always jobs to do!! our house is an ongoing project!! decorating being the most time consuming i think!! spent past couple of years focussing onthe garden, but thats about done now. just upkeep now! :P never enough hours in the day!!

susitna-flower

tan, the fencing won't work.* We used to have cows and horses.* Finally after many years of trying, we just let our critters run free, because bears and moose go over or through all the fencing we put up!* They are not stopped by electric or barbed.* We got "hog" wire,* it is a welded mesh in 4" squares X 4' high, tried a rail under and over, then barbed or electric, and that STILL didn't work.* We had new neighbors move in, who didn't like the visits from our live stock, so finally we gave that all up.* We still do put up hay, though and may in years to come have a few cows as we love them.* When there is plenty of food in the wild, bears really would rather avoid humans, we have never personally had problems with them attacking our livestock.* They just don't have the concept of fencing, and when confronted with something in the way, do not look for a way around, they go through.* VERY tough skinned!* *As for fish in a pond, yes it has to be about 14' deep at least, and you would have to have air injection, just like in a fish tank.* The ice could get up to 2', snow on top helps insulate.* *For the best* a hole needs to be in the ice to let bad air escape.

tan.b

blimey! determined beasts then!!!! thats a shame tho that you cant have livestock cos of them! if i had the land i'd have animals on it, but with bears about it somewhat changes things!!! :P
my mum used to put tennis balls on our pond so the ice formed around them leaving holes in the ice to allow for gas exchange. i'd forgotten about that til you mentioned it!! sounds like a big pond with that depth! alot of work to add to your projects!!! think the 300gal tank may be easier!! at least thats based indoors! good luck with all your projects!
Tan

tatnsteph

Just wanted to say hello, have been reading this sight for most of the day I find it so interesting and there is so much useful info here, so I decided I would log in and join all you fish lovers out there

susitna-flower

Welcome, tatnsteph, do you have tanks? If so let us know what you have, what they are stocked with, and if you ever have any problems, fishlore is the first place to ask! People here really try to help out. Have a great day!

Fish in the Frozen North It's warmed up to +9F ! 8)

tan.b

welcome to fishlore!! the more you look, the more you find!!! i'm still finding interesting articles and onfo on here! any questions, just ask, and i'm sure someone will help you and your fish! as susitna-fllower says......we're always intersted to knwo what tanks and fish you have or plan to have!! enjoy!

whitewavemoon

Ok, you definitely win "the battle of the cold!" It's nowhere near that bad here!
Thanks for the welcome.

gilly2402

hi im Gilly i have a wife colleen and 3 kids just set up a 60lt tank today as we are just beginning hope to get a healthy start to the hobby any tips please post to me many thnks

atmmachine816

Glad to have you here.

Stop by the aquarium nitrogen board to read about cycling your tank and good luck. Enjoy the hobby you have just begun.

susitna-flower

atmmachine816

Is it really the last race?

susitna-flower

HI ATM! Every year it is the last great race! Actually that is like the "nick name for Alaska, The Last Frontier. You know just something to catch your ear.
Actually this year it has been BRUTAL.. It won't be the last, but will go down in the history books as one to remember. I have felt so sorry for those folks, and dogs. Haven't heard of any fatalities, man nor beast, but there has been frostbite, and many dropping out, more than usual. My favorite a 50+ woman Dee Dee Jonrowe had to drop out, she cracked up (wrecked), and almost tore her little finger off at the knuckle! She said it totally separated and was only holding on by skin........Yuck

The race is run every year to commemorate the "serum run" back in the early 1900's when there was an outbreak of diphtheria. Vaccine was hauled up to Nome by dog sled, the only way at the time to do it in a "hurry".

One really cool thing, before the Ididarod starts, back in February they run every year a race with snowmachines called the Iron Man race. From Big Lake (just south of where we live) North to Fairbanks, and back to Big Lake. It is all out 100 mph day and night, two men teams riding separate machines, but able to help each other.
This year our "FIRST DUDE" won with his partner.. His wife the new Governor of Alaska flagged him in with the checkered flag at the finish! We have never had a woman governor before, and it is quite the big deal.

Good question though.

Fish in the Frozen North.