[center][size=25pt]I think the saying goes…
Not
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This is fun
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hand over the cookies…the fish are hungry
This and diapers in the tank (see Sneaky’s thread http://delreefclub.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=28&topic=1400.msg15081#msg15081) show the importance of childproofing (or detering/slowing down as it should be called).
Not that we have put the cabinet latches on the doors to the sump yet. We have a plywood panel leaning against the back of the cabinet on the one side but not the other. Of course the 2 yr old goes behind the cabinet on the side that it is not covered. And gets yelled at every time.
Welcome to DRC.
abcd we are trying to baby proof, we have a four year old, a three year old, and an eight month old! We have gone to extremes, like say three foot baby gates! and now we will have to do it again huh…
Some things to consider as reasonable steps to baby proofing your tank:
Pad lock on the door to the stand (assuming this is where the sump is) - anything less and you’re going to find, diapers, cookies, juice cups, lip stiocks, cell phones and many other things in there.
Additional plexi added to the top of the tank to increase overall height to about 7 feet - for same reasons as above
Additional wood or barbed wire between the stand and the wall behind the tank - or you will eventually find a small toddler with their head stuck - or a spouse too late at night after too much to drink
Nail all chairs in the room to the floor - children WILL find something to climb on to get to the top of the tank to feed the fishies
Sew all couch cushions to the couch - children will also add these for fishies to sleep - unfortunately they act like HUGE sponges thus draining the sump of all water, running your return pump and skimmer pump dry and burning them out.
Make sure all table lamps are tac welded to the tables - kids have been known to think the fish need more light
Keep ALL fish food containers attached securely to the ceiling - kids will ALWAYS help you by feeding the fishies 'cause they looked hungry - and they WILL feed them the whole container
Don’t allow the kids to see you top off the tank either - they will use whatever container they can find to mimic you - and since they are too short to reach the sink you usually end up with toilet water - and usually right after the older kid didn’t flush
Hide the nets - always - ina neighbors house would be good - kids mimic everythig they see - including scooping fish out and flushing the deadones…unfortunately kids don’t care if the fish is dead or not - you’d hate to lose that prize show fish to the porcelain paradise
Anyway - just some thing s to consider. Good luck.
OMG Craig that’s too funny. I was just going to say make sure your testing stuff is out of reach.
I keep a small (and I mean very small) tupperware container with a few pinches of food in the cabinet. He usually sees me feeding from that. If (or when) my helper decides he is going to help at least it won’t be too much food.
The other day I was topping off and there was thankfully clean laundry sitting on the sofa waiting to be folded. I was dumping water into the sump and out of the corner of my eye see him, look in the 5 gal bucket and clean socks and him going to get more.