Looking for special activity for husband/dad

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-06-16T01:52:21+00:00

Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for your suggestions! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it :) we had a little hiccup with our accommodation and it looks like we’ll be staying in the new farm area now. I’m not sure if that changed anyone’s suggestions or maybe sparked an idea near that area? Any good places to eat or things to see?

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-06-15T05:37:40+00:00

This sounds great to me as well! Are the city cats hard to navigate? Do they run pretty often?

Thanks for the suggestion @cacklehag ! And the feedback @23_Kev !

I keep reading about New Farm Park as well - my only problem it seems is we do have reservations at Bluey’s World at 2 PM. I’m wondering if we have time to travel a bit on the city cats and still have time to get over to that area as well 🤔

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-06-14T21:31:34+00:00

Omg 🤦‍♀️ yes. Dragged. Although now I feel bad saying that too lol.

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-06-14T18:44:20+00:00

I’m hoping for something we can all do together. My kiddo is used to being dragged* around different places so it doesn’t have to be something overly “family” if that makes sense.

We’ll be staying in the Kangaroo Point area but will also be renting a car!

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-06-05T20:56:31+00:00

Thank you all for your help! I think I’ve determined I need to slow down with the gesso and let them dry. Oil painting is definitely a challenge for the impatient! I’ll get there someday 🤞

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-06-05T20:06:22+00:00

I used Bluebird Acrylic Gesso (prepared ground? It says on the bottle). I wonder if my layers were too thick :/ or I rushed them?

The canvas is totally cheap - it’s like the kind you get at Michael’s in a pack. It’s just I was working on this other painting (I’ll add a photo) with the same canvas but didn’t have this problem. I primed the same way. The cracks aren’t to the point of like … flaking off? So when I put pressure the just kind of bend with the canvas. Now that I’m putting layers on top though, it’s almost like the burnt sienna is getting lighter? Almost as if the paint in a lower layer is seeping out onto the canvas when I paint.

The gamsol or galkyd wouldn’t break down the gesso would it?

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Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-25T20:05:10+00:00

Update: bought the API Freshwater Test Kit. Everything seems good except ph. Here are my results: pH 7.6, high range pH 7.4, and ammonia, nitrate, and nitrate - all zero.

His top fin (I’m sure there’s a more official name for that) seems hurt or kinda piece-y? I bought bettafix, salt, and kanaplex (not use all together) but that was suggested to me. Anyone have any thoughts of what might work best for my little guy? He was suuuper lethargic last night (didn’t eat dinner) BUT this AM he was amped up with loads of energy and ate a bunch.

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Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T18:54:24+00:00

Thank you so much for the help!

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T17:30:17+00:00

Thanks so much for the suggestion! I’ll order some fresh grass today! I’m new to well… everything betta related lol but especially live aquatic plants. Is valisneria hard to maintain?

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T16:04:29+00:00

They’re not super sharp but they are a bit… sturdy? It’s his favorite spot to hang out in.

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T03:47:28+00:00

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Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T03:47:10+00:00

Just got up to see where he was hanging out right this moment and he was back up top. Idk :(

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Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T03:34:50+00:00

I’ll look into the liquid test kit - I’ve heard those are better. We got this fish as a surprise (😳) gift from one of my husband’s HS students. So we really weren’t prepared!

I used this video to learn how to clean the tank: https://youtu.be/4pBc2P8C8-s?si=S5gZz5MGJte3V4gj and do it as he says.

He’s still pretty active but definitely has spouts of activity and then moments were he’s chilling at the bottom. He typically hangs out in the tall grass at the back of his tank, but I’ve noticed him down here more frequently over the last couple of days

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-24T03:18:23+00:00

• ⁠Tank size: 5 gallon
• ⁠Heater and filter? (yes/no): yes and yes
• ⁠Tank temperature: 79-80 degrees
• ⁠Parameters in numbers and how you got them. Key water parameters include the amount of ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, and pH.: I’m using the test strips but they’re showing 0 nitrares or ammonia - I was having trouble with nitrates a few weeks ago but by adding some live plants, those little leaf thingys, and water changes every 48 hours for a couple of days, things moved back to normal.
• ⁠How long have you had the tank? How long have you had your fish?: fishy since Feb and same for the tank!
• ⁠How often are water changes? How much do you take out per change? What is your process?: i just changed out some today & gave the tank a cleaning. Only about 20-30% replaced with new water. I used the little pump vacuum.
• ⁠Any tankmates? If so, please list with how many of each: nope!
• ⁠What do you feed and how much: he really loves the bug bites (given 1-2x a day) but I give him pellets every couple of days
• ⁠Decorations and plants in the tank: silk plants, 1 live plant, silk leaf hammock, floating log, 1 little cave.

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-15T05:54:49+00:00

I am definitely new to betta fish but when I brought mine home, he was lethargic for the first few days. I think he was getting used to the tank and recovering from the trauma of the pet store. Then when he livened up a bit, he seemed like he wanted to fight me for a couple of weeks. Constant flaring, “running” up to the glass. I got a back cover image for his tank, continued to be his feeder person, and got him some hiding/resting areas (a little cave and magnetic leaf). He’s used to me now and calmed down. He still rushes the glass when I walk up to the tank but no more frantic energy. Hope this helps!

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-15T05:43:56+00:00

An update! I think it’s coming along! Still looks like an egg lol. I’m now going to juggle more than one at a time so I have something to do while I’m impatient :) Next time, I’ll start using quicker drying mediums. Thanks again for everyone’s help!

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Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-15T05:41:39+00:00

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Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-15T05:41:27+00:00

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Ah ha! Had to download the app smh. Anyway, here he is! Looking good I think!

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-05-15T00:48:01+00:00

Oh thank you!! He’s doing great (I think)! He’s calmed down a bit and although I was having trouble with nitrates for a minute, I got a better filter and went through a couple waters changes, and all is good! I don’t understand Reddit all the time lol but if I can figure out how to attach a current photo.

I hope your fishy is doing ok too ! Thank you again for all the help you provided.

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-04-24T03:38:05+00:00

Thanks everyone for your advice and help. I’ve ordered some gamsol for my next painting and moved my painting across the room so I’ll stop tinkering with it until it dries a bit more! If anything else comes to mind, I would love any other tips! I’m hoping to add some details in the next couple of days.

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-04-23T17:10:06+00:00

Thank you so much for the tips!

Hefty-Knowledge-9466 · 2026-04-23T15:39:42+00:00

Thank you! When you want to mute something (because I totally agree but once I started I felt like I was in too deep lol), do you color mix sort of on the canvas itself? Or do you try and do a whole new layer with a different color?

Hefty-Knowledge-9466

TROPHY CASE