On a somewhat related note, if you use an acetic acid-based product like Micro-set, be sure to let the acidic residue fully dissipate (which can take several days) before clearcoating over the decals or you run the risk of pinholes forming.
I lived in Ballard, WA for a time in the early '80s, which is home to a large Norwegian population and hosts an annual lutefisk festival- I tried it once and didn't like it.
I remember those old piston pumps, they sure were noisy. I got started in the aquarium hobby in 1971- back then a 55 gallon was a huge tank. These days I'm breeding African cichlids of the Aulonocara Stuartgranti complex