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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 19, 2015 14:50:36 GMT
Love my fish.
Even managed to get my panda Cory to breed.
Any other fish keepers among us?
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2015 16:02:05 GMT
Me, me, me !!!!!!!!
I started with freshwater fish, and moved onto Saltwater. I started with a Nano saltwater tank of 60 litres. This basically gave me some experience of Saltwater keeping. As you are more than aware, we don't really keep fish, we keep water, and if the water is good, then the fish and everything else thrives. I then upgraded to a 120 litre tank, which I currently run. However, I don't have a sump, which can be a bit awkward.
I've got the usual two Clownfish (Nemo), two Yellow Bellied Damsels, a Six-Lined Wrasse, a Filefish and a beautiful purple fish (can't remember off-hand what it is called!), plus an assortment of Hermit Crabs, Shrimps and Snails as Clean Up Crew! Plus some of the easier to keep Corals.
I'm currently planning to upgrade again. This will be my last upgrade. The tank is not yet available, but it's expected in the New Year. It'll be a 650 Litre Red Sea Max S-650, with LED lights.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 19, 2015 16:19:20 GMT
I wish I had the time to keep salt water fish but they need more regular tending than I can manage.
I abuse my tropical fish really. I don't water change as often as I should.
They are hardy little buggers though.
I have acquired some random fish over the years from people who can't be bothered but still have some fish that I set up with nearly 8 years ago.
Running a 100l with plenty of plants and good clean up fish helps me a lot.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2015 16:40:47 GMT
Yeah, Saltwater is more time consuming, but I'm looking at various methods to reduce this with the new tank. First off though I've got to get an Engineer in to see if my floor will take the weight. With the water, tank & cabinet, rocks, sand etc it'll weigh around 1000 kilo and as in most German houses we have a cellar. I think that will be ok though.
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Post by pirateman on Nov 19, 2015 16:48:02 GMT
I used to have fresh water tropicals when I was young. I started off with some guppies in a small tank where I just had a thermomenter ans took a little water out every day and added some warm. Amazingly they survived. I then got a proper set up, really enjoyed it. Really relaxing watching them. Then I went on holiday and my mum managed to kill them. Kind of lost enthusiasm after that. Tempted to start again though.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 19, 2015 17:03:53 GMT
You should.
A decent sized tank is a joy to look at and a real centre piece when guests come round.
My lad loves them too and has started taking a strong interest now.
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Post by pirateman on Nov 19, 2015 17:22:50 GMT
Probably will Hugo. I've been thinking about it for some time.
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 19, 2015 19:01:15 GMT
One thing I would say is don't buy fish you like, buy fish you need.
My 100l tank can sustain about 40 inches of fish.
I'd say about half of those were chosen to work for me rather than because I liked them.
Shrimp, plec, some panda Cory and cherry barbs are an excellent maintenance team.
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Post by pirateman on Nov 19, 2015 19:03:00 GMT
Thanks Hugo Good advice
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Post by baggins on Nov 20, 2015 11:30:59 GMT
Take in a program on one of the Discovery? Channels, Fish Tank Kings. Don't keep them myself but a fascinating watch.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2015 11:49:51 GMT
Take in a program on one of the Discovery? Channels, Fish Tank Kings. Don't keep them myself but a fascinating watch. I watch those programmes as well. They must do some careful editing on those programmes (Fish Tank Kings & Tanked). They give the impression that they rock up, install the tank, pour the water, then the fish, and everything is rosy. It ain't quite like that as tanks do need some time to 'cycle' (ie become mature with bacteria). They do use some special stuff to really speed up this process, but it can still take time. Plus I hate the fact that they usually use plastic coral inserts. |
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 20, 2015 11:55:56 GMT
Yeah, i didn't by a fish for 3 weeks after I poured water in.
Made some mistakes in my first stocking. Took me nearly 6 months to figure out what my tank needed.
String alge was a ball ache in my tank until I got barbs. They soon took care of that. I really need to replace my loach as I've had a snail problem since it died.
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Post by baggins on Nov 20, 2015 11:56:18 GMT
Take in a program on one of the Discovery? Channels, Fish Tank Kings. Don't keep them myself but a fascinating watch. I watch those programmes as well. They must do some careful editing on those programmes (Fish Tank Kings & Tanked). They give the impression that they rock up, install the tank, pour the water, then the fish, and everything is rosy. It ain't quite like that as tanks do need some time to 'cycle' (ie become mature with bacteria). They do use some special stuff to really speed up this process, but it can still take time. Plus I hate the fact that they usually use plastic coral inserts. They never show the bit where they cover them in curry sauce either. |
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Post by baggins on Nov 20, 2015 11:57:24 GMT
Yeah, i didn't by a fish for 3 weeks after I poured water in. Made some mistakes in my first stocking. Took me nearly 6 months to figure out what my tank needed. String alge was a ball ache in my tank until I got barbs. They soon took care of that. I really need to replace my loach as I've had a snail problem since it died. You look after your fish in stockings? Hope you pull the curtains. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2015 12:12:07 GMT
Yeah, i didn't by a fish for 3 weeks after I poured water in. Made some mistakes in my first stocking. Took me nearly 6 months to figure out what my tank needed. String alge was a ball ache in my tank until I got barbs. They soon took care of that. I really need to replace my loach as I've had a snail problem since it died. It's the same with a saltwater tank in that it's important to maintain that 'balance'. For example, I've had some coral growing called Apstasia. It's an ugly coral, and is very aggressive in that it will sting/attack/kill any other type of coral it touches. I tried various methods to get rid of it, but everything I tried just seemed to make it grow in even more places, until I discovered the Filefish. This fish will eat Apstasia. It will also eat some other types of coral, but you have to weigh this up ! He is currently chomping through the Apstasia in my tank, and is doing a fine job. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2015 12:13:06 GMT
Yeah, i didn't by a fish for 3 weeks after I poured water in. Made some mistakes in my first stocking. Took me nearly 6 months to figure out what my tank needed. String alge was a ball ache in my tank until I got barbs. They soon took care of that. I really need to replace my loach as I've had a snail problem since it died. You look after your fish in stockings? Hope you pull the curtains. At his age the only thing he can pull is a muscle ! |
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Post by baggins on Nov 20, 2015 12:13:57 GMT
You look after your fish in stockings? Hope you pull the curtains. At his age the only thing he can pull is a muscle ! Mmmmm, mussels. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 20, 2015 12:15:17 GMT
At his age the only thing he can pull is a muscle ! Mmmmm, mussels. and cock, you like the cock. |
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Post by Hugo the Elder on Nov 20, 2015 12:18:56 GMT
Plants are tricky too. Took me a long time to find Plants that my plec didn't prefer over their wafers!
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Post by baggins on Nov 20, 2015 12:21:14 GMT
and main sail, you like the main sail. Especially when it's helping me round the Greek Islands. |
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