wendyzim
03-18-2007, 02:56 AM
My dad always kept a freshwater tank for as long as I can remember. He had Angel Fish, Gouramis, Mollies, Tetras, etc. I always loved the tank, but my real "addiction" started when I was 12 and got a job at a pet store scooping fish after school. I bought myself a 10 gallon set up with the money I had earned and got six or seven (too many) chililds. A year later there was one very large chilid left. He outgrew his tank and "invaded" my fathers 35 gallon tank, gobbling up his tankmates in no time. "Bruce", named after the mechnical shark in Jaws, lived in that tank for the next 13 years and eventually died peacefully of (I assume) old age.
Now I've grown up and my tanks have moved with me into our own home. I still have the 10 gallon. It sits in my music room and hosts a Gourami, 3 Tetras, 1 pleco, and a strange frog that a freind bought me as a present. lol
I needed something bigger and found a 35 gallon on sale. I bought three baby oscars and a nice sized pleco. Only 1 oscar survived, but he is now at least 6 inches and by far the most personable fish I've ever owned.
I was given a 55 gallon tank for a Christmas present 2 years ago and decided to make the big leap to salt water. I did a lot of research before making the leap. I read numrous books and talked extensively with my local pet store guy.
When I was ready I got together I shopping list and my wallet:
trickle filter, canister filter, a protein skimmer, 2 water jets, 1 water pump, aerator, 1 heater, calcium, reef buffer, salt, substrate and lights, RODI filter. It was a fortune! Over $1000 easily. (The lights are very expensive.)
I went home and set up my new tank and let it sit for week.
Back to the store and I had my first encounter with live rock. 55 lbs at $7/lb, this had better be some amazing rock! Luckily, it was.
The rock was put in my empty aquarium and a month went by while the nitrogen cycle took place. The rocks came to life. It was like looking into an alien world: feather dusters, coraline algae and sponges were popping out everywhere. We put a magnifying glass near the tank and would spend hours just watching rocks.
Eventually the tank cycled and through some trial and error I now have a fully estabilished reef tank (2 quick years later). It contains a huge (12") carpet anemone, a bright green and white tube anemone, red mushrooms, toadstool corals, 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, and 1 royal gamma.
It is my pride and joy.
A few things I have learned about saltwater fish keeping..
you must be patient. It takes a while for the nitrogen cycle to happen. It takes a long time to acclimate new fish.
it is expensive. Really. Everytime I have tried to cut corners (less lighting, cheaper tap water filters) it has come back to bite me. I've found it better to save up and spend the money on the good stuff, even if it takes longer to start.
it is addictive!
Now I've grown up and my tanks have moved with me into our own home. I still have the 10 gallon. It sits in my music room and hosts a Gourami, 3 Tetras, 1 pleco, and a strange frog that a freind bought me as a present. lol
I needed something bigger and found a 35 gallon on sale. I bought three baby oscars and a nice sized pleco. Only 1 oscar survived, but he is now at least 6 inches and by far the most personable fish I've ever owned.
I was given a 55 gallon tank for a Christmas present 2 years ago and decided to make the big leap to salt water. I did a lot of research before making the leap. I read numrous books and talked extensively with my local pet store guy.
When I was ready I got together I shopping list and my wallet:
trickle filter, canister filter, a protein skimmer, 2 water jets, 1 water pump, aerator, 1 heater, calcium, reef buffer, salt, substrate and lights, RODI filter. It was a fortune! Over $1000 easily. (The lights are very expensive.)
I went home and set up my new tank and let it sit for week.
Back to the store and I had my first encounter with live rock. 55 lbs at $7/lb, this had better be some amazing rock! Luckily, it was.
The rock was put in my empty aquarium and a month went by while the nitrogen cycle took place. The rocks came to life. It was like looking into an alien world: feather dusters, coraline algae and sponges were popping out everywhere. We put a magnifying glass near the tank and would spend hours just watching rocks.
Eventually the tank cycled and through some trial and error I now have a fully estabilished reef tank (2 quick years later). It contains a huge (12") carpet anemone, a bright green and white tube anemone, red mushrooms, toadstool corals, 2 clowns, 1 yellow tang, and 1 royal gamma.
It is my pride and joy.
A few things I have learned about saltwater fish keeping..
you must be patient. It takes a while for the nitrogen cycle to happen. It takes a long time to acclimate new fish.
it is expensive. Really. Everytime I have tried to cut corners (less lighting, cheaper tap water filters) it has come back to bite me. I've found it better to save up and spend the money on the good stuff, even if it takes longer to start.
it is addictive!