Hi everyone. My name is Ron. I thought I'd let you in at my attempt at creating my own aquarium paradise. I've noticed a few displays over the years and never took that much interest, but did admire the well maintained tanks and thought you had to be born with the knowledge to keep the inhabitants alive and healthy!
I vividly recall my first attempt some 30 plus years ago (that's what age does to you - don't ask me what I did yesterday) keeping those 'deformed'
goldfish as I thought at the time in a small tank with internal filter full of cotton wool, and I'd be lucky if they lasted a month! Didn't know what a
water change was! I guess I lost interest very quickly, and hence admired anyone who could keep fish in captivity.
Got married in '88 and with the package came a disused 60 litre tank that remained in storage (amongst other things). I would have built a house half the size if we weren't such hoarders!
Just over 2 years ago, a relative had to shut down his tank as his family was moving to Queensland from South Australia for work for several years, and we ended up agreeing to 'look after' his remaining 3 fish (angel, clown loach & 10yr old goldfish!). So we started to set up the 60l tank and boy have things changed at the
LFS! 1 X Eheim 2213, gravel, plants, wood - this was getting expensive. I thought it was going to be cheap because we already had the tank! Then I heard of cycling (had a vision of bike pedals). I think we gave it a week and in went the fish. We added more over the next few months. We ended up with 7 guppies, 2 gouramis, 1 black molly (which produced over 40 young) 3 clown loaches, 2 silver dollars, the goldfish!, the black angelfish,2 bristlenose which have 2 surviving young currently in a tiny tank with 2 kouli loaches. The guppies and gouramis are now gone and the baby mollies were given to a LFS. We lost the angel early this year approx within 2 weeks of its previous owner paying us a visit from Qld with swim bladder problems(the fish that is!). So we learned about overcrowding LAME (laugh at my expense!) which explained why I was having trouble with
ammonia etc, but we now hardly ever test. Ammonia and
nitrite always 0.00 and
pH usually 7.5. Weekly 10% water changes and no algae problems. Of course we learned that our choice of surviving fish get much bigger and have to work on how to keep plants.
After 2 years, you get attached to these creatures - the dollars and loaches need more mates which also = bigger tank and I have the perfect spot. I'm in the cabinet making business and relocated my kitchen several years ago. Am just now removing the remainder of the old kitchen, producing a 3.1m (10ft) alcove. I know what you're thinking, and if I was SINGLE...so I'm having built a 6x2x2 tank (LAME) and will be surrounded by an integrated fridge on LH side & matching unit on RH side that will house pump and fishy stuff. Below will be my work station so the fish can watch me at work, and above will be cabinets of course to house lighting and hard to reach items. Most of the fun was in the planning. Just hope I am not deflated with the end result!
Am trying to set the tank up as cheaply as possible without taking shortcuts - that is my challenge. I'll be using lots of slate that I picked up for approx US$20, a JHW-303B for around $120, paid too much for the gravel, and working on the rest. I am having fun with my new hobby though. Attached are the first pics, and will add more in the next few weeks.
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Welcome!
I can't wait for more pictures!
