mitch126

hello Tazmiche yes I did buy a API master test kit very good ,I do agree about the forum everyone is so helpful ,its only been a week since I put the water in so will wait a bit before adding fish as you said will take my time. byeeee

COBettaCouple

to attach a picture to a message click on 'additional options' when you reply. You'll see a "Browse..." button that you can use to attach 1 or more files. You may need to have a few more posts before that option shows up.

Stradius011

Welcome to Fishlore! You need 25 posts before posting picts.

Tazmiche

Wrinkly old pensioner, sure you are not!!!! You are a young newbie fish keeper!! Let tank cycle, go and scout out fish stores, you will learn alot if you go to many. Look at the fish in detail and compare them. Ask the staff questions that you have gained knowledge on from this site, you will be amazed at how thick some are. You will then see which lfs( local fish store) will be right for you. I did this and the cycling time flew by!

Good luck....Michelle

susitna-flower

Anyone who takes up a new interest whether young or old, is a hero in my book! Using the computer, getting on a forum, and enjoying fish is quite a lot all at one time, sounds like a worthwhile undertaking. These are the things that keep a person interested in life! I agree with Tazmiche, if you research your fish here first, you will have a better idea which Local Fish Store is worth your time. Many just sell fish......dead or alive.....Others care a great deal, and will help you with good service, good advice, and healthy fish. It really will be helpful if you will study all the links at the bottom of the this page, that have articles for beginners, on the nitrogen cycle, fish breeds, diseases and more. THEN you are armed with a way to tell the good LFS from the bad.

We are all happy you are here.

Fish in the Frozen North

mitch126

Hi evening to youall well it is here, I do thank you for the kind words re the pensioner bit . there is a good local fish store and quite helpful too .I have been back to the store about the light getting hot and the guy seem to think it was ok he did put a new plug on as it had a two pin continental type on it do seem a bit better it was not earthed before, is 6 to 8 hours a day long enough to have the lights on ? lots to think about but i will get there peter

COBettaCouple

6-8 hours a day would be alright.. around 8-10 might be better, especially if you have plants.. but when the room is getting enough light from windows, they can be off if you want.. we run ours between 9am and 9pm, turning them off some during the brightest times of the day.

susitna-flower

More than 10 hours of light a day and you risk algae growth. Depending on the daylight that might strike the tank through a window, you may only want to light it in the evening to enjoy the fish longer. That is until you DO get real plants. They do better also with a longer lighted time. These are totally optional decisions you as tank owner must make.

It is good you have a good store near you, I would still check their advice against fishlore as there are years and years of experience here to help, and often folks who work in a store may not have had that much experience.

Speaking of experience, since you are just starting fish keeping, what is your profession?

Fish in the Frozen North

mitch126

Hi Susitna flower thanks for your help I do get quite a bit of light in my lounge as I am south facing and get sun in from about 9am until 2pm thats when we get any sun ,also I do have two real plants in and they are looking ok . You asked what is my profession well I was a truck driver for about 35 years but am now retired so have lots of time on my hands . bye for now Peter

susitna-flower

Well, we need truck drivers! Have you seen any of the broadcasts on the History channel about drivers that cross the ice roads of Canada and Alaska?, Or the drivers that pioneered the Haul Road up here in AK, MY HATS off to all... As for retirement, I hope you have plenty of energy, health, and wealth to do everything you always put off.
Taking up fish keeping can be really fun, I only got started in it myself about 2 years ago, and am a true aquaholic now. Three big tanks, new projects all the time. The nice thing about this forum is that you can always find new and better ways of doing things, and there are always new project (like timg's DIY tanks), or new aspects like SW tanks.

Fish in the Frozen North

mitch126

Hi ya Susitina-flower don't know if you are aware I live in the UK so we don't get too much icy roads and I do have plenty of energy for an old un Ive just come in from the club and its now raining its spose to be summer now off to bed will talk to you tomorrow gd nite

susitna-flower

Tazmiche

So how you getting on Mitch? ( as my name is Michelle i got called Mitch alot at school!!)

Any news on your fishie front?

mitch126

Hi Michelle getting on ok have been doing water tests and have been adding some food to the water I keep looking at the empty tank to try and imagine wot it will look like with fish in it has been two weeks now so will try and wait another week before getting some fish, my surname is mitchell hence mitch my daughters name is Michelle also bye for now will talk soon Peter

Tazmiche

Good choice of name for your daughter!!!! You may not have seen my other posts but i'm back at my old folks ( they got rid of me 20 years ago and now i am back after relationship ended) Got first tank last september. My mum used to sit watching bubbles saying ' can we get fish yet!!!'
Enjoy this time because once they are in you will be on edge...'are they eating?.... are they happy?....is the water ok?....AAAHHHGGGG'

Non fish keepers say tropical fish are meant to be so calming etc BUT yes they are FABULOUS but not always good for the nerves!!!

You will LOVE it!!!! beware of MTS though!! I'm about to start 5th tank!!!

armadillo

Michelle, you couldn't have put it better. Fish are not calming. Rewarding? Yes. Affectionate? Yes. Intelligent? Well, aherm, some. Good for the nerves? ABSOLUTELY NOT! The number of nights that I've stayed up, worrying...

COBettaCouple

LOL.. now you see, this shows that i'm a sick, sick individual - i find them relaxing.. it's a bit therapeutic taking care of the tank maintenance, feeding them and talking to them.. watching them swim around and do their thing. Yea, the times they stress me and need meds and all aren't fun since i feel bad for them.. but i like to take care of them (which is how we got into the short-lived idea of a betta "rescue mission" - we just kept keeping them was the problem. ).

armadillo

Oh I love to take care of them. I mean, once am started, even substrate vaccuums aren't so bad (I actually would like them, but I need to move all my ornaments..). But I hate it when they're poorly.