Any other Women fishkeepers here on Fishlore?

[FunnyFish]

Love all the stories in here this morning. Thanks for sharing ladies!

I'm another woman hobbyist, late to the party I'm 46 and I've been fishkeeping on and off since I was 18. We had tanks when we were kids, but my mom stopped because the fish always used to jump out of the tanks, and she was the only one cleaning it, lol. By the time I turned 18, I decided to get my own tank. I loved it, but I knew absolutely nothing about cycling or overcrowded tanks, but I had really great luck. I kept 2 angels and a bunch of corydora in a 20g tank for years *facepalm*. Anyhow, they survived but when I moved out of my parents house (soft water), to the city when I was 20, they all died within 48 hours with the new water change and that was the end of my tank keeping for many many years. I was just so upset.

It wasn't until I was 34 that I decided to try again, of course still not knowing about cycling and why my fish were dying, or fish diseases and that's how I found this group. I started to learn very quick, moved from a 10g to 40g and had multiple tanks. Only to give it all up again at 39 when I moved provinces and didn't want the heartache of dying fish.

I got back into the the hobby almost 3 years ago after my dog passed away and I wasn't ready for a new dog yet. I went from a 26g to a 50g in less than a year and I've had multiple tanks in the last 3 years. I learned about natural habitats and moved away from plastic to a completely natural state of live plants and driftwood, with leaves and tannins and the whole works. It's been a much better process this last time around because everything finally makes sense to me.

I currently only have my 50g now because I've been very unsuccessful with Betta fish sadly, and I have a new puppy in my life that requires more attention, so I'm thankful that my tank is very self-sufficient and doesn't require the same amount of work it used to.

 

[RatRatCat]

What sort of water additives are you using?

I just mean bottled beneficial bacteria, water conditioners, plant fertilizers, etc.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Any other women fishkeepers here? Tell me your stories, here’s mine.

I'm 67, had a 20 gallon in my teens, and am coming back 50 years later to this whole new wonderful world of fish keeping and aqua scaping. I've spent a lot of time on YouTube learning, and LFS shopping and learning. I've spent a lot of time here on Fishlore, a wonderful place for a newbie! But I have seen very few women in any of those venues, and no older women at all, with the exception of Diana Walstad.
I started with a 1.9g Fluval LIV back in July, after attending the LA Pet expo with my fishkeeping son. Turns out, the smaller the tank, the harder to cycle. A good learning experience. I had to break it down when it developed a crack. The good people I got it from honored the warranty and I cleaned mine out and exchanged it. It's sitting there, taunting me, about trying Caridina shrimp. Tell me something is hard? I'll try it. Tell me something, like a fish or plant, is rare or hard to find? I'll find it.

Next I set up a 3 gallon, which has become a quarantine tank. Currently there are 4 rummynose tetras in there.

Then I went wild, got a 16 gallon long in early August and have been working on/obsessing over. Thanks to my son donating a canister with existing bacteria, it cycled fast and now has not only plants but fish! It's a high tech tank, and that's been a huge learning curve, too, including almost killing all my fish when the CO2 timer got unset. Lost 4 rummynoses, but saved the rest.

I'd like to hear your stories, see your creations!

In a little over 5 months I have become that person with buckets of half used gravel and aquasoil on the deck, discarded heaters, equitment that was the wrong size and I forgot to send back, and other stuff. Today all I needed was an on-sale Aqueon 5.5g from Petsmart and an airpump to throw together this QT. Plants from some of my other tanks. I need to tinker with the sponge filter to shorten the pipe, but otherwise, I'm happy with it. I do need a light, but the cliop on one I had laying around wouldn't work with a rimmed tank. I might be able to adjust it with some foam. It's not a pretty tank, but it will do the trick when I get it cycled. I'm using Fritz Turbo Start and in-fish. Tomorrow Flash and Dash, my heroic guppies, with go to work again

 

[Sprite]

I am 65. Recently got back into fish. My dad and I kept a 10 gallon when I was a kid. This is the last time on my own.

I discovered Glowfish (Tetra’s, Danios, Corydoras) and fell in love with bright colors.
I have 55 gallon tank, and a 20 gallon. The 20 gallon is fairly new rather cycle fishless I put 5 Cory’s in there.

My 55 gallon is my project. So far I have only lost one fish and he jumped out. I haven’t killed any of them.

 

[DCJ]

Not a dude, but not a chick either, can I join in?

 

[MagnifcentBett]

It's an open group for non dudes about our non dude experinces in being in the hobby and keeping fish. . Welcome!

 

[DCJ]

MagnifcentBett yay, thank you!

I've kept fish for like 25 years, mostly freshwater nanos, and a few reef tanks.

As a kid it was easier, because I had more time to spend on the tanks, and once I started working I had more of my own money more frequently, but less time.

I still turned my bedroom into a fish room, with tanks squeezed in everywhere I had the space.

Then I became disabled and my job fired me. I'm still unable to work and my health has just kept declining, but I'm still able to keep fish with the help of my family and careful, was, decisions about what I can manage within my limits

I had to scrub my idea for a brackish tank (Indian glass fish and knight gobies) and a soft water tank (chocolate gourami, chilli rasbora) and pivoted to cooler water nano fish.

I currently have 4 tanks properly up and running, with decor to go into 2 more, and plans for another 3, 1 of which, the largest, I have yet to purchase.

I also have some reefs in the works, but none even cycled yet. I'm going really slow with those, I want to get some large batches of SW mixed before I think about cycling then, but I'm all ready for some thorough QTing once I have cycled media.

Here's the tanks currently running:

An 80x30x?cm bookshelf tank, currently temporary home to some oryzias javanicus, Javanese ricefish, and 6 white cloud mountain minnows.

The ricefish will be moving to their own 60x30x30cm, and the WCMM will be staying until I can move those elsewhere too - they're wintering indoors, but usually live in the patio pond.

Eventual stocking for the bookshelf tank will be cherry barbs (my favourite fish) and panda cories


There's a 60x30x30cm ember tetra tank with a small group of honey gourami and tons of blue shrimp. I'm trying to increase the tannins until the embers start showing off that glowing orange - I love these little fish.


And then my 2 nano tanks, one with green neon tetras in heavily tannined water with orange shrimp, and the other with some yellow shrimp and chilli rasboras.

I recently moved the chillis over from the cupboard at the head of my bed to make space for a larger tank, but I miss watching them from bed.

So I'm going to move them to the new 60x30x30cm at the head of my bed - I think I'll do them with sparkling gouramis. Possibly pygmy cories, maybe clown killis/dwarf pencil fish/norman lampeyes/male endlers/something. Been looking at hyphessobrycon roseus too.

And maybe trying some kind of killi or, more likely, wild type bettas in their old tank. Or CPDS.

It can take me 12 to 18 months to get a single tank scaped and cycling, nevermind putting fish in it, because of my health and money situation, but nothing good happens fast in this hobby, and that always tends to be a good thing.

I do still doubt myself a lot, and I tend to underestimate my abilities until I actually take the plunge and find it wasn't as difficult as I thought.

I have 'opinions' about fish tank size that I won't go into here, I love an unheated tank and I use sponge filters on pretty much all of them. I stopped using canisters in my earlier years and haven't looked back, though I will utilise wave makers if I really need to.

I also keep tarantulas and plants, even though I have a black thumb.

I love our forum, especially how kind everyone is, and I've missed being away for so long.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

I love your tanks, DCJ, and how natural they look! I'm learning botanicals and have used the usual Catapa leaves and alder cones. Studying up at the Betta Botanicals site. Not aiming for blackwater, just adding some healthy elements. I love it here at Fishlore. Great people and great support and info.

 

[DCJ]

I love your tanks, DCJ, and how natural they look! I'm learning botanicals and have used the usual Catapa leaves and alder cones. Studying up at the Betta Botanicals site. Not aiming for blackwater, just adding some healthy elements. I love it here at Fishlore. Great people and great support and info.

Thank you kindly!

I started using lotus pods... They're an interesting shape and I think they boost tannins, but its a pain in the bum getting them to sink! They get all spongy too.

I've never used alder cones, but they look so lovely, I really should get some.

Haven't finished planting the bookshelf tank yet, but I'm gonna go crypt heavy - love me some crypts!

 

[Jkaliszew]

MagnifcentBett yay, thank you!

I've kept fish for like 25 years, mostly freshwater nanos, and a few reef tanks.

As a kid it was easier, because I had more time to spend on the tanks, and once I started working I had more of my own money more frequently, but less time.

I still turned my bedroom into a fish room, with tanks squeezed in everywhere I had the space.

Then I became disabled and my job fired me. I'm still unable to work and my health has just kept declining, but I'm still able to keep fish with the help of my family and careful, was, decisions about what I can manage within my limits

I had to scrub my idea for a brackish tank (Indian glass fish and knight gobies) and a soft water tank (chocolate gourami, chilli rasbora) and pivoted to cooler water nano fish.

I currently have 4 tanks properly up and running, with decor to go into 2 more, and plans for another 3, 1 of which, the largest, I have yet to purchase.

I also have some reefs in the works, but none even cycled yet. I'm going really slow with those, I want to get some large batches of SW mixed before I think about cycling then, but I'm all ready for some thorough QTing once I have cycled media.

Here's the tanks currently running:

An 80x30x?cm bookshelf tank, currently temporary home to some oryzias javanicus, Javanese ricefish, and 6 white cloud mountain minnows.

The ricefish will be moving to their own 60x30x30cm, and the WCMM will be staying until I can move those elsewhere too - they're wintering indoors, but usually live in the patio pond.

Eventual stocking for the bookshelf tank will be cherry barbs (my favourite fish) and panda cories


There's a 60x30x30cm ember tetra tank with a small group of honey gourami and tons of blue shrimp. I'm trying to increase the tannins until the embers start showing off that glowing orange - I love these little fish.


And then my 2 nano tanks, one with green neon tetras in heavily tannined water with orange shrimp, and the other with some yellow shrimp and chilli rasboras.

I recently moved the chillis over from the cupboard at the head of my bed to make space for a larger tank, but I miss watching them from bed.

So I'm going to move them to the new 60x30x30cm at the head of my bed - I think I'll do them with sparkling gouramis. Possibly pygmy cories, maybe clown killis/dwarf pencil fish/norman lampeyes/male endlers/something. Been looking at hyphessobrycon roseus too.

And maybe trying some kind of killi or, more likely, wild type bettas in their old tank. Or CPDS.

It can take me 12 to 18 months to get a single tank scaped and cycling, nevermind putting fish in it, because of my health and money situation, but nothing good happens fast in this hobby, and that always tends to be a good thing.

I do still doubt myself a lot, and I tend to underestimate my abilities until I actually take the plunge and find it wasn't as difficult as I thought.

I have 'opinions' about fish tank size that I won't go into here, I love an unheated tank and I use sponge filters on pretty much all of them. I stopped using canisters in my earlier years and haven't looked back, though I will utilise wave makers if I really need to.

I also keep tarantulas and plants, even though I have a black thumb.

I love our forum, especially how kind everyone is, and I've missed being away for so long.

Wow, beautiful pictures your tanks are lovely. You have nice ideas for pairing fish species.

I wish I didn’t have to use heaters in mine but I always end up with fish from warmer climates. I have an Oase canister but I have recently tucked it away for an HOB, I’m curious as to why you stopped using canisters?

 

[MagnifcentBett]

MagnifcentBett yay, thank you!

I've kept fish for like 25 years, mostly freshwater nanos, and a few reef tanks.

As a kid it was easier, because I had more time to spend on the tanks, and once I started working I had more of my own money more frequently, but less time.

I still turned my bedroom into a fish room, with tanks squeezed in everywhere I had the space.

Then I became disabled and my job fired me. I'm still unable to work and my health has just kept declining, but I'm still able to keep fish with the help of my family and careful, was, decisions about what I can manage within my limits

I had to scrub my idea for a brackish tank (Indian glass fish and knight gobies) and a soft water tank (chocolate gourami, chilli rasbora) and pivoted to cooler water nano fish.

I currently have 4 tanks properly up and running, with decor to go into 2 more, and plans for another 3, 1 of which, the largest, I have yet to purchase.

I also have some reefs in the works, but none even cycled yet. I'm going really slow with those, I want to get some large batches of SW mixed before I think about cycling then, but I'm all ready for some thorough QTing once I have cycled media.

Here's the tanks currently running:

An 80x30x?cm bookshelf tank, currently temporary home to some oryzias javanicus, Javanese ricefish, and 6 white cloud mountain minnows.

The ricefish will be moving to their own 60x30x30cm, and the WCMM will be staying until I can move those elsewhere too - they're wintering indoors, but usually live in the patio pond.

Eventual stocking for the bookshelf tank will be cherry barbs (my favourite fish) and panda cories


There's a 60x30x30cm ember tetra tank with a small group of honey gourami and tons of blue shrimp. I'm trying to increase the tannins until the embers start showing off that glowing orange - I love these little fish.


And then my 2 nano tanks, one with green neon tetras in heavily tannined water with orange shrimp, and the other with some yellow shrimp and chilli rasboras.

I recently moved the chillis over from the cupboard at the head of my bed to make space for a larger tank, but I miss watching them from bed.

So I'm going to move them to the new 60x30x30cm at the head of my bed - I think I'll do them with sparkling gouramis. Possibly pygmy cories, maybe clown killis/dwarf pencil fish/norman lampeyes/male endlers/something. Been looking at hyphessobrycon roseus too.

And maybe trying some kind of killi or, more likely, wild type bettas in their old tank. Or CPDS.

It can take me 12 to 18 months to get a single tank scaped and cycling, nevermind putting fish in it, because of my health and money situation, but nothing good happens fast in this hobby, and that always tends to be a good thing.

I do still doubt myself a lot, and I tend to underestimate my abilities until I actually take the plunge and find it wasn't as difficult as I thought.

I have 'opinions' about fish tank size that I won't go into here, I love an unheated tank and I use sponge filters on pretty much all of them. I stopped using canisters in my earlier years and haven't looked back, though I will utilise wave makers if I really need to.

I also keep tarantulas and plants, even though I have a black thumb.

I love our forum, especially how kind everyone is, and I've missed being away for so long.

Here are some alder cones in my 16 gallon nature style along with some leaf litter. The cones are really nice. I zap my botainicals in the microwave, then let them cool and pour off the liquid. They plump up nicely.

 

[DCJ]

Jkaliszew Thank you so much, that's so kind!

I know! It sucks twice because I can't just heat my room to let the tanks stay warm because I have really low heat tolerance, so I just omplain a lot about having to find another socket for yet another heater, lol. The bane of my life.


So, the reason I stopped using the initial canister was because it sprung some leaks.

But thinking about it, they're just kinda expensive, there are so many moving parts that could break, the seals can go, they clog, cleaning them out is a pain in the neck, and I'd prefer to keep them under a tank, but usually they end up to the side and looking awkward while taking up room.

I'm not convinced that they 'clean' the water any better than large sponges and a water change do.

I also like that sponge filters give shrimp something to pick at, and how quiet they are (my canister started buzzing?) and, weirdly, while I'm not a fan of the inlet-outlet pipes for canisters, I prefer the look of a bubbling sponge filter in a tank.

I keep two in all but my tiny tanks, and I like being able to switch one out to help cycle a new tank without crashing the old one. They're cheaper too

The REAL benefit with them, though, comes with how low power they are, in that I can comfortably run 4 filters on a 2 nozzle air pump, saving me a lot of plug sockets - I struggle with having enough to power everything without daisychaining all over the place. I love it, I just pop a splitter on one output and can set up two separate sponge filters on one line. I could probably do more, but I'm leery about taxing the air pumps overmuch

They have heir drawbacks, because they're also prone to failure, and I hate it when one is stronger than the other, but still less expensive than troubleshooting a canister filter.



MagnifcentBett they're so delicate and lovely, I don't know why I don't use them. LOL, you're more patient than me, I just put the stuff in and then wait for it to sink over time, and then complain because I have to move it around.

 

[Esmerelda]

I'm here! (Although I'm in my late teens/young adulthood).
I don't usually concern myself over whether or not a field/hobby is male dominated. If I want to try something, I just do it.
I love the Youtube channel Girl Talks Fish. Irene's videos have a lot of great tips for fishkeeping, especially bettas. She's really amazing.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

I'm here! (Although I'm in my late teens/young adulthood).
I don't usually concern myself over whether or not a field/hobby is male dominated. If I want to try something, I just do it.
I love the Youtube channel Girl Talks Fish. Irene's videos have a lot of great tips for fishkeeping, especially bettas. She's really amazing.

I love her too!

I'm 67, a second wave feminist. Lots of history there so I always notice. But I have nothing against men in generral--married one, made two more. Just mysogynists. By and large I have met really great guys in the hobby, including here!

 

[AuroraDawn]

MagnifcentBett
@Jkaliszew

Hi!

I am using gravel with those little hockey puck things you put underneath the gravel next to a plant that needs nutrients at the root, flourish I think. I have used the aqua safe glue to attach anubias to drift wood. In the past I got a large "show room type" piece of drift wood already boiled and attached to slate and put it in the middle. And then did little to large plants, (mostly, some variation though), from front to back. I am not up on different styles of aquascaping. I prefer to get easier plants and plants that will turn red with light rather than CO2. I have lighting with multiple colors that claims to help plant growth. I also use large rocks and smaller pieces of drift wood.

The tannins in the wood I got were super dark. Even after trying to boil it it made one of my new tanks I was cycling so dark the plants died and there was a nitrite spike. ugh A little tannin is healthy but that was not good for live plants at all.

 

[Esmerelda]

I love her too!

I'm 67, a second wave feminist. Lots of history there so I always notice. But I have nothing against men in generral--married one, made two more. Just mysogynists. By and large I have met really great guys in the hobby, including here!

I'm glad I agree with you. I'm not into radical "men are all toxic" feminism. We should be able to be equal and get along.
Irene is really very cool. Do you keep bettas?

 

[Jkaliszew]

MagnifcentBett
@Jkaliszew

Hi!

I am using gravel with those little hockey puck things you put underneath the gravel next to a plant that needs nutrients at the root, flourish I think. I have used the aqua safe glue to attach anubias to drift wood. In the past I got a large "show room type" piece of drift wood already boiled and attached to slate and put it in the middle. And then did little to large plants, (mostly, some variation though), from front to back. I am not up on different styles of aquascaping. I prefer to get easier plants and plants that will turn red with light rather than CO2. I have lighting with multiple colors that claims to help plant growth. I also use large rocks and smaller pieces of drift wood.

The tannins in the wood I got were super dark. Even after trying to boil it it made one of my new tanks I was cycling so dark the plants died and there was a nitrite spike. ugh A little tannin is healthy but that was not good for live plants at all.

AuroraDawn, Hi, I would take the driftwood out use another kind that doesn’t leach tannins if possible and or use botanicals and Catapa leaves in its place, this way you can control the amount of tannin you want without having to do frequent water changes as your tank is cycling.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Which wood? I"ve only used manzanita. so far, but I had heard some are more tanin-y than others.

To Esmerelda: Meet Long! Dragon, in Chinese, Vietnamese, as he's a dragon scale from Vietnam. First I've ever owned, though I've always admired them. Still working on my fish photo skills.

 

[Esmerelda]

Which wood? I"ve only used manzanita. so far, but I had heard some are more tanin-y than others.

To Esmerelda: Meet Long! Dragon, in Chinese, Vietnamese, as he's a dragon scale from Vietnam. First I've ever owned, though I've always admired them. Still working on my fish photo skills.

Oh my goodness, he's so beautiful! That tank is like my dream setup. So luscious and green.
This is my first-ever fish tank with my first-ever betta, Ahsoka. Her tank is pretty mediocre right now, but I'm looking into some aquatic plants! Maybe I'll grab some when they're on sale for black Friday.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Oh my goodness, he's so beautiful! That tank is like my dream setup. So luscious and green.
This is my first-ever fish tank with my first-ever betta, Ahsoka. Her tank is pretty mediocre right now, but I'm looking into some aquatic plants! Maybe I'll grab some when they're on sale for black Friday.

Oh she (?) is a beauty! A plakat like Long. And I love her name. I bet she loves all those hides. How large is her tank? Looks nice and roomy.

Is your substrate strictly gravel? If so you could use root tabs to grow stem plants. The beauty of them is that as they get tall, you can just snip off the excess and push it into the substrate to grow. Start with a couple stems and grow your own jungle! Plants are so good for water quality. You can also do floating plants. I currenrtly have dwarf water lettuce and water spangles. I tried red root floaters but just didn't have good luck with them.

Does your LFS have good plants, or have you found good sources online? Since you haven't got much in there yet, you could even take out the gravel and put in a good aquasoil. Then you'd have really happy plants and a very happy Ahsoka! They love plants.

 

[Jkaliszew]

Which wood? I"ve only used manzanita. so far, but I had heard some are more tanin-y than others.

To Esmerelda: Meet Long! Dragon, in Chinese, Vietnamese, as he's a dragon scale from Vietnam. First I've ever owned, though I've always admired them. Still working on my fish photo skills.

Oh my that Betta and his tank are so gorgeous. The tank is super lush.

 

[AuroraDawn]

I am not sure of what kind of wood it is. It is a darker kind that is less smooth. It's weird because when I used it previously eventually the tannins were a lot less, still killing some plant, but a lot less. Then I figured I would boil it with the others and it seemed to "reignite it's passion for releasing tannins." lol

Can I let the wood sit in really hot water in a giant rubber bucket? You can smell that it is rubber because it is pretty new... would that infuse the wood with chemicals that could harm the fish?

 

[Esmerelda]

Oh she (?) is a beauty! A plakat like Long. And I love her name. I bet she loves all those hides. How large is her tank? Looks nice and roomy.

Is your substrate strictly gravel? If so you could use root tabs to grow stem plants. The beauty of them is that as they get tall, you can just snip off the excess and push it into the substrate to grow. Start with a couple stems and grow your own jungle! Plants are so good for water quality. You can also do floating plants. I currenrtly have dwarf water lettuce and water spangles. I tried red root floaters but just didn't have good luck with them.

Does your LFS have good plants, or have you found good sources online? Since you haven't got much in there yet, you could even take out the gravel and put in a good aquasoil. Then you'd have really happy plants and a very happy Ahsoka! They love plants.

This is kind of crazy, but I found a certain Petco location with really good quality plants. Apparently they have a resident fish expert, so the bettas are surprisingly well-cared for and they have a lot of extra fish supplies. The plants I bought from them are all holding up great. I keep seeing bundles of live plants on Amazon, and honestly, I’m willing to give it a try for the price. They had potted amazon swords. I would have ordered them, but then I learned that amazon swords get massive.

I certainly hope Ahsoka enjoys the hides, sometimes I worry about not enough hiding space. Or enough space at all. Her tank is 5.5 gallons. Glad you think it’s roomy.

It’s pea gravel substrate only. When I made the tank last year, I didn’t plan on aquatic plants.

I’ve received some suggestions for floating plants, so I’ve been wondering about how to go about those. From what I’ve heard, duckweed is a real pain to control, so probably not that.
I can look into some good aquasoil. That might be a bit of a project. For now, I thought I’d do some potted aquarium plants. I don’t know what root tabs are, I’ll go look into it now.
I’m nowhere near an expert with plants. I just stuck them in the tank because people said “Don’t worry about fertilizer right now, just give them time”. My java ferns have browned, but the Anubias congenesis seems to be holding up okay.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

I hate to say it, but our local big box's fish section is really well managed and their tanks are pristine. Still have bettas in cups, but the cups are a bit more roomy than some, and very clean. All the same, I support my local independents. It's a bit of a drive to some of my favorite LFSs but it's fun and I really enjpoy the energy of being around other fish nerds like me.

I watched a really good video from KGTropicals on Youtube last night called The TRUTH About Buying Fish, AND the Lies? He and his wife had a fish store and they have a good web presence. In it they outline how incredibly damanging Amazon is to LFSs and why. I buy local as much as possible, but I'm lucky to have good stores. I've also bought from reputable online businesses like Aquarium-Coop and others. Aquarium-Coop and Buceplant are my top favorites. I've only bought plants. Both sites have incrediblely good articles on the care and uses of various plants. That's a big part of my education.

 

[AuroraDawn]

I use root tabs since I don't use soil.

MagnifcentBett I saw one of their videos on where stores get their fish, but i don't think they talked about amazon and what it does to lfs in the one I saw. I will have to look for that one unless you have time to tell me.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Basically, fish importers who normally supply fish stores, can make more money selling directly to A. So the importers charge the small stores more, too, and that gets passed on to us, the customers.

 

[Esmerelda]

I hate to say it, but our local big box's fish section is really well managed and their tanks are pristine. Still have bettas in cups, but the cups are a bit more roomy than some, and very clean. All the same, I support my local independents. It's a bit of a drive to some of my favorite LFSs but it's fun and I really enjpoy the energy of being around other fish nerds like me.

I watched a really good video from KGTropicals on Youtube last night called The TRUTH About Buying Fish, AND the Lies? He and his wife had a fish store and they have a good web presence. In it they outline how incredibly damanging Amazon is to LFSs and why. I buy local as much as possible, but I'm lucky to have good stores. I've also bought from reputable online businesses like Aquarium-Coop and others. Aquarium-Coop and Buceplant are my top favorites. I've only bought plants. Both sites have incrediblely good articles on the care and uses of various plants. That's a big part of my education.

Yes, I've watched KGTropics as well! They're great.
Thank you for bringing it up- now that you say that, I probably won't be ordering from Amazon. Aquarium Co-op is a good idea. I haven't heard of Buceplant.

I use root tabs since I don't use soil.

MagnifcentBett I saw one of their videos on where stores get their fish, but i don't think they talked about amazon and what it does to lfs in the one I saw. I will have to look for that one unless you have time to tell me.

You use root tabs? Could you give me some advice and pointers on how to use them? I'm going to try them.

 

[AuroraDawn]

Basically, fish importers who normally supply fish stores, can make more money selling directly to A. So the importers charge the small stores more, too, and that gets passed on to us, the customers.

That is really crappy!

I am hoping to become an angelfish breeder and had talked to the manager of my LFS about what they pay for different varieties of half dollar sized angelfish (their preferred size) and it was super super low for all varieties. Not even worth my time unless I had to move some due to no space. Bummed me out cause I thought being part of the fish community was partly about supporting local businesses which goes two ways, but apparently not. In their defence, I don't know how much they resell them for so it may be a very small profit margin. I just know I can get 2x as much for them if they sell (if) online.

Yes, I've watched KGTropics as well! They're great.
Thank you for bringing it up- now that you say that, I probably won't be ordering from Amazon. Aquarium Co-op is a good idea. I haven't heard of Buceplant.


You use root tabs? Could you give me some advice and pointers on how to use them? I'm going to try them.

I vaguely remember being told that you need to replace them every 3-6 months depending on what plant it is near. I also don't place them right underneath or right on the roots. I do it about an inch away from the plant. I had heard that doing the former can "burn" the roots. There is a lady in my betta group that swears by using Fluval Algae crisps instead of root tabs because they work well and are much cheaper. I would think though, that you would have to replace them more often.

I would honestly google around about this question, though, as I have only been keeping plants for about a year and half and still learning aquascaping. lol I hope I gave you some good things to look up!

Oh shoot! Was this root tab question for me? I am thinking maybe not? If not, sorry!

 

[Esmerelda]

That is really crappy!

I am hoping to become an angelfish breeder and had talked to the manager of my LFS about what they pay for different varieties of half dollar sized angelfish (their preferred size) and it was super super low for all varieties. Not even worth my time unless I had to move some due to no space. Bummed me out cause I thought being part of the fish community was partly about supporting local businesses which goes two ways, but apparently not. In their defence, I don't know how much they resell them for so it may be a very small profit margin. I just know I can get 2x as much for them if they sell (if) online.


I vaguely remember being told that you need to replace them every 3-6 months depending on what plant it is near. I also don't place them right underneath or right on the roots. I do it about an inch away from the plant. I had heard that doing the former can "burn" the roots. There is a lady in my betta group that swears by using Fluval Algae crisps instead of root tabs because they work well and are much cheaper. I would think though, that you would have to replace them more often.

I would honestly google around about this question, though, as I have only been keeping plants for about a year and half and still learning aquascaping. lol I hope I gave you some good things to look up!

Oh shoot! Was this root tab question for me? I am thinking maybe not? If not, sorry!

Thank you for the tips! Yes, I was asking you . I appreciate your advice, I'm going to look into both the root tabs and the Fluval Algae crisps.

 

[QandD]

Love all the stories in here this morning. Thanks for sharing ladies!

I'm another woman hobbyist, late to the party I'm 46 and I've been fishkeeping on and off since I was 18. We had tanks when we were kids, but my mom stopped because the fish always used to jump out of the tanks, and she was the only one cleaning it, lol. By the time I turned 18, I decided to get my own tank. I loved it, but I knew absolutely nothing about cycling or overcrowded tanks, but I had really great luck. I kept 2 angels and a bunch of corydora in a 20g tank for years *facepalm*. Anyhow, they survived but when I moved out of my parents house (soft water), to the city when I was 20, they all died within 48 hours with the new water change and that was the end of my tank keeping for many many years. I was just so upset.

It wasn't until I was 34 that I decided to try again, of course still not knowing about cycling and why my fish were dying, or fish diseases and that's how I found this group. I started to learn very quick, moved from a 10g to 40g and had multiple tanks. Only to give it all up again at 39 when I moved provinces and didn't want the heartache of dying fish.

I got back into the the hobby almost 3 years ago after my dog passed away and I wasn't ready for a new dog yet. I went from a 26g to a 50g in less than a year and I've had multiple tanks in the last 3 years. I learned about natural habitats and moved away from plastic to a completely natural state of live plants and driftwood, with leaves and tannins and the whole works. It's been a much better process this last time around because everything finally makes sense to me.

I currently only have my 50g now because I've been very unsuccessful with Betta fish sadly, and I have a new puppy in my life that requires more attention, so I'm thankful that my tank is very self-sufficient and doesn't require the same amount of work it used to.

Your tank is beautiful. Which plants and fish do you stock? Is it low-tech?

Late to the party but I’m also a female hobbyist (40 y/o). Growing up, we had goldfish that my mother inherited from a friend, and they lived in a sad 10-gallon tank. (We didn’t know any better.) I loved to watch them, and a few hung on for years.

Later, in my early twenties, my boyfriend at the time bought goldfish as more or less decorative objects, and I became distressed when they kept dying. So I joined a now-defunct goldfish-specific forum (Koko’s) where I learned everything we were doing wrong. I more or less took over the tank, made a lot of mistakes, but moved three times with my fantail girls over 8 years or so. I never had enough money or space for a big enough tank, though, so I gave up goldfish altogether when the last one died. (Goldfish break your heart.) Oddly, while I agree that there are a lot of men in the hobby, the goldfish forum seemed female-dominated. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed species or tank-type gender disparities.

I started a small community tank last year, only to get a job on the other side of the country, have to rehome the CPDs etc., and am now in the process of trying again. My 29-gallon is waiting to be assembled and cycled. I plan to start up a low-tech community tank once I am more settled into my job and finalize my tank plans.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Your tank is beautiful. Which plants and fish do you stock? Is it low-tech?

Late to the party but I’m also a female hobbyist (40 y/o). Growing up, we had goldfish that my mother inherited from a friend, and they lived in a sad 10-gallon tank. (We didn’t know any better.) I loved to watch them, and a few hung on for years.

Later, in my early twenties, my boyfriend at the time bought goldfish as more or less decorative objects, and I became distressed when they kept dying. So I joined a now-defunct goldfish-specific forum (Koko’s) where I learned everything we were doing wrong. I more or less took over the tank, made a lot of mistakes, but moved three times with my fantail girls over 8 years or so. I never had enough money or space for a big enough tank, though, so I gave up goldfish altogether when the last one died. (Goldfish break your heart.) Oddly, while I agree that there are a lot of men in the hobby, the goldfish forum seemed female-dominated. I don’t know if anyone else has noticed species or tank-type gender disparities.

I started a small community tank last year, only to get a job on the other side of the country, have to rehome the CPDs etc., and am now in the process of trying again. My 29-gallon is waiting to be assembled and cycled. I plan to start up a low-tech community tank once I am more settled into my job and finalize my tank plans.

Welcome! No one is late to the party because this party never ends! We have some really pretty goldfish when I was a kid, fantails, calicos, and a black moor, still my favorite goldfish.

29 gallons! I have tank envy. . My largest is 16 and I don't have room for a huge tank, as much as I would. love one! I look forward to seeing what you do.

 

[RatRatCat]

Not a dude, but not a chick either, can I join in?

Me too! I said I was a girl cause I’m definitely not a dude and I wasn’t sure if the forum was at all queer friendly. Another non-dude non-chick fishkeeper over here

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Welcome! I I started this forum to be a friendly place for people who aren't dudes. Nothing against dudes! Just a different space.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

Me! I am 30. I started at 19. I felt bad for this common pleco that was about to be flushed. So I took it in, knowing NOTHING about fish, the nitrogen cycle, etc. I learned all the basics on that fish, and she was so tough and made it through! I finally rehomed her when my 150 wasn't enough.

I know have a 20g community tank, and I'm about to start a second 20g community tank. I had to downsize from a big tank that was a pain in the butt, to keep my love for fishkeeping. I was starting to hate it. I know these nano setups! Way TOO fun.

I love nano fish, snails, and bettas! I'm hoping to get into shrimp soon.

We exist! But it does seem to be male dominated. Not sure why.....

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Me! I am 30. I started at 19. I felt bad for this common pleco that was about to be flushed. So I took it in, knowing NOTHING about fish, the nitrogen cycle, etc. I learned all the basics on that fish, and she was so tough and made it through! I finally rehomed her when my 150 wasn't enough.

I know have a 20g community tank, and I'm about to start a second 20g community tank. I had to downsize from a big tank that was a pain in the butt, to keep my love for fishkeeping. I was starting to hate it. I know these nano setups! Way TOO fun.

I love nano fish, snails, and bettas! I'm hoping to get into shrimp soon.

We exist! But it does seem to be male dominated. Not sure why.....

Welcome! It outgrew a 150g??!! Do you have any pictures of her? I love plecos. Someone on another forum said that Multiple Tank Syndrome occurs because people like me do nanon tanks. instead of really. big ones. I don't know about that. I do love my nano's but they are also what I can afford and what I have room for.

Yeah I don't know why there arent more of us visible in the hobby. You kind of have to make yourself known sometimes. I am a regular at my LFS store now and the guys are great.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

Welcome! It outgrew a 150g??!! Do you have any pictures of her? I love plecos. Someone on another forum said that Multiple Tank Syndrome occurs because people like me do nanon tanks. instead of really. big ones. I don't know about that. I do love my nano's but they are also what I can afford and what I have room for.

Yeah I don't know why there arent more of us visible in the hobby. You kind of have to make yourself known sometimes. I am a regular at my LFS store now and the guys are great.

Yes, to me, nanos are so much easier to care for. This is my new stage in fish keeping, nanos. I HATE doing water changes on a big tank, even with a python. I hate pythons. Such a pain in my opinion. I'm buckets all the way.

The 150g was a tall tank, so it didn't have the best blueprint for a large fish. I was also moving across the country, and I had to move into my parents house with no room for a big tank. I interviewed a few people, and found a small indoor 'pond' for her.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

Yes, to me, nanos are so much easier to care for. This is my new stage in fish keeping, nanos. I HATE doing water changes on a big tank, even with a python. I hate pythons. Such a pain in my opinion. I'm buckets all the way.

The 150g was a tall tank, so it didn't have the best blueprint for a large fish. I was also moving across the country, and I had to move into my parents house with no room for a big tank. I interviewed a few people, and found a small indoor 'pond' for her.

My first tank was a 16 g long. It's really easy to scape and take care of. It does require a lot of plant trimming! Maybe it's because I really love doing water testing, but I haven't had problems keeping them stable. My 16 and 5 are really balanced. I have to be extra careful with the 1.5 g. I got careless and lost a little shrimp population my granddaughter and I had established. The nitrogen cycle is really kind of magic. Water changes are easy. And I like buckets, too We have three cats and buy our litter in 35 pound pails. We have LOTS of bucket!

What nano fish are you thinking of? In my new cold water Hillstream tank, I have some gold White Cloud Mountain Minnows and they are just delightful

 

[BlueRaccoon]

My first tank was a 16 g long. It's really easy to scape and take care of. It does require a lot of plant trimming! Maybe it's because I really love doing water testing, but I haven't had problems keeping them stable. My 16 and 5 are really balanced. I have to be extra careful with the 1.5 g. I got careless and lost a little shrimp population my granddaughter and I had established. The nitrogen cycle is really kind of magic. Water changes are easy. And I like buckets, too We have three cats and buy our litter in 35 pound pails. We have LOTS of bucket!

What nano fish are you thinking of? In my new cold water Hillstream tank, I have some gold White Cloud Mountain Minnows and they are just delightful

A 16g long sounds nice!!

I bet you do have a lot of buckets with cat litter

I'm looking at some of the fish that come from Lake Inle from Myanmar. So like the rummy nose rasbora, emerald drawf Rasbora, glolight danio, red drawf Rasbora. Not all of them. I'm struggling to pick, haha. I'm getting some of those because I only use my tap water, and these fish will like what comes out of my tap.

 

[MagnifcentBett]

A 16g long sounds nice!!

I bet you do have a lot of buckets with cat litter

I'm looking at some of the fish that come from Lake Inle from Myanmar. So like the rummy nose rasbora, emerald drawf Rasbora, glolight danio, red drawf Rasbora. Not all of them. I'm struggling to pick, haha. I'm getting some of those because I only use my tap water, and these fish will like what comes out of my tap.

Nice choices! I was looking at glowlight danios for my new coldwater.