What's YOUR aquarium lie?

There are lies we all tell ourselves (and our spouses or parents) about this hobby - what's yours?

Mine is "THAT was definitely the last piece of duckweed. I've totally eradicated it this time."

 

“I’m NOT going to feed my adorable begging bettas more food!”

 

Someday I’ll trim the plants in my 29 so I can see the DW

 

Someday I’ll trim the plants in my 29 so I can see the DW

Are you SURE there's driftwood in there?

 

1 tank. I will only have 1 tank.

 

Are you SURE there's driftwood in there?

Hahahahaha I promise there is I see it when I do my WC’s

 

Hahahahaha I promise there is I see it when I do my WC’s

How do all your plants survive?! I’ve been trying to keep Java moss, Java fern, and hornwort alive. Only the Marimo moss balls survived lol

 

I always say this is the last thing im buying, but then I always want to tweak something. Add a rock, or add a plant or remove a plant. I'm perpetually unsatisfied and always changing something in my tanks.

 

How do all your plants survive?! I’ve been trying to keep Java moss, Java fern, and hornwort alive. Only the Marimo moss balls survived lol

WC’s ferts and in my 29 it has organic soil capped with PFS so the plants do exceptionally well but all my other tanks just have PFS and also do very well it’s all about finding the right balance of lights stocking and ferts. And of course weekly WC’s. I do 50-75% WC’s on all my tanks every 5-7 days and the fish and plants like it.

 

1 tank. I will only have 1 tank.

I certainly relate to this! I purposely decided to go with a betta since I knew one would be the limit. I live in an a small apartment and just don't have a lot of room for tanks.

Fast forward one month: I still have my first betta, but now also have another plakat betta and was surprised to learn a half-blind betta is on it's way to me.

 

That fish? No, that's not new. It's been in there for a while. Remember, I told you about it.

 

“I’m NOT going to keep trying for a shrimp tank. No more.”

(Have currently had 3 shrimp tanks fail within the span of a year, on my fourth one)

 

I’m only going into the pet store to look. I won’t buy anything .

 

"I'll do the water change tomorrow."

 

Followed by...Well you have to support the small local guy .

 

"No, I only want ONE tank, and no bigger then 10 gallons."

1 year later: "A 40 isn't That big, and I can still fit the 10 on the shelf below..."

 

I’m only going into the pet store to look. I won’t buy anything .

For two months now the total opposite for me. "I'm gonna buy x,y,z because I deserve spending a bit and my fish will appreciate it." Well... nope. Been there three times since, browsed and went home not having bought anything.

 

"I would give up all my indoor tanks to have my pond."
BAAAHAHAHAHA like that would ever happen...or he would ever ask...

 

"I would give up all my indoor tanks to have my pond."
BAAAHAHAHAHA like that would ever happen...or he would ever ask...

"I [hypothetically] would" and "I'm going to" are, objectively, not the same statement. It's all a matter of semantics!

 

I'll definitely remodel the kitchen before I build my next/another tank...

 

I'll definitely remodel the kitchen before I build my next/another tank...

Ooooooo, those are split motivations in this household. Maybe I can convince my wife that if she gets her kitchen reno, I can have more tanks!

Okay, seriously though, THAT ONE must be the last piece of duckweed...

 

"It was only $20..."

 

$35 shipping on 8 dollars worth of fish is worth it

 

" This colour morph fish definitely didn't cost more than the regular kind"

This thread has really made me realise how much I lie to myself hilarious

 

"Im going to leave it (the tank) alone now"

 

Now I'll never need to buy another _____ again!

 

Spending well over 2,000 on a few small tanks over an amount of 2 years isn't TOO bad...

 

What? I have plenty of room for more fish! Just one more..... (Currently on my 7th tank, building a multi level stand so I have an excuse to buy more in the future)

 

Spending well over 2,000 on a few small tanks over an amount of 2 years isn't TOO bad...

I have this weird thing about always trying to make my hobbies pay for themselves, so I keep track of literally every single dollar I spend on hobbies, as well as any income that they bring in.

Total spent to date: $273
Total recieved: $441 (~160% of initial investment)
Net profit: $168

Many people say this hobby is a money pit. I tend to disagree!

 

Do you sell fry or plants?

I have this weird thing about always trying to make my hobbies pay for themselves, so I keep track of literally every single dollar I spend on hobbies, as well as any income that they bring in.

Total spent to date: $273
Total recieved: $441 (~160% of initial investment)
Net profit: $168

Many people say this hobby is a money pit. I tend to disagree!

 

“This is my last tank.”
The only way I convince myself of this is by reminding myself that I’m going to have to get my own place eventually, and 150 cumulative gallons is a lot to move.
That will totally, definitely keep me resisting the impulse to start another tank.
(My neighbor is reserving her empty 90g and 110g tanks for me already...I’m going to have fun when I move out and have room for them.)

 

Mine is probably, to myself- every time I'm at the pet store... "Don't ask for a betta... don't ask for a betta... don't do it."

to my parents- "What? No- of course there isn't more babies than before..." and "I'm sure they can't get pregnant that many times"

 

The saltwater tank is done I don't need anything but fish!
This is your tank babe! This is the last one!

 

"This is seriously the last thing I'm buying for this tank!"

 

I will stop at 5 tanks
Will NOT spend any more money on this hobby...

 

Will NOT spend any more money on this hobby...

That is literally impossible lol.

This is not a lie, but I WILL NOT LET MY PARENTS FIND OUT HOW MUCH I HAVE SPENT.

 

It only cost......(A LOT LESS) than it did actually..... Ooops.

 

That is literally impossible lol.

This is not a lie, but I WILL NOT LET MY PARENTS FIND OUT HOW MUCH I HAVE SPENT.

If I saved all the money (or even half) that I've spent on fish I'd have a really nice car or a horse by now

 

I have this weird thing about always trying to make my hobbies pay for themselves, so I keep track of literally every single dollar I spend on hobbies, as well as any income that they bring in.

Total spent to date: $273
Total recieved: $441 (~160% of initial investment)
Net profit: $168

Many people say this hobby is a money pit. I tend to disagree!

I know, it's not a money pit. I just wanna spend the money

 

If I saved all the money (or even half) that I've spent on fish I'd have a really nice car or a horse by now

Just the start-up cost was more than what I spent on the vending machine when I was younger