What's Your Favorite Part Of Fish Keeping?

Hello all. Which part of owning a tank is your favorite part? I'm starting to realize that although I love when I finally get a tank to where I want it where everything is added, stabilized and doing well, I think I actually enjoy the "building and putting together" process more than the final outcome. The journey to an established tank is almost more fun than just having an established tank. What's your favorite cup of tea in the process?

 

Anymore its just the sit back and watch.

 

Knowing that I'm taking care of my fish makes me happy.

 

buying and adding fish!

 

Water changes. I love to do water changes......(I have to keep telling myself this)

 

Meeting other fishfanatics (On the forum and in person).

Just received a message of friend Paul from the UK who visited Pier Aquatics (we visited together in 2016) today.

He send me this awesome pic of an Hypostomus luteus.

 

Ok were can I get one.

Meeting other fishfanatics (On the forum and in person).

Just received a message of friend Paul from the UK who visited Pier Aquatics (we visited together in 2016) today.

He send me this awesome pic of an Hypostomus luteus.

 

Ok were can I get one.

4 left at Piers Aquatics

 

I enjoy breeding ,raising and sharing my fish the most.
Hard to beat a classic build though !

 

4 left at Piers Aquatics

That's across the pond. Amazing looking fish though.

 

I must have one

 

I could only wish I had a tank big enough for such a beauty! To the post though, everything is great so far but I have to say that watching my fish in their watery home with all the habits and personalities they have is just so relaxing.

 

Only one choice?! If so, I choose the adding fish.

 

That was a difficult choice. I'm always messing with scape and plants, but it's more to suit my fish better or to prepare for new fish. I just don't get fish often enough to pick that. I love researching about fish and planning/figuring everything out too! And I include planting as maintenance, don't mind water changes either especially once i'm doing them, I find it relaxes me. I have a hard time watching a tank and not messing with it though, so I know i'm not picking the last.

This was a fun little poll, tx.

 

It's the never ending journey. I've taken chances that have turned out bad and resulted in far more tanks than I wanted. Other chances have had remarkable outcomes. I have such a variety of species and they all have their little "things". I guess my choice would be the constant learning, if that were a choice.

 

It's the never ending journey. I've taken chances that have turned out bad and resulted in far more tanks than I wanted. Other chances have had remarkable outcomes. I have such a variety of species and they all have their little "things". I guess my choice would be the constant learning, if that were a choice.

I should have added that one! It's a tough choice for me but I enjoy the maintenance the most I think. I love plant trim and water change day. But I never thought about how much I enjoy the constant learning. I've spent hours and hours and hours on fishlore and aquarium youtube channels etc. As the aquarium hobby advances we'll never stop learning in this hobby.

 

With plants I like the "enjoying" phase because... well, plants are never really done, are they? So I like watching my plants grow, watching my fish get comfortable in the new environments the growing plants make, trimming the plants back when they start to get ridiculous, and watching the whole process start again. Maybe that's actually maintaining? LOL

 

With plants I like the "enjoying" phase because... well, plants are never really done, are they? So I like watching my plants grow, watching my fish get comfortable in the new environments the growing plants make, trimming the plants back when they start to get ridiculous, and watching the whole process start again. Maybe that's actually maintaining? LOL

haha! I consider plant trimming under the maintenance category. But I enjoy it so much it doesn't feel like a chore. It's relaxing to me trimming and shaping plants and the scape. Like fine tuning a bonsaI tree. I also enjoy watching everything fill in again and watching the progress too. It's tough to narrow it down to one aspect when you enjoy the whole process

 

For me. It is a stress reliever. So all aspects but especially finding my first platy, guppy fry and helping the little guys survive. Have since moved into breeding Bolivian Rams and Electric Blue Acaras. Nothing better than seeing the transformation from eggs into wigglers then swimmers and fry. And of course sharing with club and forum members. Oh, yeah, have become just a step above an Algae grower. LOL

 

I should have added that one! It's a tough choice for me but I enjoy the maintenance the most I think. I love plant trim and water change day. But I never thought about how much I enjoy the constant learning. I've spent hours and hours and hours on fishlore and aquarium youtube channels etc. As the aquarium hobby advances we'll never stop learning in this hobby.

Yeah, I had a rough start to the day. My mom is not well and there is a whole drama surrounding around getting her home from the rehabilitation center she is in. My fish have suffered and I needed to do a canister cleaning and water change on my favorite tank. I haven't been sleeping well and thinking clearly so in shutting off the canister, I did it incorrectly which deposited over 5 gallons of water all over the family room floor.The initial movement of the canister had this brown fog entering the tank. It was so gross. I was cleaning media from the canister with the water I was changing out and it took about 60% of the water to clean the media. I was very scared for my babies when I realized how little water they had left between the canister cleaning and the amount of water on my floor. I have been nervously watching them all day. The water is now crystal clear which I did not think was possible and all inhabitants appear well and active. I will just have to see how they are tomorrow.

 

I voted looking at them in the end, but I like all aspects to some degree (yes, even the water changes).

Only thing I don't like is sick fish and misinformation.

 

Yeah, I had a rough start to the day. My mom is not well and there is a whole drama surrounding around getting her home from the rehabilitation center she is in. My fish have suffered and I needed to do a canister cleaning and water change on my favorite tank. I haven't been sleeping well and thinking clearly so in shutting off the canister, I did it incorrectly which deposited over 5 gallons of water all over the family room floor.The initial movement of the canister had this brown fog entering the tank. It was so gross. I was cleaning media from the canister with the water I was changing out and it took about 60% of the water to clean the media. I was very scared for my babies when I realized how little water they had left between the canister cleaning and the amount of water on my floor. I have been nervously watching them all day. The water is now crystal clear which I did not think was possible and all inhabitants appear well and active. I will just have to see how they are tomorrow.

So sorry you're feeling so much stress, it really stinks when you are caught up in it. I had major anxiety issues a few years ago, Idk how many accidents I had doing maintenance because my mind just wasn't there. I honestly didn't feel I was able to do anything correctly for a while and double guessed everything I did. I thought I would never get better......but I did. I finally feel closer to my old self. Hang in there, I don't even know how I got back, I just did. Maybe positive thinking, at first I thought I was bull crapping myself, but eventually I ousted the bad feelings and thoughts without a flinch. I hope you feel back to your old self very soon. It's a new year full of new adventures

 

I have to say, my favorite part is watching the fish/inverts settle in. I was so content waking up this morning to see my BTA absolutely thriving!

 

Feeding and just watching them be themselves .

 

I like give them personalities and talking to them, but I think that is just cuzz I'm weird.

 

I like give them personalities and talking to them, but I think that is just cuzz I'm weird.

Maybe they'll talk back if you bug them enough.

 

I love seeing their different personalities as well! My 10 gal QT is on my kitchen counter and my 29 gal tank is next to it but going the opposite direction, almost like a divider between the dining room and living room. I would lean on the kitchen counter and watch both tanks all day long if I could

 

I like give them personalities and talking to them, but I think that is just cuzz I'm weird.

I talk to my fish haha! Anyone else?

 

I talk to my fish haha! Anyone else?

I talk to my turtle. Mostly about the brick he keeps trying to go out with (I'm not kidding).

 

Maybe they'll talk back if you bug them enough.

THEY DO!! see my thread - I swear they are communicating with me

my favourite part of the hobby is just watching them and their personalities whilst they are getting around the tank. Watching my tank has replaced watching telly. I do it for hours on a night....and I love caring for them - even more than for my dog. I have to share the dog with the rest of the family but the fish don't really interest the family beyond noticing once in a while.

I like give them personalities and talking to them, but I think that is just cuzz I'm weird.

They do have their own personalities! and they communicate too!

 

I like the fact that you have to stock slowly. Gives you a chance to enjoy and get to know the fish you currently have.

 

come on put a all button

 

Can I select all of it?

 

I would have to say teaching my kids about pet responsibility, but now it's an addiction. I now have 4 tanks running and setting up a discus breeding and grow out tank. But hey my 7 year old daughter can do water changes by herself for her 3 Gallon betta tank. Best part of fish keeping.

 

Personally I like to set up tanks, and watching the personality of the fish

 

What’s your guys favorite thing about fish keeping? For me it’s feeding time I love interacting with my guys when it’s time to eat.

 

Honestly not sure. I like having a hobby besides gaming, I also just love the fish, especially my betta.

 

For me I think it's just sitting and watching the fish. I rarely watch television now, and if I do it's generally early in the morning before the lights come on in the tanks.

 

I love feeding time too. Especially my lemon tetras, they are so funny, they go up to the surface really quick grab the food then dive back down, like they are going to be caught lol. I think another part I love is just finding out about new fish and how colorful or personable they are, and then wanting them so bad and having to rethink my entire stocking plan around them.