Aquarium keeper mantras

[puffers4puffers]

I’m older than many of my fellow aquarium keepers
I have fish older that my kids and many of you
“Rules” for my success

Keep less fish longer
Water changes are your friend
Buy a book
Unfortunately new fish tend to die first
Don’t name your fish (I find it a curse)
Feed your fish well and often and with a varied diet

 

[Trouser Cough]

Use a UV sterilizer

Buy plants that grow like weeds and leave the fancy plants to fancy people

Too much filtration is almost enough

Giant fish in giant tanks seem like a cooler idea until...

Fish don't want the light on when I'm not there

Figure out the most efficient WC method and then improve it

 

[puffers4puffers]

Water change replacement water should be ideal: temp, pH, salinity
Keep maintenance simple...if it’s easy, it will get done. If it’s a PITA it will be neglected
No pouring water from buckets: get a pump and a hose
Avoid heavy lifting

 

[A201]

+1 ^ Don't name your fish.
- Keep a deep substrate & either never gravel vac or do so on a limited basis.
- If compatible with tankmates, stock Botia Loaches. IMO, the best bottom feeding scavengers.
- Sponges are the best filter media, with ceramics coming in a close second.
After decades of keeping so many different species of fish, ranging from Discus to Festae to Africans, to Unbelievably expensive marine fish, I'm back to keeping various "Barbs". Lol. Keeping things simple.
No stress, beautiful & peaceful. After all that's what this hobby is all about.

 

[esoxlucius]

Rule number one, the most important by far. All the other rules will be fine as long as you've mastered/got lucky with this rule. The rule being....

If you are serious about this hobby and, as the years pass, undoubtedly begin to get slowly drawn into the terrible affliction that is multiple tank syndrome, then make sure that you have a partner who is totally on board with the journey you are about to embark on!

If you crack that one, the fishkeeping world is your oyster, lol.

And another "rule" which has slowly dawned on me over the past 8 years of my
second stint in the hobby......big tanks are not only for big fish. Huge tanks with small fish are wayyy better imo.

 

[Americancichlidsaredabest]

Don’t name your fish (I find it a curse)

Whoops. All of my fish have names lol. Even my silver dollars which I can’t tell who is who

 

[kendragon]

This is an open forum, take what you want and leave what you don't.

 

[puffers4puffers]

Whoops. All of my fish have names lol. Even my silver dollars which I can’t tell who is who

It’s a rule...not a law
It’s your aquarium

 

[duanes]

Sometimes if a fish gets beat up, it'd be more humane to just eat it.
Might be harder to cook if you've named them Linda, or Ralph.

Above peacock bass nuggets.
Below a menu at Real Chesapeake in Baltimore.

The poached snakehead below.

The snakehead was quite tasty.
Below Tilapia (cichlid)

 

[chopshop]

Find what' works best for you are my rules
Best size tank...too small you ll get bored, too big it'll get neglected.
Best amount of time for maintenance, too long and it's a chore.
Best fish/fishes you want to keep ...not the 1st thing you see in a shop that's shiny....a fish you've always dreamed of and proud to show off

Unlike others...I too have named my fish....I only have one and he is called Marley