Has anyone achieved balance and peace with thier fish collections?

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I'm at a very good balance atm of fish.. now I just need to see their tank requirements premenantly fufilled. I finally have a good set understanding of what I do and don't like in the hobby. Once I finish fleshing our my pairs, and "groups" I'll be happy.. ever since I was a kid I always bred my pets ( oddly enough never dogs or cats, mostly reptiles, birds, small mammals ect..) So I like to have "breedable" numbers, I"m looking forward to breeding a few species down the road.. so tahst just time spent now fattening them up and watching them grow. BUt thats also my achilles heel.. I like to grow things up and then breed them, and if I can't I sell them.
 
I'm into cichlids right now but my journey is long as a fish keeper just started in august so i'm always thinking of different fish and always wanting to switch around fish and never dead set on one type specied or single fish, so no peace or balance there but fish keeping in general watching any fish swim and feed, brings me peace and cleaning and maintaining the tanks and the final project looking good brings me balance and happiness. also cleaning the tanks (just my aquariums i hate cleaning in general the tanks is the only thing i clean generally and quite consistent with) helps as a stress reliever for me!
 
Last time I had a 110G high tank 8years ago. 1-15"Giant Garaumi,1JD,1Jewel,1-14"Pleco,1-10" street smart goldfish. I had other fish in it but the Garaumi beat em up. So I removed all but what I have listed. I like a variety of cichlids but not all get along in a small tank.

Now 8 years later. Tank has been set up for 16 months. I am satisfied with my variety in my 220G. All fish were bought 2" Long and I have not lost any from fights. A little nipping here and there but nothing bad.

I like the variety rather than all the same in one tank. Different temperaments and personalities.... :)

2 Oscars ---------9" and 6"
2 JDs-------------9" and 6"
2 Blood Parots---- Both 7"
2 FireMouths------5" and 5"
2 Synodontis Cats-8" and 8 1/2"
2 Pictus cats------6" and 4 "1/2
1 Pleco-----------4 1/2"
1 Rubber Pleco --2 1/2"
1 cory cat------- 2 1/2"
6 Convicts---Range 1" to 5"
 
I'm there also. Been keeping fish since 1970. Had all the bruisers that kill everything then sit in the corner by themselves also had the endless chasing and fin tearing. I now have a planted 65 with rainbows angels and roseline shark. Constant movement color like a saltwater tank and no bullied fish which oftens lead to disease. I think this is my tank finally. P.S Still miss the giant snakehead I had when they were legal. LOL
 
no i also dont have peace in my mind i constantly keep on changing my fish combination but wen i sit and enjoy my fish i really like them then i get peace
 
Not yet. My stock has been getting along well in my 280g. I'm happy with that, but I want more color in that tank that's why I'm still on the lookout for colorful fish that my local lfs might stock. Sure I can get colorful tetras, rainbows etc. but they won't last 10 mins with the big guys. But with strict restrictions when it comes to importing livestock here I'm not sure if I can achieve that.
 
Not even close to piece and tranquility here. with cichlids and monsters it the complete opposite "dont eat him!" "dont lay ur eggs there" "why did u uproot that i just planted" "1,2,3,4,5, ok all schooling fish still here" "leave him alone!" "nooooo thats not the feeder" ". my fish stress me out lol.
 
Nope. Cichlids are my fish that I like a lot but they don't really bring peace tranquility and balance when they are ripping apart feeders (sorry don't let your goldfish read this :D) but they are pretty damn awesome

I have to agree with this, I have fish that I have to worry about killing each other, so I'm far from peace and tranquility!!! But I try to balance out the aggression by choosing fish that are equally aggressive, and it has worked so far!!! With my fingers crossed everytime I add something new to my collection!! I have much respect for the OP, 30 years is longer than I've been living!!
 
Funny enough i think its my small paludarium that has brought me peace and tranquility... Since i never seem satisfied with my 200G look... Although im just about to rescape the tank so lets see...


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