I am no longer a Monster Fish keeper.

[CanadianKeeper]

Well, reality hits some times. You need to move, new houses ect.

I came to the realization I am no longer able to be a monster fish keeper for at least 5 years.

I did not let that stop me though! I got a small fish with big attitude!

I picked up a fluval flex 9 Gallon to put my show Plakat betta in!
A few small mods like filter floss in the left empty compartment, a better hole to run the pump and heater lines out of.
I went with a heater for a 5 gallon, my house is nice and warm. I was worried about the heater getting stuck on and boiling the little dude. So I got a small enough heater that if my house does get a little cool the tank wont but it cant boil the little guy if it breaks. (normally I avoid this by using multiple smaller heaters on a larger tank but not an option with small tanks!)

Mind you the fluvals light broke about 2 weeks into owning it... The replacement should be here this week from fluval.

I got some pre-filter sponges/foam set for the fluval edge and that took care of the high flow issue perfectly! Great 6 buck fix!

anyways better photos to come when the light gets in. Until then! Here yah go!

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Dang, that sucks. What did you have previously? Such a beautiful tank, btw.

 

[CanadianKeeper]

Dang, that sucks. What did you have previously? Such a beautiful tank, btw.

I had a 125 FOWLR salt, 180 fresh, 90 fresh, 55 fresh, 35 salt, 10 gal salt.

Fish keeping larger fish or multiple tanks is a thing of the past now sadly. For a few years at least.

 

[The Masked Shadow]

Dang, that 125 salt must‘ve been awesome! Sucks.

 

[Thedeerslayer]

The next 5 years will go by quick. You’ll be back in the game before you know it ?

 

[Toby_H]

I feel your pain.

Once upon a time I had a 1,200 Gallon fishroom plus several 100+ gallon tanks in the main part of the house.

Today I have a 40 Gal with an Apisto and some guppies...

 

[Gourami Swami]

Mini monsters can be just as rewarding as the big guys. Bettas in particular have just as much attitude and "personality" as just about any other fish. Great little wet pets and yours is a stunner.

 

[robmcd]

I don't really keep ''monsters'' anymore either. I still have a 100+ gallon tank and a few smaller, but I find it much more rewarding to keep smaller, more peaceful fish and replicate their natural habitats. Besides, keeping natural planted tanks requires much more upkeep, knowledge, attention, and work than any large volume ''monster'' setup that I have ever owned. That being said, I have learned quite a bit here over the past 15 years and I still log in 5 days a week, so my heart is still there, as I am sure that yours is as well.

 

[jjohnwm]

That betta is gorgeous, as is that photo of it! There is every bit as much enjoyment in keeping smaller fish as there is in the monsters. I haven't been a true MFK aquarist for many years. Just got one potential monster cat recently, an apurensis jelly...but have no plans for any more big guys. Small fish are just as interesting and don't provide that tiger-pacing-back-and-forth-in-a-cage feeling that I have come to dislike.

Long before I ever heard of MFK as a website, my wife was using the term Monster Fish Keeper to describe me, back when I had big fish, mostly predatory. After I gradually switched over to smaller fish, she made one of her rare visits to the fishroom and commented on the lack of tankbusting fish. I ruefully replied that I was no longer her Monster Fish Keeper.

She glance around at the roughly 2000 gallons of water bubbling merrily around her and said "Well, you might not be a Keeper of Monster Fish anymore...but you're still a Monster Keeper of Fish!"

 

[jjohnwm]

I don't really keep ''monsters'' anymore either...I find it much more rewarding to keep smaller, more peaceful fish and replicate their natural habitats. Besides, keeping natural planted tanks requires much more upkeep, knowledge, attention, and work than any large volume ''monster'' setup that I have ever owned.

Apparently it does; I still haven't gotten the hang of it!

I have lush jungles of greenery in some of my tanks, by accident...but if I consciously decide to keep a planted tank? Let's just say that I have mastered the art of the Scorched Earth Aquascape.