When I was younger we always had a tank on and off. Don't ever remember the fish in it, except for the common pleco. haha.
But when I moved out, I moved in with my fiance, he took a business trip out to Texas for 2 weeks, leaving me alone with nothing to do.
My mom gave me a 10 gallon tank... and 3.5 years later I still have those fish, but not in that tank!