Aquaria Central

[ersteb]

wandering through the LFS i was once again amazed by the variety of products aimed to keep you tanks in shape...and there is a multiple of these items in the various mail-order houses...

after keeping fish for the better part of 40 years and spending untold $$$ in the hope that the latest gadget will give me the results i was looking for i one again come to the belive in the KISS principal...that is Keep It Simple (Stupid!)

so..buy the best you can afford....stock it with the healthiest fish you can find...feed less than you think is right...change water more often that you think is necessary and do all the research you can

the end result will be a hobby that doesnt cater to those retailers that prey on those the beleive the promises of the maufacturers...

i presently have 2 tanks a 30g and 55g

the 30g is a planted tank with 2 goldfish a half dozen ottos snails and shrimp

all are doing great with a 65w pc light co2 injection and scheduled maintenance

the 55g started out as a community tank with just 3 decorations but has morphed into a planted tank as well with the cuttings from the 30g...upgraded the lighting on this tank and introduced co2 and it is flourishing!

i hope other hobbiests out there agree with my Principal....i think it works best...saves a bit of $$$ and give you time to really enjoy the hobby for what it is

and that all i have to say about that

Ed

[rich311k]

I 100% agree. Water changes and good stocking is all it takes for a happy tank.

[caitylee]

Great advice. I keep looking at all these things that you can buy, I usually pass them up though I hope that my tanks will continue to flourish

[Marinemom]

Totally agree. Too much of the time we spend fretting over the tank because of this or that when in reality we are the only ones that may see the perceived flaw. We need to just keep it simple and do the water changes with the best stock we can find and we will all enjoy our tanks immensely.

Marinemom

[msjinkzd]

yup, and qt new purchases, lol

[gspille]

My brother and I were talking about this the other evening. We were lauighing about all the stuff they say you need now for your tank to 'flourish', but we recall back in the late 60's and early 70's having tanks with mollies, guppies, swords, cories, whatever, and our fish would live for years. All we did then was water changes. Once in a great while do salt and the ich treatments.

[jenratico]

I love the thought of keeping things simple.......but I must say that in my case, a gadget has definately helped me do that.

I'm remembering back to doing my weekly waterchanges on the 55 with buckets and stairs..........

Gosh I love my python!!!

[ersteb]

dont get me wrong...i have compact flourescent lighting...co2 injections in both tanks...diffusers...solenoids...canister filters with noodles carbon and the lot...diatom filtering...timers...but i must say i am done with 99% of the products on the market at this point...so i bought the best i could afford and now i sit back and maintain...and a python as well!

[mldncx]

Originally Posted by ersteb

wandering through the LFS i was once again amazed by the variety of products aimed to keep you tanks in shape...and there is a multiple of these items in the various mail-order houses...

after keeping fish for the better part of 40 years and spending untold $$$ in the hope that the latest gadget will give me the results i was looking for i one again come to the belive in the KISS principal...that is Keep It Simple (Stupid!)

so..buy the best you can afford....stock it with the healthiest fish you can find...feed less than you think is right...change water more often that you think is necessary and do all the research you can

the end result will be a hobby that doesnt cater to those retailers that prey on those the beleive the promises of the maufacturers...

i presently have 2 tanks a 30g and 55g

the 30g is a planted tank with 2 goldfish a half dozen ottos snails and shrimp

all are doing great with a 65w pc light co2 injection and scheduled maintenance

the 55g started out as a community tank with just 3 decorations but has morphed into a planted tank as well with the cuttings from the 30g...upgraded the lighting on this tank and introduced co2 and it is flourishing!

i hope other hobbiests out there agree with my Principal....i think it works best...saves a bit of $$$ and give you time to really enjoy the hobby for what it is

and that all i have to say about that

Ed

I've never heard better advice!

[CBWMN]

I agree 100%.
I'm curious, how do you keep goldfish in a planted tank with snails?? I bought 2 goldfish because the eat snails. I tried to plant the tank, but they uprooted all of the plants and aate some of them.

Charles