Pre- internet fishkeeping.

[Eupterus]

Anyone keeping fish prior to getting internet service?.
IF you did and did things were acceptable in the day and later found to be wrong, does that make one a bad fishkeeper?.

Example: I kept my panaque species plecos without driftwood for years. Some people have gotten upset when I say I did this.
At the time, I read fish books and magazines so I was informed about the fish I was keeping to the extent one could be.

 

[12 Volt Man]

the baensch atlases were out long before the net was around and accessible.

they were my main source of info pre internet days.

 

[SHK_ATK]

I had Inet but until THIS site I used to do all kinds of stupid noobish things like keep goldfish in 10G tanks, or use chemicals for everything, expect fish from wallmart to survive, overstock, mix coldwater fish w/ tropical.... sad...

 

[Hooked Newbie]

I don't necessarily think it's internet vs. no internet. I like this site because it turns into conversation rather than the "source" simply stating what is right. There's ALOT of bad info on the web still... perpetuated myths and just flat out wrong advice. i.e. I can find at least 6 sites right now that say it's fine to keep Tigar barbs with ANY other community fish.

 

[J double R]

i did it all.. lol... goldfish in 10g, not cycling, completely sterilizing the entire filter once a month, emptying the tank and gravel to clean it once a year, etc etc...overstocking, you name it. :

then i got the internet.. back in like 98. wonderful resource.

 

[Que]

Don't dwell on the past and just bask in the light of knowledge you have at your finger tips today and be happy you now know more than you ever have before about taking care of your fish and plants.

I love this place.... Thanks AC and all who have helped me on my journey to being the best fishkeeper I have ever been.

Q

 

[wataugachicken]

hmmm, pre-AC the last really dumb thing i did was buy a goldfish for a 6g eclipse tank because i thought i could put him in there, let him poop a whole lot, and then return him and grow some plants in the "fertilized" tank. that night after i bought him he had a major swim-bladder attack and i found AC while looking for a cure. turns out he just gorged himself on algae wafers which swelled up inside and made him all "floaty". he survived my treatment, which was putting him in a small plastic container with aquarium salt (probably a lot) and an airstone, and i still have him today in his own 30g.

 

[Hooked Newbie]

hmmm, pre-AC the last really dumb thing i did was buy a goldfish for a 6g eclipse tank because i thought i could put him in there, let him poop a whole lot, and then return him and grow some plants in the "fertilized" tank. that night after i bought him he had a major swim-bladder attack and i found AC while looking for a cure. turns out he just gorged himself on algae wafers which swelled up inside and made him all "floaty". he survived my treatment, which was putting him in a small plastic container with aquarium salt (probably a lot) and an airstone, and i still have him today in his own 30g.

I almost hate to admit this now... I had 2 fancy goldfish and 2 koi in a 3G Eclipse. They lived for six moths with 25% water changes every month or so and some top offs.
:thud:

 

[nickmcmechan]

Don't dwell on the past and just bask in the light of knowledge you have at your finger tips today and be happy you now know more than you ever have before about taking care of your fish and plants.

I love this place.... Thanks AC and all who have helped me on my journey to being the best fishkeeper I have ever been.

Q

great point q

 

[Eupterus]

Pre fish books, we ( shared family tank) had four goldfish in a five gal tank..Then we upgraded to a ten gal tank. I think one of the goldfish lived about two years.