How Did You Get Started In The Fishkeeping Hobby?

I thought it might be interesting to hear from members how they got into fishkeeping 

I know my story will probably be a fairly common one but I started with pestering my parents as a kid to have a pet and eventually they let me have 2 goldfish in a small unfiltered tank. This soon got upgraded to a larger filtered tank but I'm afraid that doesn't necessarily mean I became a wiser fishkeeper.... in fact I was on an all out war with dirt, including what I believed to be dirt in the filter sponge.  Thoroughly squeezing it in scolding water each water change. Despite losing a few fancy goldfish species along the way, one old faithful fish has made it with me to this day and still lives at my parents house.

I had a break from fishkeeping whilst I was at university and for a few years following that. But eventually as a married man complete with mortgage etc. me and my wife decided we would like to have a tropical tank. I started with a fish in cycle with some plants which was poorly managed at first but realising something was not quite as it should be I started researching stuff on the internet and came across this forum... what a better fishkeeper it has made me!! 

I must admit that I am still amazed by the simplicity and practicality of the siphon tube.  A revelation since my early days of putting the fish in the sink to clean out the tank every other week!!

Im now fascinated by the flora and fauna of the aquarium world. Id love to have the time money and space to become an aquascaper. I prefer the smaller fish species and like a tank to be full of different behaviours of fish. I have a 64ltr planted community tank and plans to upgrade the tank in due course.

Anyone else had a similar experience? Or perhaps your entry to the hobby was somewhat different?

As a child my brother had a lot of allergies, so the only pets we could have were aquatic. Fun fair goldfish eventually gave way to my brother getting a terrapin.
When my brother left home I was allowed a rabbit in the garden.
When I bought my own place one of the first things I did was head to the rescue centre, and came home with two cats who had been at the centre for 3 years. They were with me for a long time.
After moving from Cardiff to Newmarket, then Cambridge, I was in my current home, which is rented and has a no pets policy. Approximately 2 years ago someone suggested that I would enjoy having a pet, and that perhaps fish would be allowed. I contacted my landlords to ask permission, they agreed, and not knowing any better I headed to Pets@Home to buy a started tank. I used this site as a guest to read up on fishless cycling, and it has escalated from there.
I started with small tanks, plastic decor, and quite frankly bugger all knowledge. I now have larger tanks, and enjoy researching the requirements of fish, plants, etc.
I have found the wonderful world of aquatics quite addictive, as several of you may have noticed. 

I got my first tank about 40 years ago, knew nothing about it cold water plastic under gravel filter light in the cover, put some water in got some fish put them in and hoped for the best, never did water changes test or anything else, later added a heater and got tropical, kept for a couple of years but as I was renting and moving a lot gave it up, this year retired and thought I would start again, 5 foot tank internal and external filter, 2 heaters and a chiller, planted test kit syphon for water changes, dread to think what my fish used to have put up with, but all look happy now.

I thought goldfish might be the entry point into the hobby for a lot of people! 

...and for me too. I have a huge soft spot for goldfish as they have so much personality. I became very attached to my goldfish (two in particular, kept in separate tanks, one of whom I had for many years) - but, following the heartbreak of losing them, I felt it would be "unfaithful" to get another and couldn't face a broken heart again and so decided to keep a different type of pet. Tropical fishkeeping seemed the best option and it was only then that I discovered fish forums and learned a lot more than I'd ever known in my many years of goldfish keeping. Unfortunately, I only have space for one tank although like to think of everyone else's tanks as my "virtual" additional tanks. 

@fcmf Your nieces and nephews in my tanks say Hi 

Lol, that's so cute. 

@fcmf Look! I told them their Auntie was visiting and they are all excited because they think you will bring them a flake 
#Invalid YouTube Link include https#

Now a link to Youtube and added a backing track @fcmf let me know if its any better than the cutdown version please

@fcmf Could you see the video? I looked at it after posting, it was a download rather than an embedded file and it still wouldn't play.

@Robert Do you have any idea if it is possible to get the site to support anything other than mpeg2 files or is the back office just too old now?

I have edited post #11 and it is now a YouTube link of the full res vid. Somebody let me know if its visible please.

Just seen this topic and thought it might be a good place to try this out.
I have decided to start a blog on my Tropical fish journey This will be my first instalment what do you all think, please. I am a total novice and this is going to be new to me as well so thoughts would be very much appreciated.Thank You, Bx
                                                     
What is this all about you may ask. WELL !!!

As a child at home, we had Goldfish and budgies ( I DO NOT like birds), when I say 'we' my other brother's and sister's did not me, but for some reason, it was always me that did the caring and cleaning of them yes a few budgies escaped but I promise (cross my heart) not on purpose.
I always liked the fish the best and frequently thought about taking the next step up to having tropical fish. Since then (38 Years) I got married had two wonderful boys and now have 4 &1/2 Grandchildren the half one being due in January, along with 5 Step-Grandchildren plus our lovely Jack Russell Max. We have had other animals over the years Cats (which I found I was allergic to so they had to go) an assortment of dogs, rabbits, and even some goldfish.
 After all, these years there is just my husband Alan our dog Max and myself at home with the occasional grandchild/children stopping over.

We both have other hobbies Alan loves computers and electronics and he is currently into 3D printing, a 5-hour print is whirring away in the background as I type. A new part for a new kit he is building which will take his 3D printers up to 3 plus his little pen one.

Me well I have always been a must be doing something person,  knitting, sewing, baking,  candle making, card making, jewellery making, beadwork which is my favorite. Unfortunately due to an extremely painful tennis elbow (my right side which is my dominant side) I have had a year now of not being able to do any of these things. So having a lot more time on my hands I have had time to look at what I do and think things out. After visiting a local pet store with a friend and seeing some fantastic fish and tanks it got my interest going again, I had a chat with hubby and we decided to go for it.

I have never blogged before but thought it would be a nice idea to write down everything I do, then Alan suggested I did a blog then others can possible either benefit from my journey or have a good laugh at all the mistakes I get up to.


So my tropical fish journey will start in the next post.
Hope you enjoy it.  Bx