Introduce Yourself!

Hello All (Again),

I say 'again' because I've already made one post without clocking in here.

Anyway, I was introduced to keeping fish about ten years ago when my civil engineering company was asked to include a large aquarium in a new office design. Whilst the structural design of the tank itself, along with the associated equipment room behind was straight forward, we had very little idea what else would be required to maintain the underwater world for fish, rocks and coral. It was when we brought in the experts to assist with the necessary equipment, plumbing and lighting designs that my eyes were opened to a whole new experience. During the following 18 months we were asked to include three more aquariums in building designs for other clients, as if we had become the new tank kids on the block. Needless to say the underwater world experts seemed to live in our design office during that period.

It was when one of the clients wanted a fresh water tropical tank that I decided to get my own tank at home. The equipment seemed a lot simpler and tropical fish had more of a smiley face than most of the brutes I'd seen in those reef tanks and you could have underwater plants too. Well, I was hooked (excuse the pun), but more so on the equipment side in order to get that near perfect tank with as little input from me as possible. I had the experts to call on, so why not use them.

I ended up with a 500 Lt tank with two Fluval 405 filters, two external heaters, a 5 hr per day Co2 injector, 5 stage RO system with a chlorine/chloramine zapper in the reservoir tank, a 50 Lt per day pumped drip feed water changer, LED lighting with dusk/dawn controller and an UPS system that would power everything for 3 hrs in the even of a power failure. After my daughter bought me an iPad, I then added WiFi monitoring of water condition/temp/level and a live camera. I just love gadgets.

As for the plants and fish, well the plants were made up of about twenty types all with latin names and the fish were mostly small shoaling types, about twenty blue, about ten golden yellow, about fifteen red and two small catfish that liked gardening and digging. As you can see I learned very little about the different fish and plant species, I just like looking at their underwater world wondering if they appreciate all the hi-tech stuff they have.

At the moment I'm currently tankless and designing a new setup, as I've just moved house and the person who bought my old house wanted my previous tank setup too. So the adventure starts again, but with so many major advances in equipment, coupled with new retirement time I'm getting over excited. Hopefully this time I'll start learning something about fish species, but I still enjoy the shoaling type.

Nat

PS. The new lights will definitely be controlled 'Cree' LEDs, but after reading another thread here I'm not going to say much more.

Wow, that is a lot of technology for a first fish tank! I can imagine the discussions my husband and I would have had if we'd viewed your house and thought that there was a chance of inheriting all that kit! I think I'd have wanted to buy the house for the tank! 

Hello Helen,

Not quite my first tank, that's were I ended up on my third tank. I went through the bigger and better stages like most people I suspect.

The couple who bought the house were already fish tank people too. I did check that they understood how to maintain the system for the little inhabitants sake.

Nat

Wow fantastic!

Quote from: Nat on January 13, 2013, 01:32:03 PM

After my daughter bought me an iPad, I then added WiFi monitoring of water condition of a power failure.n/temp/level and a live camera. I just love gadgets.

Out of pure curiosity how does that work!?

Hello Jesnon,

There is a good article here
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2011/8/equipment

and a few bits of equipment here
http://www.draquarium.com/

A Google search on "Aquarium Internet Monitoring" should open up lots of geeky ideas.

If you know your way around your home wifi network then it's quite straight forward, but it's not really plug n play stuff.

Nat

Hello all,

After posting a few questions on the help part of the site I ought really to introduce myself!  I have been keeping fish now for 6 or 7 years.  I rented a flat for many years and pets were not allowed...except fish.  Back then it was community tank with neons and dwarf gourami's with a male beta thrown in for fun  .  It ran pretty well.  When I met my lovely other half the tank moved and gradually there were unfortunate losses.  The new location was not ideal being in a hot conservatory but it was the only place it could go.  A new home later and we had not just a community tank but a friend had passed on a Rio 180 which we populated with 4 angel fish. 

A final move and the community tank had dropped to a few neons and a barb, while the angels were down to just 2.  Despite the risk to the neon there was no option but to combine the two tanks in the smaller tank (the larger one now resides in an outdoor shed) - oddly enough the neons survived well with the angels. My health has taken a turn for the worse over the years and care of the tanks was not within my ability.  The result was the loss of the final fish a few weeks back, despite efforts to keep things going  .  The good news is that I am now on the mend and also this house is my own...no more moves.  Those who have read my requests for help will know that another friend asked if we could help her home some guppies so the smaller tank was brought back to life, with the addition of a new pump and some more neons with a couple of shrimp to aid housekeeping.  The tank now resides in a good, permanent location where I can tend to the water with ease - I was once told we don't keep fish, we keep water...the fish just happen to live there! - and so with luck be able to watch my little schoal bomb around like loonies

The help I had from the people on this site was useful and, more importantly, welcoming.  I think it sounds like a good place to come for advice.  I look forward to hearing from people as time goes on.   

Welcome on-board Markycopple.

Hi all after a afternoon of aquatic gardening I thought it was about time I introduced myself.
I have been keeping fish since my granddad got me a tank when I was 12 and I have had a tank or two ever since. I worked In a aquatic store for a few years while at college and have kept a few different fish over the years. I moved house and scaled down 3 years ago as I was getting a bit obsessed with multiple tanks and it all got a bit much. At the moment I just have the single juwel rio 180.
looking forward to using the site and meeting you all, Aiden



This was the result after a afternoon with the scissors.

Welcome to the site, Phil.

Hi all

I thought I'd introduce myself here before I post in the newbie section my current predicament.

I've just bought myself a Juwel Lido 120 fish tank to get back into fish keeping. I've had goldfish as a kid and a brief experience with a 30litre biorb that didn't do too well.

I'm hoping I can get this tank well established with plants eventually and have a sensible amount of fish.
I like the look of rosy fin tetras and some type of shrimp. I thought about a fresh water crab or two but apparently they  like to prune your plants!

Great site from what I've read so far

Mike

Think I'd better introduce myself after already being in the emergency room!
My name is Paula and I've had fish for 3 years now. I did used to be on the forum, although I didn't post often. Think I just used my name on it. (am going to try and change the one I have just now as I was in a bit of a rush when I set the account up!).
Our original tank was a 60l tetra aqua art. We had so many problems with it, especially with the hood. After our 3rd hood gave up the ghost I decided to get a different tank as it would be cheaper in the long run. We now have a rekord 800 set up with live plants and our few remaining fish from the old tank. Unfortunately I screwed up and didn't take enough media from the old tank to seed the new one, hence emergency room visit.
Will take some photos of new set up. It's very much a children's tank just now. I have a 9 year old, a 7 year old and a 3 year old, plus I'm currently working as a childminder. The children all drew designs for the tank hence we have 'Bikini Bottom' (sponge bob square pants), 'The Dead Lands', 'Legendary Corner', and 'Mermaid Land'. I'm actually a freshwater biologist by training and can't wait for the kids to leave home so that I can set up a more natural looking tank! Mentioned a second tank to hubby, but for some reason he just squawked! I'm hoping that eventually the plants will at least screen Bikini Bottom and Mermaid Land off 

Mike - rosy fin tetras and shrimps, yes; crab, no