Tropical Fish! - My new hobby :)- photo heavy

Wanted a fish tak pretty much all my life but never got around to it. Whilst in Pets at home we were looking around and rather fell for a lovely looking biob life that looks like an iPod and Lisa said it would look great where the steroe used to go so I started to look into it

There is a LOT to learn and the first thing I learned was the Biorb range do not have a good reputation at all amongst serious fish keepers, they are also bonkers expensive so for the same money as a 60L Biorb I found online a 165 Litre cracking looking tank with trickle filter, heater and lots of stuff to get me up and running.

After about a month of staring at an empty tank ( save some plants and snails that hitched a ride) testing teh water every night and adding ammonia carefully the tank was finally 'cycled' and ready to get the fish - this is really important as it means there is enough bacteria in the filters to deal with their 'waste' so they don't die as soon as you put the fish in.

I love it and its a cracking hobby to have - pretty low maintennance as well - only takes about 20 minutes once a week to do a partial waterchange and clean the glass with a magnet /prune the plants

Here are some of my fishies

My Red neon Dwarf Gourami

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6232/6...70c9f0ab_z.jpg
Red Neon Dwarf Gourami by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

My Angel Fish

Lisa calls this one Chris

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6102/6...99c0d04f_z.jpg
Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

And this is the one I call 'this big stripey one with the amazing tail'

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6108/6...127a1b6a_z.jpg
Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

Although they both have bodies the size of a 50p at the moment tehy can grow to be 8 inches or more top to bottom

My Rather splendid Dwarf Cockatoo Cichlid male

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6113/6...6d757cfd_z.jpg
Male Cockatoo Apisto Triple red by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

And his good lady ( currently with fry)

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6116/6...49252d75_z.jpg
Female Cockatoo Apisto by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

We have 6 catfish - 5 Julii and 1 Panda who was with them all alone in the shop and I couldn't abandon him

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7163/6...149f39de_z.jpg
Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6...c9225d48_z.jpg
Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

10 x Cardinal Tettra - the hardest Fish to photograph bar none!

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6050/6...8c952ba6_z.jpg
Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

And last but not least is Perry the Mickey Mouse Platy! how could we not have a Mickey mouse fish in our tank - see the ears on his tail area - they really stand out under the moonlight

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6042/6...0bbee9ae_z.jpg
Perry the Mickey Mouse Platy by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

Nice fishies. :yes:

Looks great Chris! :thumbsup:

I rather like your Male Cockatoo Apisto Triple red. :yes:
(I guess that's how you spell it. I just copied what you wrote.)

Anyway, he's a handsome fishy.

When you were looking, you should maybe have considered one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x8aqkVUeumc

:unsure:

Tom (:macwave:... oh well, it was a thought!)

Had fish as a kid, don't want any more. But you have some pretty ones Chris.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catrancher

When you were looking, you should maybe have considered one of these:

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You would have to be fairly flush to afford one of those Tom. :lol:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by uscwest

Had fish as a kid,

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Me too John.
I used to breed them when I was lad & I keep saying that maybe I should start again but somehow I never get around to it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slowhand

You would have to be fairly flush to afford one of those Tom. :lol:

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:ROFL: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/75186662/smilies/lmaof.gif http://dl.dropbox.com/u/75186662/smilies/tracy.gif

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slowhand

but somehow I never get around to it.

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Here ya' go Terry! Now you've got one.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/75186662/roundtuit.png

Tom (:macwave:... just trying to help!)

Lovely fishes!!! Have always wanted to have a tank, but never made the commitment...so thanks for sharing yours!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by catrancher

Here ya' go Terry! Now you've got one.

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Oddly enough Tom, we sent some "tuits" out as a mail shot to customers a while back as part of an advertising campaign. They went down a treat. :yes:

yay!!

Cant see the pics :( but I LOVE fishtanks!

We had one until Tatiana was born, and one day it broke and the water covered half oour living room floor, and I remember Tatiana screaming her little head off in her carseat and we going mad trying to save the fish :(

ok.. so not so nice hahaha, but I had had fishtanks for years, my dad has a massive one, and I think we are finally ready for another one.. I just love them and find them super relaxing to look at :)