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


Red Neon Dwarf Gourami by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

My Angel Fish

Lisa calls this one Chris


Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

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


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


Male Cockatoo Apisto Triple red by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

And his good lady ( currently with fry)


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


Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr


Untitled by Sidleydoc, on Flickr

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


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


Perry the Mickey Mouse Platy by Sidleydoc, on Flickr