Ben_RF Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 If you could tell your fishkeeping self something in the past, what would it be? What I would start off with is skip over the cheapest lights and buy something medium grade like a Fluval Aquasky or Plant 3.0 or Finnex Stingray. Light will play such an important part of the enjoyment of the tank. Also you will find yourself more easily combating algae when not having to deal with the excessive blue in cheaper lights. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 Go slow. Avoid many different kinds of fish in a single tank, with more of each species instead. Don't drop a whole cube of freeze dried brine shrimp in a tank. Break it up and add small amounts instead (it's a long, sad story). 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Schwack Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 Buy a bigger tank. 5 gallons are a massive pain and severely limit your options. I wish I had started with a 29 or 40. Deworm everything. Paracleanse AND Levamisol. 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H.K.Luterman Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 Get into live plants! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atitagain Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 Patience that is all. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brymac1 Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 That 150 gallon tank will leak in two years... 1 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isaac M Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 Invest in the Aquarium Co-op, just kidding haha I would tell myself to focus on buying less equipment and items you do not really need and instead buy a larger aquarium. For example, sponge filters and power heads instead of big hang on the backs and canister filters. Or pool filter sand instead of aquarium sand. Organic soil instead of planted aquarium substrate. Things like that. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kyle_G Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 Bigger isn’t ALWAYS better… I started with a 210 saltwater tank 5 years ago, and spent a fortune on lights, hardscape, livestock and equipment. While I still enjoy it, my 10-29 gallon freshwater planted tanks with sponge filters are actually more enjoyable— less stress, less maintenance, less money, and equally beautiful in their own way. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer V Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 On 10/13/2021 at 2:11 PM, Schwack said: Buy a bigger tank. 5 gallons are a massive pain and severely limit your options. I wish I had started with a 29 or 40. I agree! I started with a 10g and then bought a 5g to raise snails and I hoped shrimp. I cannot get the parameters right and it drives me crazy. I wish I had started larger so I had more options and more stability. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted October 13, 2021 Share Posted October 13, 2021 I would tell 8 year old self not to put the turtle you found in the creek in with all the other creatures you brought home from the creek they are very hungry. I would also tell my younger self to never buy hob filters. They work but are miserable. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mynameisnobody Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Save some of that money, you don’t need to own every fish. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beccs410 Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 I'd beg myself to not fall for the replaceable carbon filter cartridge trap! Don't do it! Toss them! Toss them all and replace them with coarse sponge or anything else but those damn replaceable cartridges! Money grab to the max! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carolina Guy Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 (edited) I would tell my younger self to buy timers for my aquarium lights. This has made things easier for me and has made my fish happier. Edited October 14, 2021 by Carolina Guy 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PineSong Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 1) rehome the goldfish to a pond much sooner rather than later... 2) don't wait 12 years to have another planted tank just because you don't have a sunny window for it: buy lights and go ahead. Lights aren't as lovely as sunshine but they're better than no tank at all... 3) Aquabid! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sunny Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Don’t get paralyzed by all the conflicting advise on the internet, although it was so easy to do when I was first new to the hobby. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CalmedByFish Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Test. Kits. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fonske Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Get black 6-8mm gravel for substrate, skip blue tank backgrounds and go black, and stay away from guppies. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 To only take advice from people willing to show you their tank, and that tank needs to be a conversational piece. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Don’t chase parameters. Double your plant budget. Your goal is a mature tank not a cycled tank. Enjoy your tanks and breeding projects- if your not enjoying it stop and rethink what you’re doing. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 1. Don’t put juvenile Tetras and Shrimpletts with African Dwarf Frogs. That’s just expensive frog food. 2. Use less light, and you’ll get less algae. 3. Listen when Cory says he uses crushed coral in all his tanks. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardedbillygoat1975 Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 @Patrick_Gi’ll learn from your Mistakes on the frogs!! I almost put them with 20 juveniles green Neocaridina?! 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flumpweesel Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Paint the back of your 240l tank once it's place you can't move it without draining it and clear looks bad. 3 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 On 10/13/2021 at 10:43 PM, Beardedbillygoat1975 said: @Patrick_Gi’ll learn from your Mistakes on the frogs!! I almost put them with 20 juveniles green Neocaridina?! Haha, yeah that might have been costly! I’m also learning that not all ADFs are as aggressively hungry. I put a few guppy fry culls in my wife’s Frog and Betta tank but everyone seems to be living in harmony. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plutoids Mom Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Bettas actually do need a heater, filter, and more than a few cups of water. Also, tanks take longer than 24 hours to cycle. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted October 14, 2021 Share Posted October 14, 2021 Read as much as you can on the fish your getting and never make impulse purchases 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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