If you could tell your fishkeeping self something in the past, what would it be?

[Ben_RF]

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.

[JettsPapa]

• 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).

[Schwack]

• 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.

[H.K.Luterman]

Get into live plants!

[Atitagain]

Patience 

that is all.

[Brymac1]

That 150 gallon tank will leak in two years...

[Isaac M]

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. 

[Kyle_G]

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.

[Jennifer V]

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. 

[Guppysnail]

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. 

[mynameisnobody]

Save some of that money, you don’t need to own every fish. 

[Beccs410]

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! 

[Carolina Guy]

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

[PineSong]

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!

[Sunny]

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.

[CalmedByFish]

Test. Kits. 

[Fonske]

Get black 6-8mm gravel for substrate, skip blue tank backgrounds and go black, and stay away from guppies. 

[Mmiller2001]

To only take advice from people willing to show you their tank, and that tank needs to be a conversational piece. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

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. 

[Patrick_G]

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. 

[Beardedbillygoat1975]

@Patrick_Gi’ll learn from your Mistakes on the frogs!! I almost put them with 20 juveniles green Neocaridina?!

[Flumpweesel]

Paint the back of your 240l tank once it's place you can't move it without draining it and clear looks bad.

[Patrick_G]

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. 

[Plutoids Mom]

Bettas actually do need a heater, filter, and more than a few cups of water.

Also, tanks take longer than 24 hours to cycle.

[Colu]

Read as much as you can on the fish your getting and never make impulse purchases