It's crazy early in Virginia...so no pics of fish to add...yet.

[Angelndisguise2277]

Hi all...I've been following Cory and Aquarium Co-op for several months along with some of his friends... well lurking mostly... I finally became a member and apparently that opens a whole new world of likeminded fish lovers. I thought I could only find those by frequenting my favorite local fish store. I live in southeast Virginia; I settled here after my ex-husbands career landed us here and I fell in love with the area so I bough my own home (military brat, then wife... it's new to me to put down roots). I currently own 6 tanks, 5 at home and a Betta tank in my office. I'm about to be back down to 5 though. I purchased my new 75 gallon to replace my 36 gallon bow front tank (anyone local interested in purchasing said cycled tank, filter, top, stand and the basic light that came with it?). It was my first tank and I have discovered I HATE how it looks, and having to find fish in there when you have astigmatism is a huge pain. I'm almost completely done cycling the large tank...likely tomorrow when I test again. I currently have 3 turquoise rainbowfish, a zebra loach, a clown loach, a small school of pygmy cory's, 4 emerald cory's, two golden algae eaters and one obnoxious minnow (I'll have to tell you his/her story one day) along with some nerite and assassin snails and multiple amano shrimp for the 75 gallon. I plan on stocking two more female turquoise rainbowfish as soon as my store can get them. I have a twenty gallon in my room, it has a mustard/black male betta, a zebra loach, a golden algae eater, a nerite snail, a few assassin snails (they hitched a ride with some of the plants, like pest snails, but better) 7 ember tetras, 3 cardinal tetras (they were originally with my blue betta at work in my 6 gallon, but he's a jerk and likes to be alone with his mystery snail so I obliged), 2 ghost shrimp, and who knows how many cherry shrimp now (it started as 3... I know I count more than that, but they hide so well among the plants and rocks it's hard to say). My 10 gallon tank has 2 fancy guppies, 3 endler guppies, and one assassin snail. That one is really cool, I made it two levels...can't wait to show it off. The other two tanks, one is my son's and the other 10 is now my quarantine/hospital tank... it was housing my figure 8 puffer after its 20 gallon sprung a leak, until my 36 gallon was free for a larger brackish tank, but he became too stressed being moved around, even with being as careful as I could be with his adjustments and he passed 😪. I'm so glad to be here and to learn from all of you. It's kinda funny, the one guy that doesn't know me at my most frequented fish store is the one that helped me load the tank in my car and he said "welcome to an expensive hobby"... I'm an accountant, and I firmly believe there is a distinct difference in cost and worth. What I pay for my aquariums and other animals, pales in comparison to the joy I receive from caring for them. Of course... the owner quickly corrected him and let him know I was far deeper in the "hobby" than he assumed. 

 

PS... why is it that dwarf hairgrass is the one plant I have to have a love/hate relationship with!!! love the aesthetic...hate that any plant that outgrows it and blocks the light might kill it before it can spread... I wish I like other foreground plants as much.

updated with pictures: the first is my 75 gallon, yes I mixed natural plants with pirate/mermaid themed decor... I love it, that’s what matters. I call my 3 rainbows my “hippos” (hungry hungry hippos to be exact). The second is my 10 gallon guppy tank, they’re even all showing off for camera. The third is my 20 gallon betta and tetra tank. Those are my “Piranhas” cause they go after their pellets like they’re famished always.

 

Edited July 18, 2020 by Angelndisguise2277
Adding pictures

[Zeithelden]

Heya! I’m also in VA, near Richmond though. Are you closer to Norfolk? Some friends and I have started a small little fish group at our favorite store and we meet up every week to trade plant cuttings, fry if we have them, and talk fish. 

[Angelndisguise2277]

I am much closer to Norfolk than I am to Richmond. 

[Williamsburg Nerm Herder]

Hi,

 

I am in Williamsburg, there is a good FB community in Hampton Roads, especially Va Beach and Norfolk, the Peninsula is sparce.