How much of a nerm are you? Take this test to find out...

[memorywrangler]

OK, so the test doesn't exist yet, but help me build it.  The idea would be to award points based on different aspects of your engagement/obsession with keeping fish.  

My current proposed list of questions is below.  Please suggest additions and I'll edit accordingly.

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running.
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case".
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks.
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed.
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed.
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed.
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids)
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator)
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity.
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep.
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum.
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case.
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself.
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built.
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system.
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks.
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks.
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild.
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity.
22. 1 point for each $100 you've sold of fish in the last year.
23. 2 points if you regularly attend a fish club auction.
24. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz.

 

Edited September 22, 2023 by memorywrangler

[Guppysnail]

On 9/22/2023 at 3:08 PM, memorywrangler said:

1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum.

I would eliminate this. Folks who have been around the forum a long time and folks who are chatty Cathy have unfair advantages over folks who are new or speak only when they have important things to say. 
 

PS I fall into both these categories 

 

[HelplessNewbie]

Do quarantine tanks count in items 1, 2, 3?

So far, my points are 29. I don't think I am a nerm.

[Guppysnail]

On 9/22/2023 at 3:37 PM, HelplessNewbie said:

Do quarantine tanks count in items 1, 2, 3?

So far, my points are 29. I don't think I am a nerm.

If you have an appreciation for the aquarium hobby and keep an aquatic critter …you are a nerm. I think this is more about how insanely over the top are we 🤣

 

[Odd Duck]

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running.  28
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case". About to get 11 this Saturday, but one is a plan for the future, some replacements for aging tanks with a few to be held for “just in case”.  5.5
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks. 13
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed. 24 (I know, excessive, some are getting dropped once the current pack is gone but I got some freebies at Aquashella.)
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed. 10 (mostly because I freeze my Repashy.)
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed. 27
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids) 6
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2. Zero
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator) zero
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity. (By this you mean bred and raised to maturity, or just bred and sold fry, or got when young and raised to adults?). Successfully bred - I can’t even remember all of them over the years but I’ve bred more species deliberately more recently than in the past.  Around 15-ish, most recently, only a few others in the past.
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep 12
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep. 11
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum. 48
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case. Does it count that I have mature sponge filters as “back up” in nearly every single tank?  Only a couple tanks have primary sponges as sole filters, most have HOB’S double standard size for the tanks, some have matten substrate over UGF’s plus a backup ACO sponge.  Plus I have a tank that has matten, an HOB plus 2 sponges running.  🤷🏻‍♀️ So I guess that makes it about 19 extra sponges ready to transfer at any moment.
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself. Zero
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built. 3
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system. Not yet, but soon, so zero.
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks. Not yet, but soon, so zero.
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks. 10
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild. 10 if you count plants.
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity. 12
22. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz. 1

Grand total of 254.5

I think I have a problem.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Odd Duck
Clarify then correction.

[dmurray407]

On 9/22/2023 at 2:50 PM, Odd Duck said:

1 point for each aquarium you currently have running.  27

You have 27 tanks?!  Gives me something to shoot for 🙂. Since my hubby passed a few years ago, I rarely use the living room for anything other than my aquarium and some plants. Might be time to get rid of that couch and make some room-I have lots of ideas!!!

[Odd Duck]

Sorry to hear about your husband.  My condolences.  Glad you’ve found a hobby to keep you busy.

Most of my tanks are small - I have 10 x 10 G, 4 x 5 G, 2 x 20 G, (1 high, 1 long), 2 x 6 G, 1 x 2 G, 1 x 3 G, 1 x 29 G, 1 x 14 G, 1 x 75 G, 2 x 100 G, and 1 outdoor tub that’s around 50-ish G (round and tapered sides, hard to calculate exactly), plus 2 jugs that total about 3 G.  Dang, I just recounted and it’s 28.  😆 🤦🏻‍♀️ 🤷🏻‍♀️ I often forget to count the outside tub.

I don’t have fish in every tank (some are live food culture only), no fish in outside tub this year (it gets too hot).  Some shift between growouts, quarantine, might be species only one month, then mixed next month.  The 10’s shift the most.

Edited September 22, 2023 by Odd Duck

[Guppysnail]

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running. 15
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case". 3
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks. 6
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed. 14
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed. 8
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed. 18
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids) 4
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2 0
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator) 0
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity. I’m only going to count the last 5 years that I intentionally been breeding. I’ve had to many unintentionally and those were without my help or even paying attention so should not count. 18
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep 7
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep. 7
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum. 😲 105
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case. I’m guessing this mean how many filter I could and often do move about without disruption of the main filter in each tank. 33
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself. 0
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built. 0
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system. 0 unless my pump system counts 🤣
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks. O
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks. 0
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild. 10
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity. I’m going to count only the ones I’ve been to more than once and can remember. 26 I traveled for a living and visited in each city. I doubt I even remember them all. 
22. 1 point for each $100 you've sold of fish in the last year. Little personal as I sell a good bit. But I talk enough to make up for the points not shown here 🤣
23. 2 points if you regularly attend a fish club auction. 2. I go to 2 a month 🤣
24. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz.1 

 

277

I talk way to much 🤣

[Tanked]

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running. 4
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case". 2
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks. 4
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed. 1
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed. 1
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed.
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids)  2 (assuming  we count  nutrient combos specific to one tank.)
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator)
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity. purchase to maturity, or birth to maturity?
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep. 3
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum. 16.3 as of this posting
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case.
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself.
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built. 1
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system.
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks.
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks.
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild.
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity.
22. 1 point for each $100 you've sold of fish in the last year.
23. 2 points if you regularly attend a fish club auction.
24. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz. 1

35.3

Sugest: 1 point for each complete piece of backup equipment you have on hand, ie: spare filter,air pump,heater etc.

 

On 9/22/2023 at 4:01 PM, dmurray407 said:

I rarely use the living room for anything other than my aquarium and some plants. Might be time to get rid of that couch and make some room-I have lots of ideas!!!

If I had some place to put the aquarium junk, the dining room table and chairs would be gone.

[Odd Duck]

On 9/23/2023 at 8:22 AM, Tanked said:

1 point for each complete piece of backup equipment you have on hand, ie: spare filter,air pump,heater etc.

I might as well redo my entire fish room as try to count these!  I’ll be back next year, going to be busy for a while!  🤪 

[nabokovfan87]

Somewhere around 23.5 for me.

(Not including the forum post one)

[Atitagain]

On 9/22/2023 at 3:08 PM, memorywrangler said:

 

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running. 8
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case". 4.5
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks. 9
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed. 8
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed. 4
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed. 3
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids) 2
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator)
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity. 20
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep. 1
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum.
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case. 3
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself.
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built. 5
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system.
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks. 5
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks.
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild.
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity.
22. 1 point for each $100 you've sold of fish in the last year.
23. 2 points if you regularly attend a fish club auction.
24. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz. 1

 

53.5 for me without the post count. Funny to think would’ve been well over 100 a year ago. Fun quiz!

im definitely a nerm and proud of it 😎

[Ben P.]

I know I'm not going to win, only 76 for me and I didn't look at my post numbers

[dmurray407]

On 9/23/2023 at 8:22 AM, Tanked said:

If I had some place to put the aquarium junk

I have a huge closet off my dining room-it’s mostly full of aquarium stuff…..I don’t know where I would put it otherwise🙄

[Ken Burke]

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running.  4
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case". 0
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks. 3 (142g)
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed. 6
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed. 10 (when I’m raising fry)
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed. 0 
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids) 0
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2 0
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator) 0
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity. 6?  
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep 0
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep. 0
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum. 13
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case. 2
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself. 0 (but I really want to)
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built. 1
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system. 0
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks. 0
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks. 0
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild. 0
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity. 3
22. 1 point for each $100 you've sold of fish in the last year. (U would ask me that) 6
23. 2 points if you regularly attend a fish club auction. 0 (no club in my area 😭)
24. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz. 1

i don’t do public math. But mid 40s?

On 9/23/2023 at 2:30 PM, dmurray407 said:

I have a huge closet off my dining room-it’s mostly full of aquarium stuff…..I don’t know where I would put it otherwise🙄

I didn’t really count this ‘cause it’s mostly leftovers 

Does the summer tub count as a tank?

On 9/22/2023 at 2:18 PM, Guppysnail said:

I would eliminate this. Folks who have been around the forum a long time and folks who are chatty Cathy have unfair advantages over folks who are new or speak only when they have important things to say. 
 

PS I fall into both these categories 

 

U mean I’ve been around the forum longer than u?  Sheesh

[Surreal]

I made this into a little website for people! https://nermquiz.netlify.app/
 

Let me know if anyone has any suggestions or anything

Also, my score was only 37.5😭

[tolstoy21]

1. 1 point for each aquarium you currently have running - 43
2. 1/2 point for each aquarium that you have empty "just in case" - 3
3. 1 point for every 40 gallons of water currently in your tanks - 20
4. 1 point for each variety of prepared food you regularly feed - 6
5. 2 points for each variety of frozen food your regularly feed - 2
6. 3 points for each variety of live food you regularly feed - 3
7. 2 points for each variety of water you regularly use in your aquariums/fish room that require some kind of preparation other than dechlorination (e.g., RODI, brackish, salt, hard water for African cichlids) - 10
8. 1 point for each tank with CO2 - 0
9. 1 additional point for each tank where  CO2 is regulated (i.e., not yeast-based or chemical generator) - 0 
10. 1 point for each species of fish you have raised to maturity -  20 (I think) 
11. 1 point for each "grow out tank" you keep - 20
12. 1 point for each species-only tank you keep - 10 (estimate as this changes from week to week)
13. 1 point for each 100 comments posted on this Aquarium Coop Forum - 13
14. 1 point for each cycled filter you have on hand, just in case - 6
15. 1 point for each aquarium you have built yourself - 0
16. 1 point for each aquarium stand you have built - 6
17. 5 points if you have a multi-tank auto-water change system - 5
18. 5 points if you have a air supply "loop" for many tanks - 5
19. 10 points if you have structurally modified your home to accommodate your fish tanks - 10
20. 10 points if you been collecting in the wild - 0
21. 1 point for each city you've been to and visited the LFS as a tourist activity - 0
22. 1 point for each $100 you've sold of fish in the last year - Pleading the 5th (What if Uncle Sam is reading this thread!)   😛
23. 2 points if you regularly attend a fish club auction - 0
24. Award yourself one point for taking this quiz - 1
     

Ok so 183 for me. 

Edited September 26, 2023 by tolstoy21

[TheSwissAquarist]

Maybe an extra point if you’re under 18? Or keeping fish at university? 
Dans fish would make an absolute killing of this 😂

[tolstoy21]

On 9/25/2023 at 9:28 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

Maybe an extra point if you’re under 18? Or keeping fish at university? 
Dans fish would make an absolute killing of this 😂

Or -1 point for every fish that has died in our care.  Man, how many of us would be in negative numbers!

[TheSwissAquarist]

I scored 41.5! But I’d like to breed more fish in the future 😈

On 9/25/2023 at 3:31 PM, tolstoy21 said:

Or -1 point for every fish that has died in our care.  Man, how many of us would be in negative numbers!

Point taken…wholesalers would have a really bad rep. 

Would livebearers (e.g. Guppies) count as 1 point and @tolstoy21s Emperor tetras as 3?

Should breeding difficulty be a thing? (Probably a bit complicated) 

[Tanked]

On 9/25/2023 at 12:15 AM, Surreal said:

I made this into a little website for people! https://nermquiz.netlify.app/
 

Let me know if anyone has any suggestions or anything

Also, my score was only 37.5😭

Good Job!

Going down your list it dawned on me; that drilling holes in the baseboards for fish only electrical outlets is a structural mod. I picked up another 10 points.

#23 how many pieces of backup equipment... should be a changeable number instead of a checkmark.  It also doesn't change the score.

[Surreal]

On 9/25/2023 at 9:57 AM, Tanked said:

Good Job!

Going down your list it dawned on me; that drilling holes in the baseboards for fish only electrical outlets is a structural mod. I picked up another 10 points.

#23 how many pieces of backup equipment... should be a changeable number instead of a checkmark.  It also doesn't change the score.

Good catch! Just fixed this. It was pretty late when I was finishing this up so I was expecting a few errors haha.

[Sora]

got 30! not bad for a cheap fish keeper lol.

edit: got 40 on the website, mostly because of my 55 gal

Edited September 25, 2023 by Sora

[tolstoy21]

On 9/25/2023 at 9:28 AM, TheSwissAquarist said:

Maybe an extra point if you’re under 18?

20 extra points if you're over 50?

[Tanked]

On 9/25/2023 at 1:21 PM, Sora said:

got 30! not bad for a cheap fish keeper lol.

edit: got 40 on the website, mostly because of my 55 gal

Cheap fish keepers are often the happiest fish keepers.