Hello from Michigan

[Cyprinodont]

Hi! 

I've been keeping fish (and following aquarium co-op) since 2013. For some reason I never joined the forum! But now I am. 

About my fish keeping: I started with planted tanks and nano fish, neocaradina shrimps and did that for quite a long time. About 2 years ago I got asked by my LFS if I wanted to work there part time covering one shift a day, and I happily accepted. Since then I work 3 days a week there now. We're a mixed fresh and salt store (I know, I know) but it's definitely gotten me into the marine side of the hobby and I now have 2 reef tanks alongside my 55 gal planted tank/ fish collection and a few 20gal or smaller breeding tanks, currently with some Daisy's rice fish, long-fin calico bristlenose, and rasboras maculatus (absolutely zero luck with breeding these and not much expected but I wanted a challenge) 

Here's a few highlights of my best set ups through the past few years:

Mom's tank 🙂

29gal West-African riparium & pleco breeding tank. Cycling reef tank just beginning. 

Same reef tank 6 months later. 

Newest 29gal DIY All-in-one reef tank. 

Baby African Butterfly Cichlid (Anomolachromis thomasi) that was born in the riparium above. 

Looking forward to joining the discussion on here, especially as I ramp up some breeding projects again. 

[ange]

Welcome to the forum! I'm looking forward to seeing more from you and your tanks.

[Eno]

Loving the reef tanks! Do you find them hard to grow?

[Cyprinodont]

On 11/12/2023 at 5:39 PM, Eno said:

Loving the reef tanks! Do you find them hard to grow?

They're definitely different than high tech planted tanks but not by much. I really love the variety of invertebrates available which is just a luxury that we don't have in freshwater. But also I can't have nearly as many fish in those tanks. There's only 3 in one and 1 in the other while my 55 gallon planted tank has like, I think maybe 50 individuals. 

Plus breeding saltwater fish requires way more work and space than I have, the rice fish don't demand a lot and give me a lot of joy in return. 

But honestly I think everyone should try a saltwater tank at least once if they love aquariums!