Get back to your roots in the hobby.

Discussion in 'Warner Marine' started by Jon Warner, Nov 25, 2012.

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  1. Jon Warner

    Jon Warner 3reef Sponsor

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    So I was in the pet store the other day for some dog toys. And I see the freshwater section over on the wall. So I went over and spent 20-30 minutes looking at fresh water fish. I hadn't spent so much time looking at freshwater fish in probably 20 years. Most of us started into the hobby with freshwater fish and checking them out brought me back to my roots a little bit as I checked out every tank. Tetras, Barbs, Livebearers... I'd really forgotten how cool they are. African Cichlids... South American cichlids... the infamous OSCAR!! How many of us have kept an Oscar? Probably a lot.

    Take a little break from spending all day contemplating quarter inch frags and $80 fairy wrasses... So next time you're in a store with FW fish, go check them out. Amazingly... they're STILL cool.
     
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  3. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    It is a dry heat, yeah right !
    To this day I have always wanted to start another Discus or Tetra tank.
    Neon Tetras were what go me into this hobby.

    Heck a fancy tail gold fish still holds fascination for me, I have always been fond of the Black Moor gold fish.

    I honestly can not say why I do not have a FW system.
     
  4. oldfishkeeper

    oldfishkeeper Giant Squid

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    Nice post. I kept FW as a young kid (maybe 7 or 8) because I had allergies and we couldn't have a furry pet. My favorite was keeping guppies and keeping the babies. I also loved the kissing guarami (sp) as a kid, I just thought it was cute how they would kiss :)
     
  5. chelseagrin

    chelseagrin Fire Goby

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    i must be the exception to the rule in this hobby, but i have actually never owned a freshwater fish tank, i came straight into saltwater. i sure wish i had though, would have made it a hell of alot easier.
     
  6. rglewis

    rglewis Flamingo Tongue

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    yes, I started with freshwater when i was a kid. Its been about 30 years, but i can still see those neon tetras in that columbian sharks belly :( I went from community tanks, to Oscars then to African cichlids and finally to saltwater. I always look at the Cichlids when I go into my LFS, and my friend keeps and breeds Cichlids. He tries to talk me into doing another cichlid tank, and I try to talk him into saltwater. LOL. Maybe one day ill give it a go, but for now, every time I purchase a new tank, SW is always the first thing that pops into my head and I start planning. I really dont think there is any turning back after you get into SW. I wouldn't mind doing a cichlid tank, or planted community tank though.
     
  7. Corailline

    Corailline Super Moderator

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    I found your post humorous as I can still remember the drama of adding a Jack Dempsey to my Tetra tank, the carnage was extreme.

    It's funny but I gauge the stages of my life by what type of tank or fish I was keeping at what age.

    :)
     
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  9. cosmo

    cosmo Giant Squid

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    lol, I LOVED my piranha tank, and Oscar tank in college, and my 150g community FW tank full of mostly small schooling fish. I kinda wish I kept my 55g for a Cichlid tank, the guy that bought it made an awesome cichlid tank out of it.

    But 3 SW tanks and 1 5g FW are enough for now.
     
  10. Nuebie

    Nuebie Peppermint Shrimp

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    I just started my salt tank 5 months ago and still have my 55 gallon freshwater. I have two Angels, 2 African dwarf frogs, 5 cardinal Tetras, a rummy nose tetra, and 2 tiger barbs. It's so funny watching my tiger barb chase my angel when he acts up :)
     
  11. ddantz55

    ddantz55 Plankton

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    I can relate to going back to root fundamentals of my Aquarium keeping hobby. I started with a gold fish bowl - betta - barbs and neons - oscar/jack dempsey/green serum - lake malawi african - lake tanyanika - only fish salt tank - reef with vho/pc - reef with t5/metal halide - reef with led by ai sol, I've come a long way and so as many of us in the hobby. If I may say these ai sols are amazing for the price. These are the led lights I recommend, coming from metal halide technology I must say the AI Sols are the best price out there and can compete with expensive high end brands. I'm only running less 50% already I have good results with my sps.
     
  12. grinder37

    grinder37 Whip-Lash Squid

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    Welcome to 3reef ddantz55 and your story sounds very familiar to my 25 year long journey.All started with a yard sale 10g tank and some guppies.Been facinated ever since.