Hi folks,
Like many on here, I’m returning to the hobby after some time away.
Around 15 years ago now, I worked at a garden centre which had an aquatics department. Naturally I got into keeping aquariums. I had a jewel Rio 180 and started off attempting to keep a heavily planted tank, reading many books in between scooping out Koi for customers.
All in all, I would say that I failed to achieve what I set out to do, with many of the plants melting away and only a few more hardy examples slowly growing.
So I switched the tank over to marine, pretty expensive, but the 25% off and occasional 5 finger staff discounts helped it along nicely. I found marine a bit easier and more predictable to manage, keeping many healthy soft corals and fish.
Then, at the age of 19 I joined the military and sadly the tank (which was in my bedroom at my parents house) had to go.
Fast forward a few years (now 33) and still in the military but with a house, wife and 3 year old lad, I’d like to go back and have another stab at what I failed to achieve the first time around.
From having a chat with a bloke at the local Maidenhead Aquatics, not a great deal has changed aside from LED lighting and rimless tanks. I think (hope) that what is going to make the difference this time is how readily available information is from experienced people like yourselves!
My setup is still very much in the planning phase, and I have to be mindful that it will occasionaly have to be unattended for days/weeks at a time....so that’s high tech out of the window. I’m thinking along the lines of a dirted substrate, with liquid carbon and EI on an auto-doser.
I’ve got plenty of time to research, as I’ll be out of the country soon for 3 months, ‘the build’ will commence upon my return......
Many questions to follow! (-:
Like many on here, I’m returning to the hobby after some time away.
Around 15 years ago now, I worked at a garden centre which had an aquatics department. Naturally I got into keeping aquariums. I had a jewel Rio 180 and started off attempting to keep a heavily planted tank, reading many books in between scooping out Koi for customers.
All in all, I would say that I failed to achieve what I set out to do, with many of the plants melting away and only a few more hardy examples slowly growing.
So I switched the tank over to marine, pretty expensive, but the 25% off and occasional 5 finger staff discounts helped it along nicely. I found marine a bit easier and more predictable to manage, keeping many healthy soft corals and fish.
Then, at the age of 19 I joined the military and sadly the tank (which was in my bedroom at my parents house) had to go.
Fast forward a few years (now 33) and still in the military but with a house, wife and 3 year old lad, I’d like to go back and have another stab at what I failed to achieve the first time around.
From having a chat with a bloke at the local Maidenhead Aquatics, not a great deal has changed aside from LED lighting and rimless tanks. I think (hope) that what is going to make the difference this time is how readily available information is from experienced people like yourselves!
My setup is still very much in the planning phase, and I have to be mindful that it will occasionaly have to be unattended for days/weeks at a time....so that’s high tech out of the window. I’m thinking along the lines of a dirted substrate, with liquid carbon and EI on an auto-doser.
I’ve got plenty of time to research, as I’ll be out of the country soon for 3 months, ‘the build’ will commence upon my return......
Many questions to follow! (-:
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