"As the Filter Churns" an aquarium soap opera

[tyrrlin]

So, I have an aquarium. Since moving into our new house, I really wanted to set one up. Growing up, I had a 10 gallon tank which was home to a variety of fish, mostly goldfish. More recently, I had a betta in a desktop bowl. My grandfather used to have a large collection, and I inherited a nice (unused) 20 gallon tank which was at the new house

Comments

[dinogrrl]

Hurray fish! I managed to nab a 30-gallon setup for a nice price at a garage sale earlier this year. Currently have a tiger nerite snail, who's survived coming from the original 3-gallon freshwater tank I had, two neons (also from the 3-gallon), four glowlight tetras, and three platies (Pineapple Express, the male, and two females Sunshine and Ghost in the Shell). Ghost has the biggest gravid spot EVER, Sunshine is getting quite large but they are both refusing the have babies already >:[[[[. Pineapple is utterly obsessed with Sunshine, Ghost will actually sometimes put herself between Sunshine and Pineapple just so Sunshine can have a few moments of rest

[tyrrlin]

Yay fish! I tried neons, but the water is waaaay too hard for them here. I'm afraid it also killed off Fred, my run-of-the-mill Betta. It's well water, and practically off the charts in GH category. Didn't want goldfish, as I used to have them as a teenager, so guppies (and platys) it is! Guppies are really fun to watch, and I can hardly wait to see what Fire and Ice does when he realizes how many young females he is surrounded with. :-)

[dinogrrl]

I've heard peat can help with water hardness. Haven't had that problem myself so I don't know how well it works...all the water I've dealt with has done okay with just some basic water conditioners like aquasafe and bettasafe.

Never have kept guppies, but my family did a lot with platies back in the day so that's where I was immediately drawn this time. I really like both my females but I'm not thrilled with the male I ended up with...but I did tell the employee to just surprise me with whatever he pulled out of the tank so I didn't feel I could say "oh no any but that one" :p. Oh well, at least I can see what'll happen when a blue and a tuxedo cross. If the females ever have their frikkin babies already >8[.

[c_eagle]

The fish must love the new digs! ... I've never heard of "potato quality" though :D