Hey everybody

Hi to all the regular users and also to any other new members, like myself.

It's taken me a while to get around to doing the introduction bit, so apologies for the late start!

I've had my first tank up and running for just over a year now and am still amazed at how much enjoyment we all get out of it (not having a tv probably helps!) and I have to admit I've become bit of a fish shop junky, I love checking out what's in stock with my 1 yr old!

When I was looking into getting a tank early last year I wanted to get a large tank but keep small fish. I was suprised by the cost of tanks, even 2nd hand, and looked into building my own. That was until I found an absolute bargain up north- I got a 6'x2'x1' tank, custom walnut stand/lid, eheim filter, inline heater, t8 lights, bog oak, background, sand and spare buckets from a lovely bloke called Mark, from Larne, all for only €450! Mark told me that him and his mates can't believe the cost of tanks down south- if any of them they wanted a large tank they would by a load of small tanks up north and sell them down here, making enough profit to buy a big tank back up north.

Anyhow, one good road trip later, got the tank set up and running. I had studied Aquaculture in Galway RTC in the mid 90's so knew a bit about the nitrogen cycle etc and reserched the rest. Actually that and the guys in Fintastic Aquatics in Dun Laoghaire were spot on with answering my constant/ annoying questions, cheers lads!

My livestock has changed a bit over the year (lost a lot 6 months ago by introducing a bacteria with fish bought from a warehouse-type pet store chain and not quarantined... lesson learned!) but now consists of 11ish rummynose, 10/12 celestial pearl danios, 10 hatchets, 9/10 dwarf Corys, 4 khuli loaches, 4 chinese hillstream loaches, 2 dwarf gouramis m/f and a couple of micro rasboras. I also have a few types of shrimp 1 bamboo, 5 amano, 5 blue unknowns, 8 mandarins and 40/50 cherrys. I am a bit worried that this list will make a few eyes roll but I'm happy with them and the fish are all in good shape. I use a 65l bin for water changes and am on top of the chemistry although my tap water ph is a little higher than I'd like at 7.5 but I'm not gonna mess with that.

Right that's enough rambling from me except to say ta very much for the info and advice picked up from the forum and looking forward to learning more as time goes on! Will try to put up pics but I'm brutal with a camera!

Cheers, Rob.

Welcome aboard and a nice start with the pics. Love the background on the tank. Dont go messin with the PH the main thing is that yer water parameters are stable and yer fish are healthy. Whack a few more full tank pics up there and yer well in then.

Welcome mate; you have quite a mix there. And yes i think in general tanks costs cheaper up north as with few other items too but then for the journey i would say most would prefer to just grab a deal here.

all the best.

regards;
andrew

Welcome aboard Lovely setup. Everything is cheaper up north alright. The shops here are not to blame though, its the crazy overheads they incur which is driving up prices,and looking likely its going to get worse

Welcome to the forum!

Like said before the background looks great.

Melander

Welcome thats a great looking tank you have there look forward to seeing some more pics

Cheers for taking the time to comment- will try to upload some photos I took earlier.

@Andrewo, too much of a mix I think- it's certainly no biotope! It's one thing I would do diferently if setting up again, settle on fewer types of fish and focus on maybe two good shoals or go species specific.

As for the background, it's a plastic rock sheet made up of four panels siliconed in place. After a year it's greened up and impossible to clean, although I've had luck getting moss to spread out on it. I might have to scrub it in sections so as not to create too much waste.... any suggestions would be much appreciated. I'll try to upload those photos...

I am not one to talk as for my first tank i had all mixed cichlids in one tank! americans;africans- different regions; but i am separating them all now; though of course it comes at a price- cost of buying few more tanks

However i dont think it is too late now if you want to change things round; at least you know what you want; thats a great start.

All the best!

Hi Rob ,

Welcome to the forum.

Thanks for sharing the photo's. Beautiful Tank great size too, plenty of scope for most set up's you would like to try in the future.

Alan.

Welcome to the site mate hope you enjoy it.