Burks

I've always been around aquariums. At one time my family have two 55g, one 29g, and three 10g tanks set up at the same time. For about four years we had only one 55g set up for my dad's pond fish during the winter. None of us had any time to take care of a needy tank. I barely had time to sleep let alone clean a tank.

About a year ago I moved away for college and found myself with a lot of spare time not having a job. One can only study so much each day but my coin collecting craze took up what time I had. Now that the market is in a HUGE boom, prices for the coins I need/want are way out of my price range right now. Still collecting but not like I used too (the love of collecting is stronger than ever though). Because of this I turned to my second love, fish. I've always been a fisherman, as far back as I can remember. At one time I wanted to become a marine biologist but learned the jobs and money just weren't there. So I decided to do the next best thing and that is to have an aquarium. But not any old aquarium would do. Oh no.

You see I just can't do the "easy way" of having an aquarium with fake decorations, easy to care for fish, etc. I wanted a challenge so that's where the planted tank came into play. I have to balance the need for the plants and fish equally. Plus I've always just loved the planted tank look. Always seemed the fish were happier and more "natural" looking.

So far I think I'm doing well. *Knocks on wood* No fish deaths and the plants are growing fantastic! Maybe I have a future in keeping many large aquariums. If things go the way I plan I'll finally have a job soon which means lots more money. Dad has a couple extra tanks including a 55g with two filters, heaters, and hood with two light fixtures he isn't using and doesn't plan to EVER use again. Maybe a nice birthday present? Gave him some *hints* as to I would use it.....along with some about a nice canister filter.

Well that's my story. Not as good as others but I'm bored and nothing is on TV. Might as well post a story!

banderbe

I remember when I first became really interested in aquariums (about a year ago!) and found cichlids! Naturally, I found a number of cichlid websites, and the best one of all, cichlid-forum.com. Someone there mentioned plantedtank.net, and I remember going to the site and thinking "WHy would anyone want to bother with all that mess to keep boring plants?" After all, they weren't nearly as cool as fish! How wrong I was!

Some time later I was back on PlantedTank and one of the monthly desktop wallpapers was an aquascape by Norbert Sabat. "Alone in Paradise" I believe it was. Well, it was just jaw-droppingly awesome and I knew from that day that I wanted to do that too. So I began reading and reading and reading and reading, every day like a mad man, driving my wife nuts, wasting time at my job reading about planted tanks, and spending around $400 dollars give or take (give) a few hundred.

Well, fast forward to today and I just love my planted tank. I really can't even put into words why I love it or how I love it, but it gives me a deep sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, especially given how bad my algae problems were when I first started. I think plants have an austere serenity to them that fish just can't match. Fish are still cool and I want to get into breeding later but for now, plants are just great.

stepheus

BUMP... just want to hear what others have to say. i found this thread fairly entertaining heh.

i ve always been around fish tanks, fishing and ...netting scissor tails, tiger barbs, wild bettas, wild pearl gourami, snakeheads, ghost shrimps and the list goes on. it seems almost like i love collecting aquatic fauna. i ve also collected occasional strands of cabomba and leave them in the tanks. its true that they are indestructible. they grow like weeds even without substrate nor lighting system. all i remember having in the tanks were lots of fish and water. lol. so one of those years, i finally got bored of fish and how they are added then left swimming around in the tank. i mean thats what they do best right? heh.

i bugged my dad to get sand from the local river for my tank. that went on a while since he never tried putting so much matter in a fish tank and not fouling it up. however, i was too afraid to do it alone. so i waited and nagged, and thus one very fine day, i got my sand and plants in my 2 ft tank. my dad loved it and financed me in my madness. he got himself a 6 footer and 2x 2 footers for me. well, that was a good 2 years ago. that got me started. now i pass up on other luxuries and spend on the hobby in a heartbeat.

and i love art. aquascaping is just another medium for me to express myself. besides drawings, designing, music, literature and others. now its a matter to mastering it. thus my story!

JG06

Why a planted tank? Well, that's about the only thing I haven't done yet. Have had regular freshwater aquariums for years and I got my fill of saltwater when I was working in the pet business. If you're going to do something you enjoy: go all out, explore it, and try something different if you can. I've never had a planted tank so that's why my next one will be.