Any fish keepers on board ?

[Rainy day auto]

I'm not a pro at it, I got started around 6 years ago when I saw a 20 gallon tank complete with fish on marketplace for 20 bucks. I went to get it and the lady selling it asked me if I am really interested in taking care the fish and when I said of course, she gave me the tank and everything.

Over the years the original fish died off but as they did I replaced them with more and the tank changed a lot and i learned a lot of lessons. During that time I also had other smaller tanks I set up.

Fast forward to Thanksgiving 2025, and petsmart is having a sale on tanks and accessories.

So what do I do.... bought a 37 gallon upgrade and found a stand on Amazon.
The stand had to be slightly modified but the finished product is making me happy

The original 20 gallon tank i believe is leaking very slowly, there is water damage under it and it has to be topped off once a week. I think age got to the silicone

 

[Rainy day auto]

I used pool filter sand and had to wash it and expedited the nitrogen cycle by using a dirty filter from the old tank

 

[Rainy day auto]

It's been a week since the fish went in and everyone seems happy so far, the first night the water was murky but everything settled in very nice. I added 4 corydoras and 5 shrimp which I didn't have in the old smaller tank

 

[Rainy day auto]

After a couple days I realized it was a mistake to put tiny shrimp in general population so I had to get a little basket because I had one that got swept into the filter and he didn't make it.

Also got some more plants, it's a work in progress

 

[cr8crshr]

Is your aquarium a freshwater or saltwater setup? If it is freshwater, an important additional Fish you need to consider adding to the tank is a Plecostomus. They are "sucker type" fish and will help keep the water side of the tank glass clean of the buildup that occurs as the water is aerated, and fish feces and food build up will inhibit the glass from remaining clean and free. They do a great job of that, do not require much looking after, and just hang out either at the bottom of the tank or attached in various spots on the inside of the glass. One will be sufficient for the size tank you have. Hope this will help...cr8crshr/Bill

 

[wahya]

I’ve had fish tanks since I was a kid back in the 60s. In the early 70s, I switched from fresh to saltwater. I think my first saltwater tank was about 55 gallons. I bought some fish from pet stores, but most of the time, I got my fish from snorkeling in the ocean. The water that I used came from the ocean and along with that, came the various things that apparently kill fish.
Over 30 years ago, I bought a 70 gallon tank and at one point, I filled it with tap water and the dry saltwater mix. I had a few fish in the tank and I bought a tank raised baby Perculla (spelling.) Clown fish. That was about 26 years ago and he’s still going, just eating flake food.

 

[moparmarks]

I got my first fresh water tank in 1968 and have had a tank setup almost every year since. Just have a little 5 gal right now.

 

[Plyrr471]

My last tank was a 90g salt. Loved it as it reminded of my scuba diving. It just got too expensive and I packed it in.

 

[Belvedere408]

Sweet tanks, I've got a salt water tank set up. I started with beta tanks as a kid.

 

[dadsbee]

Young and foolish in another life, I had 32 tanks in our furnace room of our first house, along with wood framed poly lined breeding ponds. I raised guppies sword tails and angel fish that I sold to local pet stores. 100 gallon, 6foot long tank through the wall behind the bar. Clown knifes, Elephant noses and a variety of Chiclids.