Annoying newbie questions

[Hal Mackins]

After a 10 year hiatus, I'm thinking about getting back into the
aquarium hobby. As a kid I had a 20 gallon tank, but my interests waned
and I wound up selling the set to a neighbor. As a recent college grad
working 9-5 with not much else to do, I think I want to immerse myself
in the hobby and make it a passion.

Couple annoying newbie questions (and you'll have to forgive me--I'm a
longtime usenet reader, and I am undoubtedly asking things that have
been answered since time immemorial).

First -- I'm looking for a good fish store in southeastern
Massachusetts (the south shore). When I had my original tank, there was
a really cool shop that catered primarily to aquarists that I really
loved--of course it's gone out of business. If anyone is local, can you
toss me a suggestion?

Second -- online aquarium resources? I've found the First Fish Tank
page, and a couple others, but it's hard to sort through the pages
primarily set up by online stores and dealers..I'm looking for good,
knowledgeable hobbyist pages.

Third -- filtration. I think I want a tank in the range of 29-40
gallons. My childhood tank had a biobag filter, but I know there are
several options--under gravel, cannister, etc. I'm thinking at some
point I would like to have live plants (I've read a bit and realize
what an enormous amount of work this requires) -- so if someone could
point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.

Anyway, that's all I've got right now. Thanks in advance, and I look
fwd to contributing to the group (someday) in addition to asking a
myriad questions.

-hal

[Angrie.Woman]

"Hal Mackins" > wrote in message
news:2005021913492033482%halmackins@gmailcom...
> Second -- online aquarium resources? I've found the First Fish Tank page,
> and a couple others, but it's hard to sort through the pages primarily set
> up by online stores and dealers..I'm looking for good, knowledgeable
> hobbyist pages.

http://www.netmax.tk/ - he posts here too.

>
> Third -- filtration. I think I want a tank in the range of 29-40 gallons.
> My childhood tank had a biobag filter, but I know there are several
> options--under gravel, cannister, etc. I'm thinking at some point I would
> like to have live plants (I've read a bit and realize what an enormous
> amount of work this requires) -- so if someone could point me in the right
> direction I'd really appreciate it.

Filtration - I'm still thinking about adding a cannister. DH's cousin has a
tank with that "icy-clear" water look, and he uses a cannister. He might
also clean it up right before we visit, but mine never looks that sharp. I
wonder if the lights he uses are perhaps less yellow or something too?

Right now I have an undergravel filter and a penguin. I wouldn't take out
either, I'd just add another.

My tank has been up and running for 20 years or so, give or take a few cross
country moves which my fish mostly survived. I'm now starting on the "I want
plants too!" journey. Lights and substrate are going to be my first chores.

I hope you stick around, it would be nice not to be the only one asking (or
thinking about asking) basic questions all the time!


Angie

[Larry Blanchard]

In article <2005021913492033482%halmackins@gmailcom>,
says...
> I'm thinking at some
> point I would like to have live plants (I've read a bit and realize
> what an enormous amount of work this requires) -- so if someone could
> point me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.
>
>
Definitely go with the plants. I've got a 10 gallon with so many plants
I have to hunt for some of the smaller fish :-). Looks great and hasn't
been as much work as some people say.

There's probably lots of places with a good selection and good prices,
but the one I used and am happy with is:

http://aquariumplant.com/

--
Homo sapiens is a goal, not a description

[Robert Flory]

"Hal Mackins" > wrote in message
news:2005021913492033482%halmackins@gmailcom...
SNIP
>
> Second -- online aquarium resources? I've found the First Fish Tank page,
> and a couple others, but it's hard to sort through the pages primarily set
> up by online stores and dealers..I'm looking for good, knowledgeable
> hobbyist pages.
SNIP>
> -hal
>

www.NetMax.tk

www.thekrib.com

http://fins.actwin.com/ for plants http://fins.actwin.com/aquatic-plants/
search or join the plant list

Bob

[Tom Randy]

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 13:49:20 -0500, Hal Mackins wrote:

> After a 10 year hiatus, I'm thinking about getting back into the aquarium
> hobby. As a kid I had a 20 gallon tank, but my interests waned and I wound
> up selling the set to a neighbor. As a recent college grad working 9-5
> with not much else to do, I think I want to immerse myself in the hobby
> and make it a passion.
>
> Couple annoying newbie questions (and you'll have to forgive me--I'm a
> longtime usenet reader, and I am undoubtedly asking things that have been
> answered since time immemorial).
>
> First -- I'm looking for a good fish store in southeastern Massachusetts
> (the south shore). When I had my original tank, there was a really cool
> shop that catered primarily to aquarists that I really loved--of course
> it's gone out of business. If anyone is local, can you toss me a
> suggestion?
>
> Second -- online aquarium resources? I've found the First Fish Tank page,
> and a couple others, but it's hard to sort through the pages primarily set
> up by online stores and dealers..I'm looking for good, knowledgeable
> hobbyist pages.

http://www.cbel.com/fish_and_aquaria_pets/

http://www.petfish.net/forum/index.php?

http://www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=index

http://www.fishprofiles.com/interactive/forums/

http://www.badmanstropicalfish.com/message_board/messages/board-topics.html

http://www.killies.com/forum/index.php

http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/index.php?

http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/index.php?



> Third -- filtration. I think I want a tank in the range of 29-40 gallons.
> My childhood tank had a biobag filter, but I know there are several
> options--under gravel, cannister, etc. I'm thinking at some point I would
> like to have live plants (I've read a bit and realize what an enormous
> amount of work this requires) -- so if someone could point me in the right
> direction I'd really appreciate it.


Go with an Aquaclear hang on tank filter. They are GREAT. I just fired up
a 20 gal high with a Aquaclear 30. 2 sponges in the basket. I got mine
from:


http://www.thatpetplace.com/


> Anyway, that's all I've got right now. Thanks in advance, and I look fwd
> to contributing to the group (someday) in addition to asking a myriad
> questions.
>
> -hal


Welcome back Hal!

[Tom Randy]

On Sat, 19 Feb 2005 11:32:21 -0800, Larry Blanchard wrote:

> In article <2005021913492033482%halmackins@gmailcom>,
> says...
>> I'm thinking at some
>> point I would like to have live plants (I've read a bit and realize what
>> an enormous amount of work this requires) -- so if someone could point
>> me in the right direction I'd really appreciate it.
>>
>>
> Definitely go with the plants. I've got a 10 gallon with so many plants I
> have to hunt for some of the smaller fish :-). Looks great and hasn't
> been as much work as some people say.
>
> There's probably lots of places with a good selection and good prices, but
> the one I used and am happy with is:
>
> http://aquariumplant.com/


Excellent place! I just got some Java moss from them yesterday, fast
delivery!

[Richard Sexton]

In article <2005021913492033482%halmackins@gmailcom>,
Hal Mackins > wrote:
>After a 10 year hiatus, I'm thinking about getting back into the
>aquarium hobby. As a kid I had a 20 gallon tank, but my interests waned
>and I wound up selling the set to a neighbor. As a recent college grad
>working 9-5 with not much else to do, I think I want to immerse myself
>in the hobby and make it a passion.

I've drifted in and out of the hobby over the past 30+ years
and recently (last October or so) decided to rehydrate the
dozen or so tanks here in my (home) office. I've been
"away" for 3-4 years modulo the tank in my wifes office
I maintain.

What I noticed was this time round is a whole different smoke
as the internet aquaria scene has matured considerably; a
dizzying amount of resources abound. I couldn't tell you
where to begin. So, my advice to you would be spend some
quality time looking at other peoples tanks on the net
and when youfind the one you want, copy that or ask here
how specifically to do that.

--
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