I got a fish tank.

[Brian Fein]

Good luck Brian.  Keeping fish isn't rocket science, so you should be okay.  I've had a tank since I was 10 or so, and despite my somewhat spotty record of care, I've found that most fish are pretty hardy and can survive a little abuse.  Fresh water is much more forgiving than salt water. 

Right now I have 2 tanks.  A 55 long and a 35 hex.  I keep local (Texas) fish in them, mainly a native US ciclid called a Rio Grand, but I also keep different bream and bass.  The Rios are great fish, but you can only keep a breeding pair, or a single fish.  They get pretty big and are very aggressive. 

Your in a great place for collecting unusual fish if you get a bigger tank later on.  S. Florida has lots of exotics.  Most likely, you could catch oscars and cichlids.  They also have peacock bass which are very cool and would make an interesting aquarium fish.  If you eventually go salt water, then the skies the limit.  With your boat, you can get lots of fish just by free diving with a snorkel on some of the local inshore reefs and rock piles.

You know, that's interesting, I never really thought about catching fish for the aquarium.  I've heard horror stories about saltwater tanks, though, I don't think I have the discipline to maintain it.  I might consider running out back with my fishin' rod, though, and pulling a bream or two out of the lake for the tank!

(not this little tank, of course....)

[sugarbush]

Big Mistake.  getting  fish is the biggest pain in the ass ever. 
You will see.  It won't be long until u are flushing those fuckers down the toilet.

[Brian Fein]

Big Mistake. getting fish is the biggest pain in the ass ever.
You will see. It won't be long until u are flushing those fuckers down the toilet.

And that's precisely why I'm doing this.  I wanna make sure it works out before I spend $500 on a "big" tank...

[Frimp]

Did you decide on fish yet?

[Brian Fein]

Did you decide on fish yet?

Not yet.  I am thinking guppies - i didn't know the male guppies were so cool-looking.  Maybe Tetras or swordtails, and a chinese algae eater.  I can't get more than 3 medium sized fish or 4 guppies in my little ass tank.

[Frimp]

Careful with the chinese algae eaters. You should be fine with smaller fish now, but when you do get the larger tank and larger fish, they have been known to attack.

[bsfins]

If you eventually go salt water, then the skies the limit.  With your boat, you can get lots of fish just by free diving with a snorkel on some of the local inshore reefs and rock piles.

I'm jealous as hell about that...I pay any where from $20 - $200 for my Marine fish.The good news,I'm looking into 200 +gallon tanks.

[Frimp]

Here's a fish tank forum filled with experts. I joined, but havent posted yet. I'm going to in the next day or two if I cant take care of my recent algae outbreak.

http://freshwater-aquarium-fish.com/phpBB2/index.php?sid=c51a111f1db44527e1de4c3f68b88249

[Brian Fein]

do you guys know anything about live plants?  are they as thenthitive as the fish are, or can i just pick a little one and toss it in the tank?

[run_to_win]

Your in a great place for collecting unusual fish if you get a bigger tank later on.  S. Florida has lots of exotics.  Most likely, you could catch oscars and cichlids.  They also have peacock bass which are very cool and would make an interesting aquarium fish.  If you eventually go salt water, then the skies the limit.  With your boat, you can get lots of fish just by free diving with a snorkel on some of the local inshore reefs and rock piles.

NEMO!!!!!!!

[bsfins]

thenthitive

if I had a clue what that ment,I could help you better...

I had live plants back in the day of my freshwater,I liked Water sprite.Yes,you pretty much put them in and let them go.(Pretty much) You need a really good light.I wouldn't really suggest it in that tiny fish bowl.I feel you should worry about keeping the fish alive first....

[Brian Fein]

thenthitive

if I had a clue what that ment,I could help you better...

I had live plants back in the day of my freshwater,I liked Water sprite.Yes,you pretty much put them in and let them go.(Pretty much) You need a really good light.I wouldn't really suggest it in that tiny fish bowl.I feel you should worry about keeping the fish alive first....

read it and pronounce it, just as its spelled...

I only thought about a plant cause someone told me it'd help the fish.  I am not thinking about going to buy a underwater jungle

[bsfins]

Depending on who you talk to,yes plants are good for the fish.

[Frimp]

Plants arent good or bad for them, but they supply algae. And snails.

[Brian Fein]

OK, I finally got this bad boy set up. 

With pics!



No fish yet, but prolly gonna go get a few guppies, since they're small enough, or two medium sized (no bigger than 2.5") fish.

(I took the pic with the phone, so the color kinda sucks, but you get the point...)

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