Are there tropical Fish keepers here

the Guru

Is there any one on this board that has a keen interest in Tropical Fish keeping.

So maybe if we can get enough interested we can set up a board for tips and maybe fish swapping and the like.

KoNiT

I keep tropical fish & i'm in my third year. I've a 4ft fish tank with 5 clown loaches, 4 black widows, 4 sissor tails, a pleco & a scatter of neon tetras.....I've missed one

I used to have mikey mouse plateys... I learnt a lot about tropical fish keeping with these as they are a very 'durable' & can cpo with nearly every mistake you make...

the Guru

Hey KoNiT

where do you get your fish from

Declan

KoNiT

I'm in Mayo so I goto a pet shop in High St Galway he's the cleanest (might not look it but its whats in the tank that counts!),
He even took fish back from me - I had 5 Tiger Barbs which he took against the clown loaches I got. Any time I'm in galway I always call in to see how fish are being kept. They're used to me in there now

Theres a place on Capel St Dublin, which is OK, been there a few times, & brought fish back to Mayo no problem,

There's another place in Blanchardstown which was only new when I was there (last year) , a few dead fish in every tank!! but a great range of tanks & accessories.

where do you get yours ?

the Guru

I have seen the guy in galway he had some nice fish and his delivery was coming in on the Thursday afternoon and I didnt have time to hang around he was a really nice guy if I remember.

I get mine on the quays beside templebar in Dublin there is a pet shop there or Clondalkin Garden Centre which I find good as Nothing that I have bought from them has Died yet "knock on wood".


I might Go over to Blanch tonight and see what they have and I want to change my tank over to Lake Mowlowi Ciclids asap as I find the Community fish quite boring now

bravo

Hi Guys,

The idea of a tropical fish board is appealing except I don't know if there are too many fishkeepers about.

I have a 3 ft tank which has seen a variety of residents over the past ten years. Started as a community tank - tetra's, mollies, guppies and a sucker (not sure of the correct term).

I then started to experiment - I found "jumping frogs", actual frogs which live on the bottom and jump to the top every so often - forget where they came from.

I've had big yellow loaches which reached 5 ins before dying, gourami's, angel fish, barbs and silver sharks.

In the past year I've had two oscars and a tin foil barb. I have just got rid of them - the oscars were 7 ins and the barb 5 ins.

I am currently restocking with tetra's and guppies. I have bred guppies before, they are easy.

I get my fish from Kilkenny Aquatics - they have a huge selection but expensive - located a few miles from Kilkenny on the Carlow road. They have a website www.kilkennyaquatics.ie

I also keep a small pond with a variety of coldwater fish - mostly goldfish - they breed each year.

So this is my set up. Any developments with a special board you can count me in.

whiteshadow

Like the idea about a forum too...

FISH FX has a deadly selection of fish,
based just off the dart in Dun Laoghaire,
They have a website too but it's not entirely finished
fishfx.net

Lovely selection of Cichlids, some huge bala sharks,
(and stuff i'd never seen before)
plants and are really decent guys

definitely worth a look

wolfman

Also think that the forum would be a great idea.

I have 2 tanks

1:
10 gallon
1 Marble Angel
1 Penguin Tetra
2 Harlequins
5 Zebra Danios
1 Plec
1 Catfish
4 Orange Guys (found out they are wagtailed platys)
1 Other one I can't remember!!!
Added 2 sucking loaches today (23rd August)

2:
40 gallon bow front
4 Angels (Large)
4 Tinfoil Barbs (about 2-2.5" long)
1 Silver Dollar (quite big and growing every day)
2 Red Dwarf Gourami
2 Blue Dwarf Gourami
1 Plec (about 5-6" long)
Added 2 gorgeous red parrots today (23rd August)

bravo

Hi Guys,

Anyone having trouble with aquarium heaters over the past few weeks?

I've got mine set as low as possible. I think at around 72 degrees, but my thermomenters are showing it off the top of the scale. I've had to turn it off for days at a time.

Is it the hot weather or have I a problem heater?

I think we should get out Tropical Fish forum moving. Anyone know how?

I keep a pond and colwater fish as well. Is this for a different forum or should it be included?

wolfman

I haven't had that problem myself but I have come across it in other forums. Think it depends on the size of your tank and where it's located in warm weather.

This is quite a good forum even though it's in the UK. Pity we don't have one here

KoNiT

You could have a problem with the heater as the element should only come on when the tank temp drops below a predetermined level (which you set).

the Guru

I have Noticed with all my tanks that they are getting over run with algae at the moment because of the hot Weather and the direct Sunlight

But what type of Thermometer do you have is it inside the tank or outside,

Because if its outside the tank it could be taking a reading of the room temp as apposed to the water temp,

Do you know by touch of hand the temp of your water,

As turing it up and down to much can cause white spot (ich) on your fish and you dont need that.

and a tropical Fish Forum is a great idea

KoNiT

keep a pond and colwater fish as well. Is this for a different forum or should it be included?

I would presume to include all aquatic discussions in the same forum, hopefully it will happen.

Hey Guru,
Have you got any plecos? they'll keep the algae down, save you scraping (a bit!)

wolfman

I have a plec in my small tank as you'll see above but he is SO lazy, that I got the 2 loaches to clean my tank for me. The big plec is great at keeping the large tank clean.

Had a disaster the other night with some pellet food. Fed them in the dark and opened the wrong side of the lid!!!

When I got up the next morning, I could hardly even see the fish, so a couple of emergency water changes later, I managed to get the nitrites right down and good oxygen again, but alas, my silver dollar must have fed himself silly and suffered from the low oxygen/high nitrite levels because he spent a day or so swimming sideways and upside down and he died yesterday.

It's a lesson to me to turn on the light in future when I'm feeding them last thing at night.

the Guru

Have you got any plecos? they'll keep the algae down, save you scraping (a bit!)QUOTE]

Yeah I have it just growing at a high rate on the Front of the Small tank i have in the bedroom all the others are fine.

I have 1 Sailfin in there with 3 flowerhorns. I had others but the FH's are vicous also 2 Kribs that where going to breed had to take them out before the became fish fodder.

Also I will get on to the Admins about setting up a Tropical Fish forum

Declan

the Guru

see Here

Click on the thread and show you support and we may get a forum

bravo

Hi Guys,

Seems to be some resistance to a Tropical Fish forum, but you got my support.

Back in my revamped tank my guppies are reproducing and helping to stock it up a bit. i had recently switched from Oscars + Tiger Barbs to a community tank (again). I've not got guppies and a few Harlequins, and a few golden sucking loaches. The loaches are good at keeping the algae down.

Another item I found for cleaning algae off the inside glass is a small square blue thing, like a brillo pad, got it in a fish shop, and it works well, just rinse when finished.

My heater seems to be overheating. I just turn it off every second day and the temp seems to stay constant - better replace it. The thermometers are inside and outside.

My pond fish have been reproducing as well. A selection of goldfish, shubunkins, and one seven inch orfe who doesn't bother the rest. I had two, but I think there is a Heron visitiing at times.

Mac daddy

Originally posted by whiteshadow
Like the idea about a forum too...

FISH FX has a deadly selection of fish,
based just off the dart in Dun Laoghaire,
They have a website too but it's not entirely finished
fishfx.net

Lovely selection of Cichlids, some huge bala sharks,
(and stuff i'd never seen before)
plants and are really decent guys

definitely worth a look

Agreed it is a great shop they ordered in my piranhna's for me.

whiteshadow

good program on the amazon last night with loads of pirahna and hatchet fish in it.. loved it.

SHAMAN

I've an interest, having kept a small tank(a little over 2ft, your standard tank). For the past four years. I enjoy keeping gouramis most, and have tried my hand at about anything really.

Mac daddy

any news on the forum yet?

the Guru

None as of yet I think its a lose at this stage but we can always use this forum

vasch_ro

used the link to put forward my vote of confidenec for the new forum,
I am a proud goldfish owner with a 70 litre tank I hope I will not be excluded as I need advice recently had a disaster where my other two goldfish died !

koneko

Feel free to continue posting here guys, we're not booming with traffic anyway

the Guru

Originally posted by vasch_ro
used the link to put forward my vote of confidenec for the new forum,
I am a proud goldfish owner with a 70 litre tank I hope I will not be excluded as I need advice recently had a disaster where my other two goldfish died !

How did they die

How often are you cleaning out the tank as goldfish produce a lot of nitrate and need to be changed a lot

Mac daddy

Originally posted by vasch_ro
where my other two goldfish died !

Same here my piranhna ate them LOL.:D

NJ

Have ye tried www.irishfishkeepers.com its a very good forum tropical cold water ponds etc

The Artist

I have a fluval 260 tank with a fluval 205 external filter system.
2 oscars
2 parrot fish
1 golden severum
1 red tail shark
2 pleco
1 large cat fish
2 clown loaches
2 gourami
1 kissing gourami
2 angels
1 upside down ? i forgot the name.

Fishyfreak

There is already a major Irish forum.

www.irishfishforum.com

It's the forum for the Leinster Fish Keeping Society, Its a fun , laid back site that caters for beginners to expert, Goldfish to Marine.

I'm a mod on the site so if you have any questions or queries send me a pm.

We have monthly meetings also in O'Toole's GAA Club in Dublin 13, check out the site for more details.

ValerieR

I was very surprised to see that there are a lot of fishkeepers around Ireland. There also are another few clubs around the country. In addition to the one quoted in the post above, there is the Irish Tropical Fishkeeping Society (ITFS) which is based in Dublin. In Galway, the Connaught Fish Keeping Society (CFKS) also meets monthly. In Cork, you have the Munster Fish Keeping Association.
If you have any questions, you can either visit the www.irishfishkeepers.com or send me a PM.
Regards,
Valerie

cichlid child

Or here based on northside Dublin
www.irishfishforum
great craic and loads of advice,swaps and a discount in many petshops

Jimkel

the Guru wrote: »

Is there any one on this board that has a keen interest in Tropical Fish keeping.

So maybe if we can get enough interested we can set up a board for tips and maybe fish swapping and the like.

Hey great idea, I'm crazy about fish! bit of a fish nerd acually, I have an absurd number of fishtanks and I breed many species.

The Artist

Jimkel wrote: »

Hey great idea, I'm crazy about fish! bit of a fish nerd acually, I have an absurd number of fishtanks and I breed many species.

i didnt know ye interested in tropical fish.
great to see you have an absurd number of fishtanks and I breed many species.
youll come in handy for me for problems etc for my fish.

dark_jedi_ire

Extra Fish nerd here also.

Thumps up for the Fish Forum,

Have kept Almost all types over the last 5 years, ( except Marine ) currently
African chichlids

R

Jimkel

Alan Ford wrote: »

i didnt know ye interested in tropical fish.
great to see you have an absurd number of fishtanks and I breed many species.
youll come in handy for me for problems etc for my fish.

I'm always happy help with fish issues, Not saying I know everything, I'm always learning but I've been keeping fish for 20 years and am heavily involved in the aquatics trade, although I like to keep my work life off this forum!;)

The Artist

dark_jedi_ire wrote: »

Extra Fish nerd here also.

Thumps up for the Fish Forum,

Have kept Almost all types over the last 5 years, ( except Marine ) currently
African chichlids

R

i say keeping marine fish is a much harder task to keep than tropical fish.

The Artist

Jimkel wrote: »

I'm always happy help with fish issues, Not saying I know everything, I'm always learning but I've been keeping fish for 20 years and am heavily involved in the aquatics trade, although I like to keep my work life off this forum!;)

20 years blimey id say ye are good enough for me as i have only been doing mine nearly 2 years now so im a learner with L plates on me back!

cichlid child

Alan Ford wrote: »

i say keeping marine fish is a much harder task to keep than tropical fish.

Not that much harder just more money for set up and fish plus you have to keep an eye on your water ie:regular testing but worth it in the end.

Jimkel

Yeah marine has more variables to be concerned with, and cost a good deal more money but it's a myth that they are overly difficult to keep, especially with todays technology that pretty much looks after everything for you requiring only regular, simple maintenance. It requires research and there is a learning curve, but its the same with any exotic animals. If people are patient, do the homework and listen to professional advice then there is nothing saying they can't keep marine even if they have never kept fish before.

stan1979

hi folks,

been keeping tropical fish for the last 15 years, currently keeping lake mawlai fish and looking to upgrade to a 300lt tank, if anyone has or knows of one for sale could they leave a message for me,

cheers

stan

Rashers

Hi all,

I've just discovered this thread tonight. This has the potential to be a busy thread as fishkeeping is reputedly the fastest growing hobby in Ireland.

I've been keeping and breeding freshwater tropical fish for the past 36 years.

My kids and theirs have never known a day when we didn't have aquaria in the house.

I bought my first tank in the Capel St petshop.... a little square plastic one... upgraded later to a bow fronted one.

First fish were fancy guppies at 1/3 each for males and a shilling for females. Neons were expensive at 2 shillings each! But you could buy the so called 'poor man's neon' (the White Cloud Mountain Minnow) at 1 shilling each.

Ahh them was the days.

Hope to see his thread blossoming.

The Artist

Rashers wrote: »

Hi all,

I've just discovered this thread tonight. This has the potential to be a busy thread as fishkeeping is reputedly the fastest growing hobby in Ireland.

I've been keeping and breeding freshwater tropical fish for the past 36 years.

My kids and theirs have never known a day when we didn't have aquaria in the house.

I bought my first tank in the Capel St petshop.... a little square plastic one... upgraded later to a bow fronted one.

First fish were fancy guppies at 1/3 each for males and a shilling for females. Neons were expensive at 2 shillings each! But you could buy the so called 'poor man's neon' (the White Cloud Mountain Minnow) at 1 shilling each.

Ahh them was the days.

Hope to see his thread blossoming.

great another tropical fish admirer here.welcome aboard.
Tropical Fish Forum a must!

Lauragoesmad

I also have a 3 foot tank.
I have two black widows who are about 3 years old now, A plec who is about 1 and a half, 6 neon tetras who are about a year with me, another 3 fellas who look like neon tetras but have a black stripe and a little yellow fella with a black tail but I don't know what he's called. I also have two guppies, nearly forgot about them. I'm going to get a clown loach as I had one but he died after about a year. Not that you see much of them but they take care of the snails!!:D

I really like the Boardwalk pet shop in town. They are really helpful and I bought my tank in there and still have two of my original fish from them.
I didn't know there was so many fish keepers in here.
Do you guys name your fish or are they all anonamous?

The Artist

Lauragoesmad wrote: »

I also have a 3 foot tank.
I have two black widows who are about 3 years old now, A plec who is about 1 and a half, 6 neon tetras who are about a year with me, another 3 fellas who look like neon tetras but have a black stripe and a little yellow fella with a black tail but I don't know what he's called. I also have two guppies, nearly forgot about them. I'm going to get a clown loach as I had one but he died after about a year. Not that you see much of them but they take care of the snails!!:D

I really like the Boardwalk pet shop in town. They are really helpful and I bought my tank in there and still have two of my original fish from them.
I didn't know there was so many fish keepers in here.
Do you guys name your fish or are they all anonamous?

i have to many to name them but i call my oscar Blackie!

Rashers

Lauragoesmad wrote: »

3 fellas who look like neon tetras but have a black stripe

Possibly a black neon or a black line tetra. It's a good idea to get to know the scientific name of all fish. Most books, particular with pictures of fish will have them named scientifically.

There's a good reason for this because one person's beacon fish is often called a head and tail light by others.

a little yellow fella with a black tail but I don't know what he's called.

Could be a platy. Look at his/her anal fin. Would you say it was rounded or elongated? Look at it's mouth... upturned slightly... pointed straight ahead or slightly downturned?

I'm going to get a clown loach as I had one but he died after about a year. Not that you see much of them but they take care of the snails!!

In my opinion one of the best fish for clearing a community tank of any snails. And a nice looking fish too. But if I may suggest that you keep more than one at a time as they're schooling (shoaling) fish.

Best way to keep snails at bay though is prevention. If buying plants always check the leaves for any jelly-like substance (snail eggs) , or even tiny hatched out snails and if found scrape them off before introducing the plants into your tank(s).

While mentioning plants, be careful of buying plants that are not true aquatics.

You can easily check if a plant is a true aquatic. Hold it in your hand. If it stands up it's a bog plant. If it flops over it's aquatic.

Do you guys name your fish or are they all anonamous?

Mine are all good pagan fishes.... never had them christened.

The Artist

Lauragoesmad wrote: »

Do you guys name your fish or are they all anonamous

All ye fish names anonamous?:p

The Artist

Rashers;56314382
You can easily check if a plant is a true aquatic. Hold it in your hand. If it stands up it's a bog plant. If it flops over it's aquatic.

great tip thanks.

Mine are all good pagan fishes.... never had them christened.

lol

Rory123

Hi folks. I'd just like to check in as a fellow fish-keeper. I have a tropical tank of just 70L... I'll buy a massive tank the day I buy a house... it's enough trouble to move around rented places as it is with a small tank!

I have a Juwel tank but I removed the built-in filter and replaced it with a fluval 2plus as I thought the original filter took up too much space in the tank, wasn't maintenance friendly, and didn't do a good-enough job.

I've had this tank for just over 2 years and I love having it and doing all of my maintenance work on it. I love the challenge of keeping it as perfect as I can. I love learning new things about fish-keeping and I've learned a lot from the Collins Aquarium Fish book.

I've had a couple of different themes in the tank such as African Cichlids (but I got tired of their aggresive behaviour and rate of growth in my relatively small tank) etc but at the minute I have a more classic style in the tank.

I currenty have a few guppies, neons, platies, 2 angels, a big pleco, 2 leopard puffers and another couple of danio sort fish.

Here's a few pics of my own tank... I usually go for a more natural look of real plants, bogwood, brown gravel etc... but I went for a super-gaudy ornament today with 2 colour changing lights, bubbles and shiny treasure to bling up the tank... But that's what happens when you bring your girlfriend to the petshop!

Hope all the real experts approve...

Rashers

Rory123 wrote: »

Hi folks. I'd just like to check in as a fellow fish-keeper. I have a tropical tank of just 70L... I'll buy a massive tank the day I buy a house...

You have a nice sized tank for your requirements at the mo. Just remember that the bigger the tank the less maintenence (if it's well planted)

Your tank looks a bit small for the angel, but time enough to be concerned when the angel starts to become territorial.

I love the challenge of keeping it as perfect as I can. I love learning new things about fish-keeping and I've learned a lot from the Collins Aquarium Fish book.

The marks of a good fishkeeper! Try to learn the scientific names from the book and get used to using them for your fish anytime you're writing about them. For instance whenever you write that you have a nice guppy (for instance) say 'I have a nice veiltail guppy (poecilia reticulata)' I know that everyone knows what a guppy is but so many people use different common names for many of the characins, cichlids etc that the use of the scientific name in brackets leaves no room for confusion.

at the minute I have a more classic style in the tank.

I like to go for geographically themed tanks. For instance if you decide on a Sth America or Amazon tank then make it look as close as possible to a little it of that river -- fish and plants only from that region. It looks more natural and you'll have less trouble with it.

I currenty have a few guppies, neons, platies, 2 angels, a big pleco, 2 leopard puffers

Puffers good for eating snails but strictly speaking are not true freshwater fish. I think I see a molly in there too.... again not a strictly freshwater fish.

and another couple of danio sort fish.

See what I mean about learning the scientific names?

I usually go for a more natural look of real plants, bogwood, brown gravel etc...

All plusses for you there... great stuff. And remember you can't have too many plants.

but I went for a super-gaudy ornament today

Uh oh.... deduct 10 points from a good post up to that. :eek:

Hope all the real experts approve...

No such thing as a real expert. I've been an aquarist now for over 36 years (no that's not a typo.. I really am that old:p) and I'm still learning. Nobody ever reaches the point where they know it all.... one of the attractions of fishkeeping.... it's an ongoing learning curve with new things to experience always.

Good post Rory123, and thanks for showing us the pics of your tank.

If I waffled a bit (or a lot) please don't think of it as me preaching... I just like to share any knowledge I have. And I'm always open to discussion for anyone that disagrees with anything I say.

Rory123

Hi Rashers,
Thanks for your reply! I'm sure that you are more than capable of giving your advice after 36 years!

I'm aware that the mollies and puffers are more suited to brackish conditions but they are reasonably adaptable and I have had the mollies for a long time now and they are in lovely condition and mating, so I'd say they are happy enough. Only bought they puffers today so I'll see how they get on, although they are fussy eaters but seem to like frozen foods. I would really love some killifish but I know they are too difficult too keep, esp in freshwater. I've never seen them in shops for obvious reasons.

The angels are still quite small and I have never seen signs of aggression from any that I've had before... but I generally remove fish when I feel they are getting too big in case they get too dominant.

I use a very good fish shop which always takes back fish for me if I call in advance. Today I was allowed €30 for 4 medium Silver Dollars, which is very reasonable!

I like a good variety of fish so it's difficult and a bit pointless for me to pin down a specific geographical theme... brown gravel, shelter for small or shy fish, and as many plants as I can afford is the next best thing.

I'm afraid you'll just have to overlook the ornament for now... I've always been dead against ornaments but its a nice splash of colour and my Spotted Pleco (Hypostomus punctatus ) loves it (I think he thinks it's a fishy disco!)!

I had a tropical tank when I was a kid but my folks weren't too fond of it and I didn't have enough money to maintain it to a proper standard. The final straw came when it started to leak all over my bedroom floor.

I find the tank as rewarding as a dog or cat... I often come home from a hard day and unwind by sitting in front of it and watching it for hours as if it was a tv

My most important accessories are a plastic evaporation tray, a planting stick, a gravel hoover, a strong magnetic scrubber and a floating breeding compartment for giving bullies/ bullied fish (ie with damaged fins) or juveniles a bit of a time-out.

Even though the tank is small I wouldn't want to imagine how much money I've ploughed into it over the last 2 years.

Because I enjoy fishkeeping so much and can't have a bigger tank, I also manage the same tank set up for my brother in his house... all he has to do is give me the money for supplies and feed them once a day. It's the same tank as mine, also with the fluval 2plus (a savage little filter IMO). He likes the look but isn't interested in the work... which suits us both!

Duzzie

Seeing as this thread has been resurected, i'll add my tuppence.

I have 6 tanks on the go

1 x 450L Discus Tank (Red Tourqs and Leopards)
1 x 100L Commumity (Red rainbow, dwarf pencils, cardinals, pristellas etc)
2 x 70L Ancistrus breeding tanks ( 1 Temenki and 1 Black Eyed Lemons)
1 x 30L Betta
1 x 70L Brackish (GSPs and Bumblebee Gobbies)