I've had aquariums off and on for most of my life, but it's been quite a few years since I had a nicely planted tank, and none of my tanks ever looked like some of the pictures here.
I think it is probably because I did not have the time to study pictures of beautiful tanks and try to figure out what it was the tank creators had done to make it so attractive. And to study about what plants like and then go do that for them.
I think once I get that kind of experience, my tanks will stop looking like beginner's tanks. I hope. :smile:
I have kept aquariums for over 20 years, but have been adding plants to my aquariums for only about six months. I can tell you this- if you want to learn how to set up a tank like those here, ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS!!! Find someone who has a tank that you like the looks of and then ask them how they did it. The community here is excellent, and the members of TPT are the absolute best about helping out anyone who has questions. Everyone starts where you are, and very few people can set up an awesome display the first time around- there is a lot of trial and error (in my case, lots and lots of errors!) before building up to that skill level.
For about 30 years. 25 if you subtract any down time. Admittedly when I was very young, my Mom did most of the work. As for planted, that only been the last few years.
I've had an aquarium for the last 6 years, but I've only been keeping a planted aquarium for the last year. Gah If I had only knew what I was missing out on back then!
I've kept planted tanks, on & off, for over 50 years, since I was a young teen.
All of my first dozen or so tanks were planted, and we didn't have the 'net' then to do all the research we can today. That was in the late 1950's. It still worked our pretty well though.
These days I keep my discus in a planted environment, although I must say I now do it low-tech and keep it simple, not like the elaborate planting set-ups I used to attempt.
Here's my tank now: http://s1105.photobucket.com/albums/h357/discuspaul/Sept2011
Thanks Lucille, if you were referring to my tank & fish.
But the more important question for you is: what are you trying to achieve insofar as a planted tank is concerned ? What would you like to see/have ?
My simple plant scape is nothing to write home about, and I'm sure you have your own ideas and preferences.
All I perhaps have to offer you, depending on what you're looking for, is a way & means of maintaining good water quality and clarity, along with an easy, relatively successful, and straightforward approach to maintaining easy, low-light plants in a low-tech environment, with not a hell of a lot of work - just takes a little TLC and attention. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions.
I think it has been around five years. My first tank was unplanted for maybe 2 days and every tank after has had plants in the same day so almost every day of keeping fish has revolved more around plants than fish. Honestly, I have never had tanks without plants but plenty of tanks without fish.
I started by "helping" Dad when I was 9, by doing things like putting a Crayfish in his Guppy tank. That was in 1966. I did take a 12 yrs break
I got back in last summer.
18 years. Got a firebellied toad at 6 years old and the rest is history. My first true planted aquarium was the 10 gallon on my dresser with a veritable cornucopia of tropical community fish. I had swords and several other species of plants growing under two 15 watt incandescent bulbs. I used those Hagen Basic Aquarium Guides that came with the tank setups as reading material for years. In 2003 I found the internet for aquariums and here I am.
I have tanks off and on for about 45 years. It's been mostly off lately. I'm just now getting back into aquariums and will get really into planted aquaria. It's a whole different ballgame and it's taken a lot of learning. It has taken me almost 2 months just to research and get the right light fixtures for the type of tank I have and the plants I want to keep. But, that's part of the fun I think.
Ever since my Mom set up her 10 gallon, metal framed, slate bottomed aquarium with the most divine silky purple gravel with a little filter box in the corner for her 2 angelfish. Everything came from "Mr. Jim's Animal Kingdom" and included two real elodea stems.....
As an 8 year old girl, I simply fell in love! I'd get up in the middle of the night just to look at the tank with the lights on. My life has been a zoology lab ever since!
I started keeping fish when I was four. So I been doing this for 19 years. My dad show me what he knew. He used to breed angelfish, guppies, mollies and other types of fish during high school and college for extra funds.
I kept fish since then. I kept everything but saltwater, discus, large predatory fish (such as oscars) and rift lake cichlids. Two years ago I started a planted aquarium after my black ranchus died. I been in love with ever since. It had been a very rewarding hobby for myself.
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