Getting back to it after a 25 year break!

[Bawugna]

Hi Everyone,

My name is Jim and I am finally getting back into the aquarium hobby after about 25 years out of it. I will be setting up a 75 gallon planted tank in the next few months (my wife wants all manner of projects finished first). My plan is to build a custom stand/cabinet complete with book shelves etc. I want it to look like furniture, that is going to be a new challenge for me...finish carpentry.

During my HS and College years I worked in pet shops and wholesalers. I kept mostly rare catfish and cichlids from all over the world. I had some truly amazing stuff. I have been out of it so long that they have changed some of the Latin names!! I hope to get back to it and limit myself to a tank or 2, I used to have a 1000 gallon system for my collection......those days are long gone. I still remember much but am really looking to learn new things and tech the hobby has to offer.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Welcome to the forum.

Wow, a 25 years absence, and used to have a 1,000 gallon tank!

Thats a fair old size and going from that to a what must seem to be a dimutive 75 gallon tank

What sort of rare catfish did you have?

Very much look forward to hearing more from you and most of all, I hope you enjoy the forum.

 

[Bawugna]

Ch4rlie,

I did not have a 1000gallon tank, but a 1000gallon system. It was made up of a 200, 150, 125, 55s, 20s, 37s, and lotsa 10s for individual fish.

I had some super large fish like a 40 inch RedTail, a 2 foot long Mystis (I think it is Bagrus now) nemuris, a foot long Electric cat, a 2 foot long Black Doradid, almost every Synodontus in the trade (some near 8 to 12 inches, 2o inch Pseudopimolodus Fowleri (we called it the Ugly Cat), 18" Calophysis Macropterus, foot long Peruno Cat and others. I kept all manner of cichlids too. I was also a Herp guy and kept 2 caiman. I had so much stuff over the years I could not possibly go through it all without sounding like a braggart.

I am sure I will get some good info here, things have changed so much.....but some things have remained the same thankfully.

Thanks for the welcome

 

[LyraGuppi]

Welcome! That 1,000gal system sounds amazing. Best of luck on your new tank. c:

 

[Munroco]

Welcome back to the hobby, I did much the same after a 20 year break and so far have managed to accumulate 10 tanks in the 2 1/2 years since I came back to it. I used to keep mostly cichlids, but since I've been back I find I'm more interested in planted aquariums, smaller fish and now shrimp. So many things have changed in the hobby and mostly for the better IMO.

 

[Bawugna]

Munroco, It sounds like you and I have done the same dance! One difference however, I am intent on keeping it to one, maybe 2 tanks.