Bruce Leyland-Jones
Fish Aficionado
Not a healthy attitude to have, I know.
I'd forgotten that I was prone to MTS, (Multiple Tank Syndrome) and have already been scouring my home for potential sites for a new and bigger tank.
So, after a long while, I've set a new tank up and it's cycling nicely, with the plants doing well, the equipment doing what it should be doing and the water parameters are were I'd expect them to be.
My issue now is simple patience, or, to be honest, a lack of, as I'm going to wait for at least 4 weeks before I add animals.
My watery garden is nice enough to look at and I've even passed away many minutes, simply staring into it and fantasising about the future inhabitants.
But, I confess, I'm struggling...
I can remember when I began the hobby, the trouble I caused by rushing things and I still, to this very day, curse the shop owner who told me that I could have my first tank full of fish within the week.
I can also remember quickly learning the folly of that and acquiring extra tanks and equipment, with much changing of water and repeated monitoring of parameters, to save those poor fish!
By the end of that traumatic and somewhat hectic period, I did have a great community tank...and a couple more tanks 'going spare'.
Oh.
Dear.
Right now, I know that I have to wait, but the urge to buy is strong.
I spend my time doing research, playing catch-up on the hobby and exploring what has changed and what has not.
Not only is Thinternet getting a hammering, but I've found myself travelling to aquarist shops, (EVEN Pa@H!), simply to gaze at the fish and plants and then have to put in more effort in not spending money needlessly. I've only two shops to visit and one is well over an hour's drive away...I'll soon be getting a discount from the teashops on the way there and back!
I know I will be getting a second tank...but only when my first is up and running as it should.
Setting up my first should and will take time, but I'm struggling to avoid cutting the usual corners and, in spite of my knowledge and experiences, still have that 'urge'.
I even have other hobbies and activities to keep me constructively occupied, but...
Help!
How do you guys spend the non-fishy time, waiting?
I'd forgotten that I was prone to MTS, (Multiple Tank Syndrome) and have already been scouring my home for potential sites for a new and bigger tank.
So, after a long while, I've set a new tank up and it's cycling nicely, with the plants doing well, the equipment doing what it should be doing and the water parameters are were I'd expect them to be.
My issue now is simple patience, or, to be honest, a lack of, as I'm going to wait for at least 4 weeks before I add animals.
My watery garden is nice enough to look at and I've even passed away many minutes, simply staring into it and fantasising about the future inhabitants.
But, I confess, I'm struggling...
I can remember when I began the hobby, the trouble I caused by rushing things and I still, to this very day, curse the shop owner who told me that I could have my first tank full of fish within the week.
I can also remember quickly learning the folly of that and acquiring extra tanks and equipment, with much changing of water and repeated monitoring of parameters, to save those poor fish!
By the end of that traumatic and somewhat hectic period, I did have a great community tank...and a couple more tanks 'going spare'.
Oh.
Dear.
Right now, I know that I have to wait, but the urge to buy is strong.
I spend my time doing research, playing catch-up on the hobby and exploring what has changed and what has not.
Not only is Thinternet getting a hammering, but I've found myself travelling to aquarist shops, (EVEN Pa@H!), simply to gaze at the fish and plants and then have to put in more effort in not spending money needlessly. I've only two shops to visit and one is well over an hour's drive away...I'll soon be getting a discount from the teashops on the way there and back!
I know I will be getting a second tank...but only when my first is up and running as it should.
Setting up my first should and will take time, but I'm struggling to avoid cutting the usual corners and, in spite of my knowledge and experiences, still have that 'urge'.
I even have other hobbies and activities to keep me constructively occupied, but...
Help!
How do you guys spend the non-fishy time, waiting?
