Bruce Leyland-Jones
Fish Aficionado
As a kid, I always envied those who, in various sci-fi tales, went to sleep and woke up many years into the future.
And so it it as I recommence my association with this hobby, after a complete 13 year gap!
The apparent emphasis on plants was to be expected, as I'd already been following a West German chap and his expensive (at the time) methods.
But snails and shrimps!?!
Snails were a No.1 pest to the planted tank. with 101 methods to get rid, although Assassin Snails were making an appearance as a means to control other snail numbers and those large Apple Snails were just beginning to make an impact in the hobby. (I hear that these were banned, due to becoming an invasive species in Continental Europe and are now making a comeback in Blighty, following Brexit).
Some 'shrimp' were starting to appear, but these were deemed to be toys for over-indulged bratty kids in the petshop, with, sadly, a low life expectancy.
I'll need to play catch-up with both shrimp and snail, but I'm struggling to comprehend the rationale of encouraging snails in a planted tank, as a means of algae control!
Some definite improvements that I've already picked up on include a much better general understanding of cycling a tank, better water-parameter testing kits, bottles of assorted 'friendly' bacteria and the outstanding LED light systems.
This is going to be fun and I appreciate the welcome the Admin have already given me and am impressed by the wealth of accessible knowledge within these hallowed portals.
And so it it as I recommence my association with this hobby, after a complete 13 year gap!
The apparent emphasis on plants was to be expected, as I'd already been following a West German chap and his expensive (at the time) methods.
But snails and shrimps!?!
Snails were a No.1 pest to the planted tank. with 101 methods to get rid, although Assassin Snails were making an appearance as a means to control other snail numbers and those large Apple Snails were just beginning to make an impact in the hobby. (I hear that these were banned, due to becoming an invasive species in Continental Europe and are now making a comeback in Blighty, following Brexit).
Some 'shrimp' were starting to appear, but these were deemed to be toys for over-indulged bratty kids in the petshop, with, sadly, a low life expectancy.
I'll need to play catch-up with both shrimp and snail, but I'm struggling to comprehend the rationale of encouraging snails in a planted tank, as a means of algae control!
Some definite improvements that I've already picked up on include a much better general understanding of cycling a tank, better water-parameter testing kits, bottles of assorted 'friendly' bacteria and the outstanding LED light systems.
This is going to be fun and I appreciate the welcome the Admin have already given me and am impressed by the wealth of accessible knowledge within these hallowed portals.
