If you started all over again what would you do differently?

[Vass_sCo]

I would definitely have waited and bought quality branded products and done more research.

Sorry but might get haters i also wouldn't have got livebearer or snails.

Wish I had started with multiple types of tetra and corys and some German blue rams or golden rams.

 

[Uberhoust]

I would stick to a sand substrate and get wider tanks rather than taller ones. I have a pair of GBRs and they are nice, glad I got them.

 

[PlasticGalaxy]

Definitely would have done more research. Probably get a far bigger tank. Also wouldn't have gotten snails. Hindsight is fantastic, but it sucks that it doesn't come as some sixth sense! Well, I suppose that's just called being able to predict the future.

Either way though, I'd do a lot more research in general. Compatibility, stocking, substrate, plants, heaters, tanks, brands, anything and everything.

 

[Fishiemang]

Get a single large tank and decor appropriately for the fish kept, which would be a bunch of small fish. Not really in to large fish anymore.

 

[Dephea]

I would:

- start with sand straight away instead of replacing the substrate a few months in
- do a research about the fish instead of trusting people in Pets @ Home. Anyone wants 2 Chinese Algae Eaters that are according to P@H peaceful and great for a community tank? ANYONE?!
- NOT buy mollies, so far all but one were bullying my other fish and I rehomed them. I only have 1 left and won't be getting more
- I actually would buy a bigger tank. I started with 150L, 6 months down the line I am eyeing 450L and a 750L

 

[Colin_T]

I wouldn't keep fish at all, then I would have heaps of money and no bad memories. I wouldn't keep birds, rabbits, cats, dogs, or any other animal either, same reason.

If I had to keep fish, I would only keep wild caught stuff and not the inbred TB contaminated crap from Asia

 

[Wills]

I've sort of been able to do this recently When we moved house in 2019 I sold my big 6 foot tank as I only had 5-6 fish in there (out of choice) and with the move I knew it would be a nightmare to do as I had done it before in easier circumstances. I'd had the tank for nearly 10 years and over time I'd kept a lot of species in there - I'd often rehome fish if things didnt work out which is something I do not reccommend as stability is much more fun than constant changing, though I do love visiting fish shops but now I'm happy to come home with a bag full of plants rather than fish.

About a year later I decided that I wanted a tank again (during the first lockdown). And started considering what I did and didnt want to do. I knew I didnt want a massive tank as it was too much commitment timewise and just took up too much space in the house. But I also knew that the fish I really love need big tanks so decided to get into aquascaping and planted tanks.

It also gave me a chance to reflect on all the species I had kept upto that point and reassess which ones I really regretted parting with, which fish I wish I'd have kept and also which fish I'd kept and not really enjoyed. Top of my list for the ones I regretted parting with where my Red Eye Red Tail Puffers which I let go as I had too many tanks on the go and couldnt keep up so in combination with wanting to get into planted tanks these were at the top of my list fish wise and I now have a boy and a girl in my tank again

Wills

 

[kribensis12]

As @Wills said, I have also had a chance to do this.

I started keeping fish when I was 6 and learned a couple valuable lessons:
1. Don't mess with water chemistry unless you know what you're doing
2. Water change, water change, water change. First time I ever had my water tested at Petsmart via testing strip, our community tank had a nitrate reading of 80ppm and they were like "yeah, should probably do a water change". I, for a long time, never knew how detrimental nitrate levels were for fish.
3. Research before you buy.
4. Never, absolutely NEVER, buy live adult brine shrimp and pour the bag into an aquarium (YIKESSS.... Guilty).
5. Overfeeding is common and may be the cause of many of your woes.

NOW, I just started tanks up again and while I have a 20g community, I am most interested in breeding/selling the fish that I love - dwarf cichlids like A. Cacatouides or Rams like the Dark Knight Ram Cichlid.