Hello to all

Congratulations on the new forums. I posted a few times on your previous incarnation, some years ago, but have been out of the hobby for the past five or so years. I miss it, though, and am trying to figure out if I have room for this love in my apartment and my budget again.

I have kept aquariums since I was a young teenager in the 70s. My first tank was a chrome-framed 20 or 30-gallon given to me by my father, who found it at a yard sale. We didn't know anything about cycling then, and I remember dutifully scrubbing down every part of my aquarium periodically and then being distraught when my fish became sick afterward. it was probably teenage carelessness and neglect that eventually led to the development of some healthy tanks and my love for the hobby.

I am a fan of freshwater tanks and particularly love social, smart, and adorable fish like bettas, rams, and horseface loaches, as well as colorful/brilliant fish like praecox rainbows and glowlight or neon tetras. I have often had aquariums with a Roman or Greek theme, but I find myself wishing I could do something more natural and planted (I have low-tech aquariums and have never been very successful with plants). I have recently been mesmerized by pictures of blackwater aquariums with vivid blue rainbows and tetras moving through the green plants and dark backgrounds. I have very hard well water, though, so probably that is not in my future.

Anyway, I don't even have a functioning tank again yet, but I stopped in to ask a question so thought I would say hello. I have already received a very helpful answer, so I am delighted to see and feel that this place is as friendy and helpful and interesting as ever. Thanks to all the dedicated and enthusiastic aquarists for being here.

PJ (fearlesssfisch)