Mapping your experiences with aquariums

[WJFitzpatrick]

Hey everyone! My name is Jack Fitzpatrick, and I am a sophomore at American University. This semester I am taking a class called "Mapping D.C. Geographies," and, for my final project, I have been tasked with creating a usable community-based map for a group of people in the Washington Metropolitan Area. From emailing back and forth with Kris, he suggested that the forums would be a good place to start this discussion. I would love to use this thread to chat about your experiences with aquariums, aquatic plants, fish, etc. From these conversations, I plan to create something tangible for you all that will (hopefully) prove useful! Here are a few questions that could start this conversation:

What are some challenges that you face as a planted aquarium enthusiast?
Does Washington, D.C. have an adequate amount of aquarium supply stores and/or resources? How far have you traveled for supplies?
What is your favorite place to shop for aquarium supplies in the D.C. Area?
How did you get involved in the planted aquarium community and/or GWAPA?

Just post to the thread, and let the conversation begin! Also, if anyone would be willing to chat with me in person, on the phone, through Skype, or via email, please send me an email at wf7208a@student.american.edu. Thank you so much in advanced for all of your cooperation!

Warmest Regards,
Jack Fitzpatrick

[krisw]

Hi Jack, I'll get us started:

What are some challenges that you face as a planted aquarium enthusiast?

Keeping the aquarium algae free. It's a constant balancing account to ensure that our light levels, fertilization, CO2 injection, and plant growth all balance each other out. If they don't, the tank often ends up with algae.

Does Washington, D.C. have an adequate amount of aquarium supply stores and/or resources? How far have you traveled for supplies?

Unfortunately, we have less stores in the area than we did 10 years ago. The Internet has been hard on the stores, and the economic recessions haven't helped either. The closest store to my house that's worthwhile is 25 minutes. Stores with some more higher end supplies are at least an hour drive. I've driven to Lancaster, PA for supplies before, and have shipped items across the country, and occasionally internationally to get want I need.

What is your favorite place to shop for aquarium supplies in the D.C. Area?

The closest store is House of Tropicals in Glen Bernie, MD. I also shop at Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring, and when I get in the area, Quantum Reefs in Springfield, VA.

How did you get involved in the planted aquarium community and/or GWAPA?

I found GWAPA in 2003 after searching the Internet to learn how to setup an aquascaped aquarium like Takashi Amano. A coworker gave me Amano's Nature Aquarium book, and I decided to try to replicate it. A short search revealed that there was a local aquatic plant club in the area, so I started coming to meetings. 11 years later, I've found a great group of friends in GWAPA, and a lot of enjoyment (and occasional frustration) from the hobby. As someone who spends a lot of time behind a desk for my career, I love the hands on nature of our hobby. I also love the cerebral nature of the challenges involved, and how many tangential hobbies can spur from planted aquariums (gardening, tissue culture, native plant/fish collecting, photography, tissue culture, botany, ichtheology, etc. It helps to keep life stimulating!

[tug]

What are some challenges that you face as a planted aquarium enthusiast?
Recognizing each plants characteristics. Growing a variety of different plants takes time and money. I've yet to sink $300 on a species, only to see it arrive lost, but now and then you learn the hard way when trying new things. The energy and expense, the hobbies environmental impact are all impressive. As consumers the hobby can foster a sense of responsibility, challenging us and our values.

Does Washington, D.C. have an adequate amount of aquarium supply stores and/or resources? How far have you traveled for supplies?
I'm not one to say - there are more then a few stores, all within an hours drive.

What is your favorite place to shop for aquarium supplies in the D.C. Area?
One or two places no longer around and the Tropical Lagoon in Silver Spring.

How did you get involved in the planted aquarium community and/or GWAPA?
Am I involved? Is it as easy as all that? I do what I can. I love gardeners. GWAPA, and aquatic gardening clubs, are where it's at for enthusiasts. Why not get involved and try to learn something?

[halak]

What are some challenges that you face as a planted aquarium enthusiast?

Even though it does not happen to me often, the occasional persistent algae outbreak is not easy to manage.

Does Washington, D.C. have an adequate amount of aquarium supply stores and/or resources? How far have you traveled for supplies?

There are a couple of importers in the area that supplement the livestock available in the few stores that are around. I used to travel an hour once a month to visit a by now default aquarium store, but I always carpooled with another plant enthusiast who insisted on driving; I would not have done it by myself.

What is your favorite place to shop for aquarium supplies in the D.C. Area?

There are no non-chain aquarium stores close to me now, and because of this I haven't been to a proper aquarium store in a long time.

How did you get involved in the planted aquarium community and/or GWAPA?

Growing up in Europe, it was natural that practically every aquarist over there had plants in their tanks. In terms of hearing about GWAPA, I had a friend who took me to a meeting years ago. That friend quit going after a while, but I stayed.

[tug]

The challenges I face follow a path of least resistance starting with learning about my tap water, filtration, adding fertilizer, understanding water flow, soils, microbiology, light (not just how much but trying to provide true color rendition). A big challenge is just getting CO2 into the tank efficiently. Then there are a host of DIY's that can be a challenge. DIY projects continue to be a large part of this hobby. From lighting to plumbing and right on down the line. Still, plants are were it's at for me. Understanding how a plant grows, how it propagates, and the design behind an aquascape, are satisfying challenges. The more I've applied what we seem to know about all these challenges, the less concerned I've been with algae.

[WJFitzpatrick]

Thanks so much for replying! So a few themes that I am seeing are that there are barely any non chain aquarium stores in the D.C. area, besides the Tropical Lagoon Aquarium in Silver Spring and House of Tropicals in Glen Burnie, but none within city limits. However, it seems like y'all have been able to adapt to this by either driving to your store of choice of getting fish and plants online.

I do have another question about your experiences with designing your aquariums. Where do you get items such as driftwood, gravel/sand, and other tank decor? In addition, what are the steps that one should take to make sure that these pieces are safe to belong in an aquarium?

Now I'd like to focus a bit less on where you get fish but more on what your day to day experiences are as aquarium owners:
How many hours a week do you usually spend working on your tanks?
Are their certain types of fish that live exceedingly well with aquatic plants?
What are some of your favorite tank accessories/ equipment that are really beneficial for your tanks?
What are some tips that you could give for someone interested in starting an aquarium?

Also, feel free to email me with any specific questions or ideas at wf7208a@student.american.edu

[halak]

Where do you get items such as driftwood, gravel/sand, and other tank decor? In addition, what are the steps that one should take to make sure that these pieces are safe to belong in an aquarium?

I collect wood pieces from nature and then cure them by soaking for a few months. Bleach may also be used for the curing process. If I need sand, I get pool sand from a pool store. For gravel, we used to be able to get 3M color quartz for a cap. I make soil substrate underneath this.

How many hours a week do you usually spend working on your tanks?


It varies greatly, but on average maybe 1-2.

Are their certain types of fish that live exceedingly well with aquatic plants?


Of course! Those would be the ones that don't eat them.

What are some of your favorite tank accessories/ equipment that are really beneficial for your tanks?


Canister filters and T5 or LED lights.

What are some tips that you could give for someone interested in starting an aquarium?


Do some research before purchasing any plant, fish, or equipment.

[jweis]

Where do you get items such as driftwood, gravel/sand, and other tank decor? In addition, what are the steps that one should take to make sure that these pieces are safe to belong in an aquarium?

I collect wood pieces from nature (mainly from the desert in Arizona - my Mom lives there). I mostly do research online and talk with other GWAPA members to see what is safe.

How many hours a week do you usually spend working on your tanks?
Two-three hours a week to keep them looking nice.

Are their certain types of fish that live exceedingly well with aquatic plants?
I like rummy nose tetras, neons, and fancy guppies. I especially like various dwarf shrimp. Nerite snails and Amano Shrimp help control algae. Everyone has their favorites though.

What are some of your favorite tank accessories/ equipment that are really beneficial for your tanks?
Canister filters and LED lights. Eheim 350 skimmer (modified so it doesn't suck in small fish and shrimp). PH monitor/controller to dose CO2, pressurized CO2 system (I like AquariumPlants.com electric CO2 doser) and peristaltic pumps for automated dosing of fertilizer. Automatic fish feeder.

What are some tips that you could give for someone interested in starting an aquarium?
You can learn a lot on the internet, but joining a local aquarium club is a great way to get good advice and great deals of plants and fish. Plus a good way to meet nice people.

[tug]

I am about to go on a short trip which reminded me of one other challenge - finding someone that knows something about planted fish tanks to care for my tanks while I'm away.

Where do you get items such as driftwood, gravel/sand, and other tank decor? In addition, what are the steps that one should take to make sure that these pieces are safe to belong in an aquarium?
I used to find some nice wood at Annandale Super Pets. I'll be in Arizona later this week. So I might look there. Mostly what I don't find or make myself I will look for online. I ask someone if it's safe or watch my fish.

How many hours a week do you usually spend working on your tanks?
I spend about 1 or 2 hours a week on maintenance per tank. However, the time spent on a tank freshly planted or one with algae problems might take 3 times the maintenance and time.

Are their certain types of fish that live exceedingly well with aquatic plants?
I prefer dwarf varieties, small fish and shrimp but my tanks are under 30 gallons. IMO, most fish are suited to some form of a planted tank. The considerations are the same if it's planted or not.

What are some of your favorite tank accessories/ equipment that are really beneficial for your tanks?
Ecotech Marine's VorTech MP20 propeller pump - all prop style pumps are great for additional flow. The Hydor external thermal heater. I like my LED lights but some T5's are great fixtures. Eheim 350 skimmers and CO2 regulators would also be hard to live without.

What are some tips that you could give for someone interested in starting an aquarium?
Set a goal for yourself and know your limitations. Otherwise, what Julie and Viktor said.

[tug]

Oh yea, I almost forgot. Top notch aquascaping tools like the ones I got from GWAPA at an incredible price have to be included as one of my favorite planted tank accessories.