madasafish
Aquarium Advice Addict
Hey,
I thought I'd create a thread along a more philosophical vein. Care to indulge me?
What is your fish-tank philosophy? When you think about your present tanks, or imagine a new tank, what role do these play in your life?
My tanks fulfill several roles in my life. Some, I like to think, are honorable; some are not. Here they are in descending order of importance. (Disclaimer: this philosophy is not a judgment of other philosophies, and I am not attempting to hoist my opinions upon you. No one has to have a philosophy, but it does make keeping fish more interesting and rewarding.)
1) My fish tanks should be as close to a natural environment as possible. No treasure chests, no fake rocks, no pink gravel and no SpongeBob figurines. I like to have rocks, wood, plants, and a natural-looking substrate. If I could redo my tanks, I would make them into biotopes, as these are the best approximations of natural habitats I know of. I'm not an idealist, though. I know that, just as there are no completely objective journalists, there is no completely natural environment in a tank with lights and a heater. Nonetheless, I think it is worth emulating a natural habitat, trying to make the fish most at ease, even if the goal is ultimately unacheivable in full.
2) I like my fish to be happy and feel relaxed. I don't stock aggressive species with non-aggressive species, and I don't own any fish that are even remotely too big for the space they are in. I refuse to buy any fish over 6 inches in length for my 55 Gallon, and if I wanted to buy larger fish, I would obligate myself to house them in a larger aquarium.
3) I like my fish to be cathartic. When I sit in front of my tanks, I want to feel deeply relaxed. Whenever I am having a difficult time motivating myself, I make sure to take a few minutes, or an hour, with my fish to encourage myself to work.
4) My tanks should be brilliant showpieces. I don't like having a tank which is in disarray, and I don't like having water which is cloudy. When my friends come over, I want the tank to inspire conversation about moral/ethical conflicts, environmental issues and anything else that springs to mind.
What about you?
I thought I'd create a thread along a more philosophical vein. Care to indulge me?
What is your fish-tank philosophy? When you think about your present tanks, or imagine a new tank, what role do these play in your life?
My tanks fulfill several roles in my life. Some, I like to think, are honorable; some are not. Here they are in descending order of importance. (Disclaimer: this philosophy is not a judgment of other philosophies, and I am not attempting to hoist my opinions upon you. No one has to have a philosophy, but it does make keeping fish more interesting and rewarding.)
1) My fish tanks should be as close to a natural environment as possible. No treasure chests, no fake rocks, no pink gravel and no SpongeBob figurines. I like to have rocks, wood, plants, and a natural-looking substrate. If I could redo my tanks, I would make them into biotopes, as these are the best approximations of natural habitats I know of. I'm not an idealist, though. I know that, just as there are no completely objective journalists, there is no completely natural environment in a tank with lights and a heater. Nonetheless, I think it is worth emulating a natural habitat, trying to make the fish most at ease, even if the goal is ultimately unacheivable in full.
2) I like my fish to be happy and feel relaxed. I don't stock aggressive species with non-aggressive species, and I don't own any fish that are even remotely too big for the space they are in. I refuse to buy any fish over 6 inches in length for my 55 Gallon, and if I wanted to buy larger fish, I would obligate myself to house them in a larger aquarium.
3) I like my fish to be cathartic. When I sit in front of my tanks, I want to feel deeply relaxed. Whenever I am having a difficult time motivating myself, I make sure to take a few minutes, or an hour, with my fish to encourage myself to work.
4) My tanks should be brilliant showpieces. I don't like having a tank which is in disarray, and I don't like having water which is cloudy. When my friends come over, I want the tank to inspire conversation about moral/ethical conflicts, environmental issues and anything else that springs to mind.
What about you?
