A growing obsession with fish

[wandg]

I've seen folks who can't put down their smartphones - my wife, for instance, is glued to hers. Me, not so much. Some people struggle with fast food, fancy cars, or substance abuse - not my issues. But since I brought home my first tank in December 2023, I've found myself collecting more tanks, and with them, a menagerie of fish, frogs, neocaridina, crayfish, and snails. I guess you could say I've found a new vice. My name is GWand, and I'm a recovering non-aquarist - or at least, I was.

[Burgermuncher]

My name is Burgermuncher and I'm an aquarist-aholic too. I've been 8 months clean from buying new tanks and aquatic life. I find it's easier to stay on track if you avoid fish stores and online shops - the temptation's just too great.

[graye]

My name is Gary, and I'm a paragon of self-control. I recently received a call from an importer friend, informing me of an impending shipment of Nigerian fish, possibly including killies. The prospect of driving to the airport, a mere 4 hours each way, doesn't faze me. I've dealt with Nigerian exporters before, and their carelessness can be... intriguing. I recall one instance where a single bag, supposedly containing tetras, yielded a tetra and four different killie species. I'm not one to get distracted by such possibilities, of course.

Excuse me while I prep some space, just in case.

[markus]

My name is markus and I'm an aquarist-aholic. I've never been glued to my smartphone, and TV's not really my thing either. Give me my aquarium any day - there's always something going on. The fish come to say hello, they put on a show for food, and every now and then, they try to defy gravity. I'm just glad I'm there to catch them when they try to fly.

[kokomo]

Hi, my name isn't what you'd expect - let's just say I'm keeping a low profile after 20 years of keeping my MTS at bay. But I'm throwing in the towel, I'm in the midst of a full-blown relapse. This is my first time seeking help from an MTS support group, so bear with me.

I've lost count of my tanks, but I'm pretty sure I have more of them than fish. And don't even get me started on the algae - it's like I've got a green thumb, but not in a good way.

In under 8 months, I've cycled not one, not two, but three tanks. One's a shrimp paradise, the second's a snail haven, and the third's a algae farm. I'm in way over my head.

I desperately want to add some fish to the mix, but my inner voice keeps warning me that the environment isn't ready, and maintenance will be a nightmare. I'm talking hours of scrubbing, water changes, and equipment tweaking - it's a daunting task.

Now I'm considering taking drastic measures - tearing down two of my tanks, replacing the substrate, and switching to air-powered Matten Filters. I'd have to restart the cycle from scratch, but maybe that's what I need. It's a scary thought, but I'm willing to try anything to get my MTS under control.

I'm in way too deep, and I need a lifeline. Somebody, please throw me a rope - or at least a decent filter recommendation.