Aquariums: I love this journey

Hello, all! I just wanted to share my fish tank journey here as this group gave me a lot of great advice, ideas, and motivation along the way. If I can do the same for someone else, I’ll take it as a win. It’s going to be long as hell, so I apologize for that in advance.

My old man always had a fish tank setup for me in my room when I was younger. It’s been a nostalgic interest for me as long as I can remember, but never actually setup my own tank.

That all changed in August of 2024. One random Saturday morning I decided I’m going to do it. Now, I’m 32 y/o and growing up I don’t remember the science being as locked in as it is now. My dad had fish that lived 5+ years, but the majority of the tropical fish- didn’t make it beyond a year. Maybe I just forget, but I don’t recall ever hearing about things like water conditioner. Anyway, I was determined to do this “right.”

I setup my new tank, ghost fed it for 2 days and then impatiently went and bought my first 5 fish. 2 cherry barbs, and 3 tetras.

Side story- my green tetra jumped OUT of the tank and was out of water for approx 16 hours. 8 of those in a plastic bag with only a drop of water. (I thought he was dead) When I went to take the bag out to the trash he jumped, I put him back in the tank and he lived another 6 months!

Weeks after the initial setup, excited about the hobby- I went and bought 6 more fish. 4 Mollys, and 2 Cories. Also one snail. Obviously I know now, this was wayyy overstocked for a 10 gallon tank.

Surprisingly enough, this fish were thriving and I didn’t have a single loss for months. Flash forward to December and I made my biggest mistake, but learned a lot. I did a FULL clean of the tank and absolutely shocked both the tank and the fish. Throughout the next 3 months I lost everyone but ironically, my original fish (minus green tetra, he was never the same after his overboard excursion)

Flash forward to now, about 16 months later- and they are still striving. I’ve since gone from a nearly all plastic tank – to an almost fully planted tank. I’ve told myself I’m not adding any new fish until my OG’s live out there life. My red cherry barb is the most special to me, and I call him Phil. He’s gotten soooo much more red throughout his time in the tank. Awesome to see.

The video is when it was overstocked and I’ll post a initial setup pic and current pic in the comments. I know I did some dumb things along the way, but it’s been a learning process and I’m still learning. I love this hobby and that won’t ever change. I look at the tank and feel that same nostalgia every single day, without fail.

The last thing I’d like to do is add in natural soil, which I will probably do sometime in the next year.

P.S. the plastic figurine was sealed and then tested in its own body of water for multiple days.