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I have been an aquarist for about a year now and began with a freshwater tank. I now have that same tank as well as a reef tank. Heres what I was wondering though: Out of all my experiance with freshwater, there has never been a clear layout to freshwater fishkeeping. I don't own any books, but I can tell you that I've broken the rule for F/W aquariums. I've been running my tank with 3 congo tetras, a pair of brichardi cichlids and 2 dwarf catfish from Africa. That in itself is not a good rule of thumb right? What if I told you that I have a forest of live plants in my tank too? Call me crazy, but I wonder how many people have succeeded with a setup like this?

What do you mean? Like a freakishly crowed tank? With over sized fish? Ive seen a few..

No, I'm talking about the rules of thumb. I tried to stretch the rules and it works well, and looks great. In the S/W trade there are things that cannot happen in your tank. This is because much research has been done to learn about the animals and corals. There are many books to be read with a reef system.
From what I have in my tank is a big ? for a lot of people. Can more be accomplished? How can I get away with having my system the way it is?

pmdaggett

When I started over 30 years ago no computers, no books, too much bad info from Aquariums only too willing to sell you any thing. Your knowledge was learn as you go and often very costly.

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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Understood. Do you think that more research needs to be done on Freshwater fish?

There is always more reasearch being done on FW fish. The ACA (American Cichlid Association), has several very very large funds they give out for research on cichlids every year. There are many people studying the plecos in SA right now, and so much so, that there are actually over 1,000 species being documented right now. Can you imagine how big the L number books will be some day? lol

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There is always a bigger fish...

i am not sure what you are getting at here but there are many books on keeping f/w fish. there is a good basic layout for most tropical fish. you said that you were "breaking" rules with your tank, that proves there are layouts for f/w tanks. the fact that you are excited about the fact you are doing something wrong concerns me though. there has been research that has gone into the f/w trade and that is why you have your rules or guidlines. you can follow these guidlines or not but the research is there and it is there for the well being of your fish and the ease for your keeping.


chris