I have been out of the hobby for a few years.  Having kept tanks and fish most of my life. I knew it would only be a matter of time. When my two year old asked for a fish. That was all the incentive I needed. I have a number of tanks just stored away. I pulled out a 20 G LONG.  And took a cut and dry approach. Gold fish were my go to ...

They are attractive fish. Hardy and cold water lovers. They would be the show peace. No need to aqua scape. What would be the point. Gold fish have a tendency to bulldoze plants, Ah a fast and easy tank set up. Hardy fish with grate color and body shapes. no Brainer right?  So I had my plan. I started the tank up and off .. we went to get our fish. I did not really let the tank.. Wake up. Just add fish. I have done this many times in the past ( started a tank with a gold fish or two). later moving them to larger tanks And reworking my started platform.

We ended up with four ryuken Gold fish. (Small but hardy 2ich+) This was Dec. I watched for days and hoped for the best. They made themselves right at home. Fast becoming an interactive part of my 2 years olds day. The fish where a spring board in many ways for him. At two he is learning complex ... or compound speech. The fish were a topic .. That really grabbed is little mind and held it for more then the 5 to 10 sac. That it normally  takes him to loose his train of thought. The tank ran through its fist acclamation at about 28 days and I was better at ease that we where at a safe start. Things were looking good. levels were good,

The one part of this picture I left out. My wife has never had a fish tank. I really never thought to much of it. This would be a daddy thing. It was unspoken but understood. Id do all the cleaning  and she would enjoy the out come. That was fine by me. With that said. The tank started to green out... I was pleased. The tell all fact that there was healthy life in the water of my tank. I let the tank come into balance. I did not realize that this growing point, since of life would be  alarming  to my pour wife. Who with best intent and a remarkable since of caring cleaned the tank And with pride returned our bubble babies to there home. ( To you guys out there who understand you know what is coming next. the bio diversity of my tank removed. ) She returned the fish just as she had removed them all at ones. With her bare hands no less. Needless to say... Our Pour little Gold fish in shock and to clean for comfort Left us not long after. Here I was with a wife broken hearted with guilt and a Two year old who would not understand where his new best friends had gone. 

That was my regrouping point. Gold fish that were easy to tell apart. Where not the rout. Nor could I or would I be happy with a tank of carbon copy Gold fish. Not that there is any thing wrong with this kind of placement. My mind came to rest on Guppies and other live baring fish, (Guppies Mollies and Platies..)  The prolific little fish would be perfect for my son in that  the lose of any one fish would go for the most part un seen. With the added plus that withthe rate of reproduction it would be hard for my wife to kill off the sum of the tank at ones. For this reason at large I have had to change the tank set up.

My tank is now fitted with added filtration. Heaters live plants and at the moment a combo of foe plants to stand in until the plants dig there hills in. I will be adding dirt, or a combo of dirt and gravel .I have never used dirt. This adds an area of intrigue and newness to me. In a tank set up that is other wise very basic  and entry level. Having kept Guppies and the like before with much success and little challenge.  I now turn me need in the hobby for self growth to the area of aqua scape. I have added  have added guppies, Dalmatian Mollies and Mixed platies (Red wag. starburst  Mickey Mouse ) for a total of 13 fish. They have been setting up house for about three weeks. The mix of male to female over the whole tank is an avrg. 3 females to one male. However  this is divers through out the total number of fish. not Guppy to guppy platy to platy and so on.  This seems to be working out. As the males of each fish type spread there att. to all the females. Resulting in a lower stress level of the females at large.  I am aware that  hybrids may result in a grouping such as this. The intent of this tank is for my enjoyment and the enrichment of my home and life. I have not intent to market the offspring in any way. This being said I will in no way miss represent the offspring . I have no intent to show. To sale or to produce mutation. If you are reading this and you are thinking of breeding for any of these reasons. This is not the right set up. You should seek out first good stock. Ie. fish of the same type. Guppy to Guppy. The offspring of a mixed tank such as this. and even the females of a set up like this are undesirable to the pet trade  A female Guppy can clutch or lay eggs up to 6 times from one breeding.

 (there for a pre hit female from a tank like this may lead to mixed fry. Even after   clutching.) With that said. I am sure that this tank will take on a face of its own. There are a number of other fish that I might add on down the road.  I know myself well enough to know this will not be the only tank. The Hobby tends to have a mind and a life of its own. This has been the case in the past. If you have any ideas they are welcome. Thank you to the ones who have helped with the plant types and other fish that might be a good fit for this tank down the road.  I look forward to getting carried away  with this. And taking you with me with up dates as I can  Later Days   Brad