Hello

[Planet Bob]

I want to confess that I've been a lurker for a couple of decades. I also confess I didn't have a tank either for those decades.

I grew up looking at my aunts tank (she lived 100 ft away so I seen it often) a 10 gallon Metaframe in her dining room. Under gravel filter, ugly paper backing of some stupid scene, a deep sea diver with his/her (ahem) airline, and a very not natural color gravel. When I got into my teens and had a part-time job I bought a 15g, SS hood with light, and a black iron stand. My Mom let me put it in our front room and it was way better than my Aunt's. A modern frameless aquarium (had the plastic frames on the top and bottom ???) Hagen HOB filter, natural colored gravel, nice plastic plants but the same illogical selection of livestock except for a few that I admire still today: Robertsi Tetra and Rabauti Cory. My school friend was attracted to those as well, and he should know as his older brother was breeding Angels in the same upstairs style bedroom I was soon to inherit. I had Platy's, Gourami's, Silver Dollars, Tin Foil Barbs, Various Tetras, those flying ones that I cannot recall the name of right now, and of course Cory's.

When my Grandparents died I eventually moved upstairs into their old room, it was more like a finished attic than an extra bedroom - a bungalow style house that I painted, carpeted and I still had room for a desk as I entered a local college plus room for another tank. Sooooo....., I move my 15'er from the front room into my new digs upstairs and bought a 10'er to fit on the bottom shelf. Ok, platy's on the bottom and my illogical selection up top. I was really high tech too, the Platy tank I kept at 80 degrees F.

And then . . . . I got MARRIED.

Alrighty now, 35 years later I'm retired, my daughter got married, moved out and now I have room for a TANK. The new tank log I will post elsewhere but I haven't really been away for 35 years, I've been looking over your shoulders with lust. I've been reading, and reading, and reading. Magazine subscriptions, books - saltwater, fresh, planted, vivarium's with dartfrogs. 100's and 100's of $ in reading material.

So, I guess I'm what you would call an experienced novice.

I'm Bob.

Oh! My Mom always used to ask me a question. As a pay it forward to the winner (yet to be determined prize) 'What was that question'. You have the hints!!!

[bekateen]

Hi Bob! Welcome (finally) to Planetcatfish!

I'll look forward to your catfish stories as you gain them.

Cheers, Eric

[MarcW]

Welcome Bob! As Eric said, we'd enjoy hearing your stories as you build out your tanks and fish collection. Hopefully we will be able to help out with any questions if you get stuck along the way too.

Good luck!

[Jools]

Bob,

Great to hear your story and welcome (back) to life at the front of the tank! As above, look forward to hearing, seeing and if we can, helping your next fishkeeping moves.

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Welcome to the Planet! That's one of the best introductions I've read in a long while

Your Mom said: "If you wanna be a marine biologist, why do you keep freshwater fish?"

or

"Do you really think you can beat Auntie Mima at fish tank interior design?"

or

"In 50 years, you are going to be a crazy fish man with a 100 fish tanks scattered 'round the house, aren't you?"

[Planet Bob]

I'm sorry to say Viktor that your questions are not even close. Please continue trying though.

[Viktor Jarikov]

"When are you going to move that ugly, smelly mildew spawner out of our pristine front room?"

"You know once you marry, your fish tank's a goner, don't you?"

[Planet Bob]

Oh! Victor, those are some really good responses but once again far from the mark.

My mother's query has nothing to do with fishkeeping.

[Jools]

I wonder if the question was, "When are you going to get a fishtank"?

Jools

[Viktor Jarikov]

Would be a good one referring to Bob's pre-tank years but no Jools, he says it had nothing to do with fish keeping.

Hmm... As I have no good clues atm, I'll start asking some questions myself. Did your Mom's question have anything to do with the newlyweds dwelling in her attic?

[bekateen]

I think mom used to say/ask - "Your fish tank looks so nice. Why don't you get a job in a fish store?" (or why don't you open a fish store?)

Cheers, Eric

[Planet Bob]

Sorry guys but you're very cold. Mom's question began when I was quite young and repeated often and she frequently included the answer.

Hint: The answer to the question is front and center.

[bekateen]

She asked, "Why are you always lurking around?"

[Viktor Jarikov]

She asked "What your name would be if read backwards, Bob?"

[dw1305]

Hi all,
She asked:

"What planet are you from Bob?"

cheers Darrel

[Planet Bob]

The panel of judges has decided that Darrel has come close enough to be declared the winner.

Cheers, confetti falling, sirens blaring.

The correct answer is; "What planet do you think you are living on . . . . Planet Bob?????"

More details on the pay it forward prize over the next few weeks as I start the The Improved Hansi Tank log.

[bekateen]

Cheers, confetti falling, sirens blaring.

:character-beavisbutthead: :happy-cheerleaderkid:

Bob, consider this a hard introduction to the world of "View more smilies."

And Congrats, Darrel!

Cheers, Eric

[Viktor Jarikov]

Oh man! Yes, of course, the sarcastic astronomy question...

Congrats Darrel!

[dw1305]

Hi all,

The panel of judges has decided that Darrel has come close enough to be declared the winner.

Cheers, confetti falling, sirens blaring.

The correct answer is; "What planet do you think you are living on . . . . Planet Bob?????"

More details on the pay it forward prize over the next few weeks as I start the The Improved Hansi Tank log.

Fantastic, this is about the only identification question I've got right in over ten years on PlanetCatfish.

cheers Darrel

[Jools]

Remind me, never, ever, to get into a crossword competition with Darrel.

Jools

[RiverMan1980]

Hi Bob!
Your story is very inspiring. I wish you and your family a lot of health and happiness! )))