An aquarium is a lot like a computer,
With both, you look through a piece of glass,
and choose your level of entertainment and challenge
Welcome. We seem to have a common interest. I hope you can indulge
my fun in this hobby by looking over the site. If you can't bookmark my pages
(it always says http://www.netmax.tk/ in the address bar) then click here
to remove the frame.
If you came in from the newsgroups, or a browser search, then my name is NetMax
(otherwise you already know my real name). I hope you enjoy the material. My
observations and advice are as a hobbyist with a commercial background in the
aquaria trade, and from speaking with many experts who have patiently answered
the many many questions I've had.
I wrote this web site because aquariums are easy to run, but each is a recipe,
and if you're having trouble, it's usually because you're trying too hard, or
you don't know the recipe. With a basic understanding of filters and the needs
of fish, an aquarium becomes a dynamic piece of artwork expressing your personality
and interests. With research, patience and careful shopping, it will develop
to be the centrepiece of your home.
I've tried to summarize the basics at the start of most pages of this site.
You then have the option to continue reading through the material to get more
details and background on each topic. The site is written for beginners, with
some advanced details where I thought I knew what I was talking about.
I think that the aquaria trade loses a lot credibility because of the variation
in answers, even from the experts. Mostly, I think this is because much
of the advice is anecdotal (it worked for me in my situation), and the advice is passed
down without the circumstances in which it worked. Unfortunately,
as most aquarium problems are circumstantial, anecdotal advice will only have
a random chance of working as described. For example, green water (algae bloom)
is often frustrating to correct and there is a multitude of potential cures
on the market, however if left alone, it might after weeks or months, simply
cure itself in 2-3 days. This might lead the hobbyist to assume that whatever
treatment was being coincidentally used at the time, worked, and this is where
the trouble starts.
Wherever necessary, advice on this site will include the circumstances which
made the advice work. I have a background in test engineering which
keeps me sceptical, and stubbornly seeking supporting data with controlled evaluations.
In many instances, this level of scrutiny could
not be done, so then I try to outline the range of possibilities, and what you
can expect to happen. Much of my advice is still only from observations, so
as they say in the newsgroups, YMMV (your mileage may vary). I do have the benefit
of having purchased and kept tens of thousands of tropical freshwater fish,
and been in the hobby for over 30 years, so while I'm still learning, I have
picked up a few tricks that I'm happy to share with you.
There is no advertising on this site. To promote the hobby, I have links to Aquarank and other sites.
I have included a donations button (I'm saving for a digital camera to put more pictures on new pages).
I can tell you
that I'm not affiliated with, or receive any income from any manufacturers.
This keeps my advice completely hobbyist and fish oriented.
Please don't think that aquariums are an expensive hobby. They can be put together
on a shoe-string budget. I've put money saving ideas everywhere I could, along
with ways to get the most enjoyment and value out of your aquarium. With a few
DIY skills, a tremendous amount of savings can be had in lighting, stands, gravel,
rocks and driftwood. If you are planning a custom or built-in tank, be sure
to check my Links and DIY Projects pages. Simple advice implemented early, can
save a lot of trouble. I hope you find satisfaction with my efforts.
|
