First an answer to whether I have purchased a tank yet - No. I was mostly out of work over the last three years due to three surgeries and an unexpected emergency hospitalization (massive blood clot in my groin) due to the last of one of two hip replacements. This time last year I was bedridden and could barely walk ten meters. It took me a long time to recouperate and walking didn't return to normal until April of 2009.
I have been working in Whitehorse, Yukon with the Royal Canadian Army Cadets each summer for a few months as a Reserve Officer working in Operations. So income was on and off, but the good news is that I am back to "normal" and I have just acquired another job that will provide income until I go to Whitehorse again in the late spring. I will be working as a "Venue Manager" at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver/Whistler so if you see me on TV - wave, I'll wave back...lol!
The reason for this prolegomena is to say I won't be gainfully employed until almost a week today, then I will have income to acquire my goodies. This isn't a bad thing as a store employee told me about a great sale that will sell quality kit aquariums at half price, so I might up my gallon wishes.
A fish that caught my eye at King Ed's is the Red Line Torpedo Barb (
Puntius denisonii), an excellent fish with a gentle personality. The bad news is that it can grow up to 6 inches and if I purchased this fish, I'd probably want 5 of them so a larger tank would be in order:
[links]
Red line torpedo barb - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Red-Lined Torpedo Barb - Puntius denisonii
This is a fish that looks better a little older in a well planted aquarium, then you see its dramatic colours. The picture in the wiki link provided doesn't do the fish justice, the second link is better.
So currently I'm like a kid in the candy store with no money, big dreams and empty pockets, but using the philosophy "turn lemons into lemonade" I have a chance to figure out what I'm doing well in advance. The only real challenge I see currently and its one of those tasks that will never go away is that according to Pet Boutique, our water on the North Shore tests out at a PH of 5.
And along with my planning, I get to meet nice people here! Forums didn't exist when I was in the hobby in my past "lives." I remember I joined the Ottawa Aquarium club that used to meet at the University of Ottawa. When I went to sign up as a member, I was so excited I couldn't remember my name - how embarrassing to admit, but true. I won't tell you what year it was but John Diefenbaker was Prime Minister.:BIGwinky: