Hello,

I joined a couple of days ago, but now that I see all of these introductions, I think I should write one, too.

I just filled out my signature and I think my fish are listed there.

I found the website after an invite from aquariacentral. My user name there is also CatLover.

I enjoy keeping and researching fish very much. I love the chemical side of fishkeeping and the practical side. My approach to fishkeeping includes the precise testing of water, but also obsevations and learning what works for the particular type of fish you have.

I believe water testing certainly can't tell you everything, but it can tell you a lot.

I am enjoying the forum concept very much, my family and friends used to have to listen to me talk about my fish. Now, I have found other fishlovers! I think my family and friends are happier, too.

I consider myself a fish enthusiast. My family and friends consider me as a nerdy obsessed fishkeeper! Really, they are kind of the same thing!

I also have 2 cats and 1 dog. :)

Welcome to the nerdy fish-fest! :lol: Some of my star-wars geek co-workers make fun of me for being a fish geek, is that a bad sign? :D

So how many tests do you run on your water, and how often? I would assume you're running the standard battery of pH, GH, KH, NH3, NO2, and NO3, both before and after every water change, and maybe every once in a while in between, just to see. Do you run any other tests? I couldn't agree with you more, btw, that water quality can tell you a whole lot about a fish's general health. You typically don't see a fish with TB that's been sitting in perfect water.

PS - what kind of dog do you have? We have one cat and my wife wants to get a dog, but it has to be something that get's along with cats... I have to admit, I don't know that much about dogs, so I don't know what breeds get along with cats, and which ones don't.

i am not sure of any particular breed that doesn't but if you raise it with the cat it will accept it if you introduce it at a young age bit like fish really lol

CH. Los Pinos See Me Come En

The dog in the link is our dog. That was before he was full grown, he has longer hair now. We call him Flash. His actual name (on the link) would be a bit lengthy. He's a pure bred Australian Shepherd. He was given to us after he was retired from showing. He is about the sweetest dog you could ever hope to meet.

He used to live with a proffesional breeder who showed him. She had about 20 dogs that she showed and bred. The other dogs would bully him so she retired him and gave him to us. He already had his champion status, so there wasn't really a whole lot left for him to do.

He is our third pure bred Aussie.

The other 2 we raised since they were puppies. They just got used to cats after living around them.

Flash is such a wuss that I don't think he could ever hurt anything. He is spoiled rotten. He has a special fettish for stuffed dog toys that squeek. He has a toy basket full of them and he scatters them around the house- it looks like we have a small child. He is now 7 years old and still loves his toys. He is quite a character.

I would recomend either raising the dog around cats, or if the dog is already grown, asking if it has been around cats.

Our dogs have never shown aggression to cats.

Anyway, back on subject: I test Nitrite, Ammonia, PH, and Nitrates. I don't test the other stuff listed. I like to keep the Nitrates below about 12-15 ppm.

I test regularly, but I can usually tell right away if there is a problem, because rummy nose tetra are very sensitive and their red faces will fade a little bit under stress.

In case you didn't figure it out, my family really gets into the whole dog thing. :D

wow you must have a cool dog why do you want nitrates between 12-15?

Now THAT is one COOL dog! B)