The topic for this months T-SQL Tuesday #99 (hosted by Aaron Bertrand Blog/Twitter) is:
Dealer’s Choice – write about something you are passionate about (outside of the SQL / tech community) OR write about T-SQL bad habits
I opt to share with you a passion I have had for years.
Passion for Aquariums
I am passionate about aquariums! I’ve kept fish for most periods in my life and am happy to pursue this hobby. It started with Goldfish in a 10 gallon aquarium as a child and progressed to the 125 gallon tank you see above. Thus far I’ve only done freshwater tanks. I really enjoy freshwater plants. Maybe, in a few years, I will branch out into saltwater tanks.
I feel the same passion for aquariums as I do for databases. They are both their own contained world that I administer and develop.
Why Am I Passionate About Aquariums?
Why are any of us passionate about certain things and not others? I think some of it comes down to the way we are wired. For me I am wired to enjoy building, maintaining, and even cleaning my tanks.
Some of the things I enjoy about this hobby are:
- I find it rewarding to watch the plants and fish grow and flourish. I take satisfaction in knowing my efforts are directly leading to their success.
- Stress reduction – spend some time daily looking at a beautiful aquarium just breathing and you will feel less stressed. We have difficult and sometimes intense jobs therefore we need a healthy outlet for the stress to exit
- It never bores me because it is living and always changing.
Like most habits, aquariums are difficult to get started (or teardown) and easy to keep going.
I feel the same passion for aquariums as I do for databases. They are both their own contained world that I administer and develop. There is a level of satisfaction from performing a job well done that you can see the impact.
Progression of Tanks
I have improved at building tanks during my hobby. I no longer have pictures of my first 10 gallon tank as a child but I have some decent pictures of more recent aquariums I’ve tended to.
Here are some pictures that show the progression of some of my tanks.
![Starting fish tank](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSCN1116-e1518580979623-1024x579.jpg?resize=809%2C457&ssl=1)
![Side view of aquarium](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSCN1118-1.jpg?resize=768%2C1024&ssl=1)
![Angelfish swimming](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSCN1121-Copy.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![75 Gallon Aquarium](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/DSCN1338-1-e1518581171705-1024x594.jpg?resize=809%2C469&ssl=1)
![Rebuild 75 gallon aquarium](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1050485-1-e1518581216816-1024x668.jpg?resize=809%2C528&ssl=1)
![Side view of tank](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1050484-4-1024x768-1-1024x768.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![plants growing on driftwood](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1050483.jpg?resize=768%2C576&ssl=1)
![Crinum calamistratum](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1050481.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![another aquarium rebuild](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1050362.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Moved apartments and setup again](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1020332.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Lemon tetras and rummynose tetras](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1020341.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![pencilfish](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1020336.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Corydoras catfish grazing off the wood](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1020276.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Scissortail raspboras](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1020346.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Bolivian ram patrolling the bottom](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/P1020255.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Lots of hiding places](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_8233-300x225.jpg?resize=300%2C225&ssl=1)
Hiatus From the Fish Game
In 2012 I moved from Pittsburgh to Raleigh. It was too much to bring my aquariums so we had to sell them and move on. Fish gone – owner sad. That’s how I knew I really was passionate about aquariums.
Glorious Return!
Last year I got back into tanks. I prepared a 125 gallon tank with freshwater plants and small peaceful fish.
![New house - back in the aquarium hobby](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7459-1024x768-e1518585100656-1024x768.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Setting the driftwood and plants](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7463-1024x768-e1518584985749-1024x768.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![New house - back in the aquarium hobby](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7471-1.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Halloween tank lights](https://i0.wp.com/www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/IMG_7977-1024x768-e1518585313980-1024x768.jpg?resize=809%2C607&ssl=1)
![Christmas lights](https://www.mlakartechtalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/unnamed (3)-1024x768-e1518585445877-1024x657.jpg)
There is No End
Please take time to develop yourself and pursue hobbies. It will make you a better, well rounded, less stressed individual.
Our technical jobs can be enhanced by sometimes looking away – just like when you realize the answer to a coding problem only when you look away or are in the shower.
We are never done – there are just new beginnings. I leave you with these 2 videos of our Kribensis successfully having fry.
If you liked looking at the fish photos then have a look at my Ethernet Home Wiring Project. There are tons of good photos of the work.
Wow, nice work! I had turtles for a few years, and I struggled to keep those tanks clean, so I can only imagine how much work these are. They look great.
Thanks Brent! I have become more efficient at it over the years. In the beginning it was tough but much easier now-a-days. Appreciate you stopping by!