Got tank and gear a few days ago. Had to empty tank today, because we hadn’t washed the gravel and consequently couldn’t see to the back of the tank, let alone from one end to the other. Doubt that fish would like that.

It’s a 4-foot tank, about 150L with gravel (is that about 30 gallons?). All I wanted was some goldfish in a large-ish bowl, for my birthday, and I get this… some people are a little ridiculous.

NOTE: these diary entries are taken from a paper-based diary which I started on this day. I am now writing them up here for the edification primarily of other beginning fish-keepers. We made a lot of stupid mistakes early on, because we didn’t research enough and were given almost no advice by the fish shop. Please read at least the first two months’ worth of entries before either copying us (a bad idea anyway) or judging us!