A standard URL list for newcomers might be:
http://faq.thekrib.com/ - lots of good start-up information
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin.html starting here
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html for cycling :o
http://www.angelfire.com/or2/cichlid102/Tank_chemistry/
cycling.htm or fishless cycling :o) then
http://groups.google.com/advanced_group_search (many newsgroup questions have been asked before, so here you find many opinions without waiting). for filtering
http://faq.thekrib.com/filters.html#types is a good start for planted
http://www.csd.net/~cgadd/aqua/articles.htm is another good start
What's changed in 30 years? (just my own list :o) 1- RUGF (reverse flow undergravel filter): Same hardware as used for the UGF you are familiar with, except a powerhead is used on the riser which pushes the water down (instead of up). Detritus does not fall as deep and is easier to vacuum. Primarily (still) a biological filter. Powerhead in RUGF requires an intake sponge filter. Both UGF and RUGF are really designed to be used with another filter doing the mechanical work in most applications IMO. 2- bio wheels: A wheel of material rotates with the outflow of water on a powerfilter (box which hangs on the back). Design retains the mechanical filtration, but adds an element of biological filtration. 3- Wet/dry sump filters: from marine set-ups, they have come into common freshwater usage. 4- Fluidized bed filters: canister-type filled with sand, used for biological (and fine particle I think) filtering. 5- Pre-set heaters, set to specific pre-set temperature (very crude usually). 6- Fish hybrids, a controversial development consisting of a variety of techniques, such as cross-breeding fishes creating often sterile mutations, and in dying fish with colours, through injection, colour baths and special foods (don't ask me more details as I have not been motivated to research this too extensively). 7- The nitrogen cycle which was the curse of marine set-ups has migrated into freshwater doctrine in a big way. While it is generating big profits in test kits for the manufacturers, the death rate on new set-ups and new fish introductions has fallen considerably. It is a good and necessary thing, though it might be a bit intimidating for new hobbyists. There is also less fly by wire aquarists, with the tendency to continuously consult the test kits (not an entirely bad thing, but it doesn't promote diagnosis through observation of the fishes appearance & behaviour as much, as would have been the norm before the dependence on test kits grew) IMO. 8- Raw data abounds, from web sites, FAQs, clubs etc etc. The most referenced FAQ site I have seen is
http://faq.thekrib.com/. If you only go to one location, I think this one is time very well spent. 9- Technology around aquascaping (plantscaping ?) has grown tremendously with various substrates, CO2 injection, light spectrum analysis etc etc. If you are interested in growing plants (and the fish are decorations for your aquatic gardens) then this specialty has grown in fascinating (though somewhat scientific) directions. 10- A number of new fish have been discovered (too many to list), and some lost as well (Lake Victoria). 11- Plywood aquariums (just like the name says). Combination of epoxy painted framed plywood boxes, using single glass pane for viewing. Typically for built-in units. Lower cost per gallon and allows very creative designs. 12- Just about every scientific fish name has been changed ;~) *well it will seem that way*. You will spend many hours cursing these committees who's purpose has been to make life as difficult as possible for old-timers to get back into the hobby. A few common names have changed as well. 13- Regularly scheduled water changes have become the norm, to control the accumulation of undesirable elements (typically, most often: nitrates). 14- Many costs have gone up, but the buyers are all a lot smarter (see #8). 15- Filter technology has gotten very good, and the prices have not really climbed too much. Shop around and you will find canister filters for under $100 and powerfilters for under $30 (and these are good quality types). 16- Fish quality (genetically speaking) has gone down (IMHO), ie: it's not uncommon to get a shorter life expectancy from livebearers, but their fry seem to do much better than the parents. There is a combination of inbreeding and mass production which has started to show symptoms.
hth ps: If you are looking for specific sites, I have a few bookmarked if you let me know what you are looking for. cheers
