Having considered the differences between marine and freshwater, and the implications on the choices, my next step was to pick a single species of fish, and build around it.

The choice of this fish would determine the vegetation, the tank cleaners (whether fish, shrimp, hermit crabs or snails)

Strangely, my choice was driven by not a fish, but an invertebrate whom I wanted to introduce into my liittle micro- world the Hammers Cobalt Blue Lobster. This little freshwater lobster, who was quite happy in his own company. Daffyd, the only lobster in the village was to be the significant starting point for the tank.

This choice mean we had to consider his food source, and with whom he would and would not get along. After all, it would be very unfair to introduce to the tank a fish who would simply become his meal.

Many freshwater fish have tentacles like catfish, implying they swim on the bottom. Others are flatter and swim mainly out of reach of the lake or river bed. The more streamlined muscular fish tend to be the fast swimming predators whose existence relies upon their speed and agility for each meal.

This ecosystem was to be a little friendly yet active community, and not a glorified fighting ground, and my choices had to revolve around this.

Still with the tank to hang on the wall, I knew it was a long time before the tank would be complete.

Adding in species one by one allowing them to find a home and settle in before the next arrival, even the order of adding fish had to be considered. And I had to find out whether the freshwater I was to use was from the tap or filtered.

On occasions I even wondered if I was making life too difficult for myself, and perhaps I was, but concluded that as it was a learning experience and wished to get it right, well balanced, and fairly self contained, and that I had no reason to rush, I felt wise to take my time, and enjoy the benefits, rather than struggle to adjust an out off balance ecosystem.

With Daffyd the Lobster to go in (nearly) first, I had to make it a home for him, and this involved vegetation, bacteria, tank cleaners (fish, snails etc.) and even rocks and 'toys', all establishing themselves ready for his arrival, like a nursery for a newborn baby.

Besides, with my 4 year old daughter wishing to help me, I did not wish to explain why Daffyd was in the tank no longer, by not establishing the right environment for him to be happy and healthy.

And the next step was to hang the tank, fill it with freshwater, and then consider the vegetation suitable for my Aquavista 500 frame tank, giving the tank a while to acclimatise.

Thiis acclimatisation process serves on several levels. Firstly, it's a new tank. This tank needs to be tested, and also to flush out all of the plasticisers dust and bacteria built up which in production or storage. We need to make sure it works. After all you can't send it back with fish in it. And most importantly for future health, it needs time to build up healthy bacteria and microalgae, ready to out compete any 'bad' bugs who would see this as a great breeding ground...

Then, once acclimatised we could introduce some plants for Daffyd, the only shrimp in the village, to play with. These plants would build up algae on their leaves, and bacteria, and give Daffyd the start of a food source on which to entertain himself.

Who would have ever thought I would be considering fine dining for a lobster!

To be continued...