Madonia, thank you for posting. I think you are misunderstanding my theory. I never meant to let our tanks go unkempt. My own tank is pristine with no signs of any dirt or detritus.
I also advise, and I do it myself using a diatom filter a few times a year to blow out detritus from the pores in rocks so new, living bacteria can take up residence.
I am proposing two types of bacterial methods, one for tank and water health and one for fish health.
I feel we need to feed our fish something with living bacteria in it at least a few times a week. The more the better. I think to stay healthy and immune they also need viruses, fungi and parasites in the same relationship as they occur in the sea as much as possible.
Feeding a fresh seafood which are also filter feeders will do that. Not frozen commercially available food exclusively. Clams are my favorite food for that but I also use live worms. The worms are fresh water creatures so I assume clams would add a more natural diet for salt water fish.
I also add bacteria in the form of either mud or seaweed directly to the tank, mostly behind corals and rocks or in my tank, under the UG filter. I can collect that on a beach.
That is only a couple of tablespoons and disappears instantly as it is mostly organic matter and sand.
This bacteria I feel is beneficial for water conditions, but I am guessing.
If some parasites are inadvertently added thats fine as I want them.
In the 40+ years I have been doing that, I have never had any communicable diseases in the tank and never lost not even one fish to any of those diseases, how bad could it be?
I also advise, and I do it myself using a diatom filter a few times a year to blow out detritus from the pores in rocks so new, living bacteria can take up residence.
I am proposing two types of bacterial methods, one for tank and water health and one for fish health.
I feel we need to feed our fish something with living bacteria in it at least a few times a week. The more the better. I think to stay healthy and immune they also need viruses, fungi and parasites in the same relationship as they occur in the sea as much as possible.
Feeding a fresh seafood which are also filter feeders will do that. Not frozen commercially available food exclusively. Clams are my favorite food for that but I also use live worms. The worms are fresh water creatures so I assume clams would add a more natural diet for salt water fish.
I also add bacteria in the form of either mud or seaweed directly to the tank, mostly behind corals and rocks or in my tank, under the UG filter. I can collect that on a beach.
That is only a couple of tablespoons and disappears instantly as it is mostly organic matter and sand.
This bacteria I feel is beneficial for water conditions, but I am guessing.
If some parasites are inadvertently added thats fine as I want them.
In the 40+ years I have been doing that, I have never had any communicable diseases in the tank and never lost not even one fish to any of those diseases, how bad could it be?