I never started a tank using new ways but when I started my still running tank in 1971, I SCUBA dove for my rocks in Hawaii and the Caribbean and they wouldn't let you on a plane with all that stinking, smelly wet rock so I bleached it in my hotel room. So it was basically dead.
But I collected NSW near the Brooklyn Bridge. (Maybe not the best water)
I collected live rock (and live asphalt) at boat ramps in the Long Island Sound.
I still try to use NSW as much as I can and I still collect amphipods in the Sound and throw in those rocks mainly for the bacteria. I also dump in mud from a muddy beach when I can.
I never bought a Pod or bacteria in a bottle (whatever that is) because I don't believe in it.
The world is full of bacteria and I feel it is like buying a bottle of air.
No chemicals either.
I also used to add garden soil for bacteria but I didn't invent that. It was Robert Straughn, the Father of salt water fish keeping.
In the last 45 or so years I have had no problems, no diseases and most of my fish are spawning, even the 33 year olds. I also don't have to medicate or quarantine because of the bacteria in the rock and live or fresh food I feed.
Of course I did inadvertently collect hitch hikers but none that caused harm and I kind of liked most of them.
I keep many mandarins, ruby red dragonettes and pipefish and they are all spawning and seemingly only dying of old age.
If I had to start a new tank with all dead rock, bottled bacteria and add pods. I would not be in this hobby. Not even for a day.
I assume Pods are expensive and you would need a ton of them for a few mandarins.
Pods are on every live piece of rock or coral you can buy providing you don't dip it which is something I would never do.
But I collected NSW near the Brooklyn Bridge. (Maybe not the best water)
I collected live rock (and live asphalt) at boat ramps in the Long Island Sound.
I still try to use NSW as much as I can and I still collect amphipods in the Sound and throw in those rocks mainly for the bacteria. I also dump in mud from a muddy beach when I can.
I never bought a Pod or bacteria in a bottle (whatever that is) because I don't believe in it.
The world is full of bacteria and I feel it is like buying a bottle of air.
No chemicals either.
I also used to add garden soil for bacteria but I didn't invent that. It was Robert Straughn, the Father of salt water fish keeping.
In the last 45 or so years I have had no problems, no diseases and most of my fish are spawning, even the 33 year olds. I also don't have to medicate or quarantine because of the bacteria in the rock and live or fresh food I feed.
Of course I did inadvertently collect hitch hikers but none that caused harm and I kind of liked most of them.
I keep many mandarins, ruby red dragonettes and pipefish and they are all spawning and seemingly only dying of old age.
If I had to start a new tank with all dead rock, bottled bacteria and add pods. I would not be in this hobby. Not even for a day.
I assume Pods are expensive and you would need a ton of them for a few mandarins.
Pods are on every live piece of rock or coral you can buy providing you don't dip it which is something I would never do.
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