When I got my first tank Ed Sullivan didn't even introduce Elvis yet. I remember that show well. I was breeding fancy guppies then. I think they were fifteen cents. :D (I remember George Smit and his writings well)
I also think my tank doesn't have any problems and my fish never get sick due to the natural approach. I feed natural foods with their "associated bacteria". Much commercial food is irradiated to kill these things. To me, gut bacteria is the most important thing we never talk about, (but the fish do). I eliminate algae by growing it in a scrubber. My tank is full of sponges that also filter water (and maybe pee in it) Algae, IMO should be encouraged to grow as it does in the sea as a therapeutic substance and not a harbinger of doom. I also think we should encourage the immune system of our fish to take care of their health rather than rely on Obamacare, drugs or antibiotics. Completely eliminating parasites is un natural in the sea and in a tank. Healthy fish on the proper food have no problem with parasites. Unlike all these forums, to fish, parasites are a no issue thing. If we humans wanted to eliminate all our parasites we would have to live in a bubble because we are covered in them. Way more than fish are. Google it.
We should IMO, allow detritus or mulm to build up (slightly) in order to give bacteria and pods) a more natural place to grow and play. If my fish don't get sick, no one's fish should get sick and if they do, it is our fault. Not the fish, the store or Lady GaGa.
Last year I took this off one of the outer Hawaiian Islands. In the middle of the pacific Ocean, Guess what it is?
Many, OK, most people will disagree with me and my methods. But virtually no one can tell me why my fish, and other fish in other tanks don't get sick and die of old age without quarantining. Wouldn't it be nice if our fish never got sick? It is not that hard to do but we, many times just don't want to make a slight effort and would rather spend so much time quarantine and treating diseases when IMO it is unnecessary and potentially harmful.
I am now going to use the "N" word. "Noobs", Noobs should not read this because they will most likely fail. It is not just quarantine or not quarantining. There is much more to it than that and even Humble fish agrees with that. (That is the only thing we agree on but his methods are much more suited for a Noob). (He is gnashing his teeth now as I can hear it). So you people listen to him. After you have been at this for a few years, get your fish healthy and spawning, feed them correctly. Pellets and flakes are not correct. And learn all you can about their immune system rather than listen to rumors that were started in the 60s by scientists that couldn't even keep plastic fish.
Don't even listen to me, listen to your fish, they know how to stay healthy. I don't like these threads because of all the hate mail I will get. That comes from all the people who started their tanks last Tuesday and they crashed. I once wrote that I sometimes use Clorox bleach to purify NSW if it had red tide in it. A guy wrote me to tell me "I" killed his fish because he put a cup of Clorox in his tank "Full of fish". I bet those fish died but had a nice clean scent.
