Tank birthday, 47+ years

[907_Reefer]

No "Build threads" or computers then. Also no cell phones, Justin Beiber, Taylor Swift, credit cards or just about anything else.

The good ol' days!

I had time to start the book yesterday, I'm going to love it. Having grown up next door in SE CT, your intro is bringing back fond childhood memories of my grandfather taking me fishing for flounder and stripers in Long Island Sound, deck handing with my neighbor a lobsterman, and fishing for crabs from the beach with chicken legs on a string :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[tbrown]

No "Build threads" or computers then. Also no cell phones, Justin Beiber, Taylor Swift, credit cards or just about anything else.

Your journal was your analog build thread.

 

[Paul B]

your intro is bringing back fond childhood memories of my grandfather taking me fishing for flounder and stripers in Long Island Sound, deck handing with my neighbor a lobsterman, and fishing for crabs from the beach with chicken legs on a string :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

LOL, I still do that. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

My Daughter wrote the Foreword. :)

 

[Paul B]

I love this guy.

 

[Paul B]

 

[907_Reefer]

Hey Paul, the book is a great :D I'm into your DIY section now, and the "throw a bottle in your tank" segment reminds me of my favorite aquarium at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, AK, that I wanted to share here. Great area to visit if anyone is up driving around AK on an adventure.

"Harbor Bottom"

 

[Paul B]

I love that tank and live right near the Long Island Aquarium. Many of their tanks are decorated like that because thats what the sea bottom here looks like and I have dove here for 50 years. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[Paul B]

These Ruby Reds are trying to spawn but it is hard with big brother watching.

 

[Rybren]

These Ruby Reds are trying to spawn but it is hard with big brother watching.

Did you try playing some Barry White?

 

[C4ctus99]

Hey Paul, been reading through a lot of the “sick fish” threads on here and researching the different ways of medicating/responding to it. I know you do not like copper because of the damage it causes to both gut bacteria and the fish overall, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on TTM and hyposalinity as cures for ich, especially in regard to keeping gut bacteria alive and not destroying the fishes immune system

Edit: Also wanted to know your thoughts on those in regards to stressing the fish

 

[Paul B]

If you get a fish with ich I think putting it in a tank with a diatom filter will cure it if the fish is otherwise healthy. TTM is almost the same thing and also should work.

Thats if you don't want to destroy it's immunity.

If you stress the fish it will get worse. Try to put it in a tank that is decorated with natural looking rocks, not PVC fittings, dishes, cups, shoes etc. Make good, tight caverns where the fish can get out of sight.

Try to feed shellfish or live worms. That should keep the fish healthy and eventually it will be immune, especially if it is already infected.
Good Luck

 

[Paul B]

I am diatoming my tank again. I have been doing this almost every day since I removed the sponge and a hair algae produce stand grew. :oops:

This is a good thing and the algae is now dying after it has done it's thing so I am vacuuming it out. The tank is looking good and after all the algae is gone, I can re glue some of my corals back where they are supposed to go. I don't want to do that yet with the algae still there.

I am almost proud of my tank again and I feel in a couple of weeks it will be better than ever.

Th fish are spawning and corals are extending nicely without the toxins from the sponge suppressing them. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

 

[atoll]

Couple of pipefish species we can get here in the UK you might like Paul.

 

[atoll]

I am diatoming my tank again. I have been doing this almost every day since I removed the sponge and a hair algae produce stand grew. :oops:

This is a good thing and the algae is now dying after it has done it's thing so I am vacuuming it out. The tank is looking good and after all the algae is gone, I can re glue some of my corals back where they are supposed to go. I don't want to do that yet with the algae still there.

I am almost proud of my tank again and I feel in a couple of weeks it will be better than ever.

Th fish are spawning and corals are extending nicely without the toxins from the sponge suppressing them. :beaming-face-with-smiling-eyes:

Result then Paul and we'll worth all the hard work. We'll done

 

[Paul B]

Atoll, I can also get those pipefish here and I had all of them at one time or other. Those banded pipefish are common but very hard to keep for any length of time. (One or two years is not a success) The wide banded ones are easier than the multi banded pipes but not much easier.

The thing they are calling a "Pipefish Flame" I think is called a Janss pipe here and I lost mine after about 7 years so I want another one. But very hard to come by

 

[Reef2317]

In a couple of weeks my reef will will have reached 40 years old.
Unfortunately I don't remember when I was 40 but I remember when I set it up. I was a skinny 22 year old just back from Viet Nam.
It is still running very well, still using the same reverse UG filter, same dolomite substrait but none of the fish are original. The oldest one, a fireclown is just over 16, all of the older fish died in an accident that was due to my carelessness.
The tank is mostly LPS, gorgonians, giant mushrooms and a few leathers.
There are only three SPS corals, two of which have been with me for a few years and are growing nicely.
I am not sure is any of the original NSW from the Long Island Sound is still in there or any of the original amphipods but maybe much later generations.
I still can't take a decent picture and the tank is not as blue as these pictures but it is what it is.

Congratulations what an amazing achievement!

 

[Paul B]

I think I posted this on here a few years ago. I used to go to work on the railroad with an older Gentleman, Jimmy and he was totally blind since he was 12 years old and lost his sight through glaucoma.

I would help him get around the train and Penn Station in Manhattan every day (but he could get around much better than me and my eyesight is perfect)

That man who is dead now taught me many things that I will never forget and changed my outlook about life in so many ways.

One day we were waiting for the train and he was holding my arm like he always did. After a while he said to me, "What did she look like?"

I said "Who?" He said "The beautiful lady that just walked by".

I asked "How do you know a beautiful lady walked by?"

"I could smell her" he said. I asked, how do you know she was good looking? He then said something that almost floored me.

He said that I (meaning me) was at a disadvantage because I could see everyone and know what they looked like. He said because he can't see, he pictures all the Ladies as beautiful.

He doesn't see black or white, acne, big noses, bad hair, wheelchair, limp or anything else. Just beautiful people. What a nice gift.

I thought that was such a deep thought and gained so much respect for a man I already had much respect for.

This man already in his late 60s went to the city on the subway every morning at 5:59 am, then at Penn Station changed to a city subway train to continue onto his job. He could have sat home and collected govt. assistance like many able bodied people do. (which I find disgusting)

 

[atoll]

Not been on R2R or Ultimatereef much at all recently.
I went to see my friend in hospital who has terminal cancer today. Beer 5 times in 2 weeks once on my own the rest with his partner and his daughter.
his partner isn't a confident driver so I offered to taker her.
He's in great spirit outwardly but whats going on inside his head is anybody guess. He and his partner keep thanking me saying things like they don't know what they would do without me etc.
He'll it's 2.1/2 to 3 hours out of my day twice a week or so, what's that for a good friend? What else would I be doing, gardening, messing with my tank, taking the dog on more walks he gets plenty anyway. Nope it's nothing to me just wish I could do more. Kinda makes you feel inadequate.
When we were on our own the one time he asked me if I would keep an eyes on them and do little jobs etc as and when needed, as if I wouldn't do. I gave him my word.
Nope you do what you can do and wish you could do more but I don't have a miracle cure unfortunately.
One day he won't here and at the moment he doesn't know how long he's got left. He will.find out next week after all the tests he's had over the last few days are analysed.

My friend is just 59 his partner a similar age, his daughter 19 and very close to her dad. Makes you think about your own life and how lucky you are. Not sure why I am writing this here maybe I shouldn't be. I have always thought if you get something good out of something then put something back into it.j
Sobering thoughts. One life make the most of it. Sorry to be a bore.

 

[Reef2317]

Not been on R2R or Ultimatereef much at all recently.
I went to see my friend in hospital who has terminal cancer today. Beer 5 times in 2 weeks once on my own the rest with his partner and his daughter.
his partner isn't a confident driver so I offered to taker her.
He's in great spirit outwardly but whats going on inside his head is anybody guess. He and his partner keep thanking me saying things like they don't know what they would do without me etc.
He'll it's 2.1/2 to 3 hours out of my day twice a week or so, what's that for a good friend? What else would I be doing, gardening, messing with my tank, taking the dog on more walks he gets plenty anyway. Nope it's nothing to me just wish I could do more. Kinda makes you feel inadequate.
When we were on our own the one time he asked me if I would keep an eyes on them and do little jobs etc as and when needed, as if I wouldn't do. I gave him my word.
Nope you do what you can do and wish you could do more but I don't have a miracle cure unfortunately.
One day he won't here and at the moment he doesn't know how long he's got left. He will.find out next week after all the tests he's had over the last few days are analysed.

My friend is just 59 his partner a similar age, his daughter 19 and very close to her dad. Makes you think about your own life and how lucky you are. Not sure why I am writing this here maybe I shouldn't be. I have always thought if you get something good out of something then put something back into it.j
Sobering thoughts. One life make the most of it. Sorry to be a bore.

You are a wonderful person atoll.
I've got a couple of people I know battling cancer and also had a few just pass in the last 6 months.

Cancer is cruel, indiscriminate and brutal. When you have a loved one, a friend or someone you just know has the disease.
The least we can do is spend a little of our time with them, show them we care and they matter and you know how much that means to them and their family.

We can bring hope and light to them and a world shrouded in darkness, disease and uncertainty, and if/when we need to we hope for them.

Hope to bring them a sense normality
Hope to make them smile
Hope for no pain
Hope for a cure
Hope for a bright long future
Hope for time
Hope to make them laugh
Hope they get back a few of life's simplest but most treasured possesions.

Because for all the things the cancer takes from them, it gives the patient, family, friends, care givers, acquaintances and even total strangers perspective.

Life is precious, unique and should be treasured.
Time is life's most treasured commodity and we need to make the most of every day and bring as much happiness to the world as we can.

 

[atoll]

You are a wonderful person atoll.
I've got a couple of people I know battling cancer and also had a few just pass in the last 6 months.

Cancer is cruel, indiscriminate and brutal. When you have a loved one, a friend or someone you just know has the disease.
The least we can do is spend a little of our time with them, show them we care and they matter and you know how much that means to them and their family.

We can bring hope and light to them and a world shrouded in darkness, disease and uncertainty, and if/when we need to we hope for them.

Hope to bring them a sense normality
Hope to make them smile
Hope for no pain
Hope for a cure
Hope for a bright long future
Hope for time
Hope to make them laugh
Hope they get back a few of life's simplest but most treasured possesions.

Because for all the things the cancer takes from them, it gives the patient, family, friends, care givers, acquaintances and even total strangers perspective.

Life is precious, unique and should be treasured.
Time is life's most treasured commodity and we need to make the most of every day and bring as much happiness to the world as we can.

Thank you for your kind words., appreciate it.