The Other Way to Run a Reef Tank (no Quarantine)

[Freenow54]

Know this much. The liver is full of vitamins and best way to feed that is whole foods. For example, my boas get fed whole rodents. Understanding being the internal organs needed. These are frozen therefore not sure about them deriving any benefits from live gut bacteria although my source kills and freezes to order and usually dead only four days from when I get them and usually consumed within two months of receiving them. Still considering perhaps occasional treat with fresh kill.

Saw a documentary on lost at sea and apparently when starving we revert to targeting internal organs as disgusting as that now seems.

Orcas target the liver of Great Whites tossing the rest away. Rather wasteful therefore good to know we aren't the only animals that produce waste although won't see an Orca at McDonald which we had last night

I meant to comment before but did not want to go down another tangent then. I was an HVAC Technician repairing furnaces ACs and the like. I was in a 3 story condo that was filled with aquariums with boas pythons and one croc. Also lizards and such. He was trying to interbreed them to get a certain color which would have made him a lot of money. Is that what you are doing?

 

[GARRIGA]

I meant to comment before but did not want to go down another tangent then. I was an HVAC Technician repairing furnaces ACs and the like. I was in a 3 story condo that was filled with aquariums with boas pythons and one croc. Also lizards and such. He was trying to interbreed them to get a certain color which would have made him a lot of money. Is that what you are doing?

What I was doing. Getting out now because I want to travel, spend more time fishing and enjoy family and why painstakingly seeking the least effort tank.

Not to brag but to provide context to high end breeding, I've sold boas recently for $2500 plus where common fetch perhaps $99 or less. My focus was on selectively breeding the best to the best vs paying top dollars for the next new mutation which I consider a pyramid scheme since prices plummet soon as the other breeders have obtained and flooded the market and only being profitable those who got in at the ground floor. How I view some Acros and sponges. Why I'll be content flooding my tank with shrooms and CUC plus fish. Although won't hesitate to overspend if that that perks my interest just has to go home with me or delivered. I'm only human

 

[Paul B]

I'm not sure what kind of bleeny that is, but here is her mate. Notice the growth on my rocks. Most people would throw a grenade in there, but I like it and feel it is healthy as it looks exactly like the sea.

 

[Freenow54]

I'm not sure what kind of bleeny that is, but here is her mate. Notice the growth on my rocks. Most people would throw a grenade in there, but I like it and feel it is healthy as it looks exactly like the sea.

I will have to find my photos of my diving days with a rented Nikon's system. Video Cameras were just making an appearance big plexi cases for VHS what a joke

 

[Paul B]

I had one of those cameras and have hundreds of photo's someplace.
Tahiti

 

[Freenow54]

I had one of those cameras and have hundreds of photo's someplace.
Tahiti

Me too I did a lot of macro ( coral ) Also wanted a lot of shots trying to get a Sergent major to stay in focus pretty funny

 

[Paul B]

<----------------------My avitar, that little half inch hermit crab I took at night in the Long Island Sound while lobster diving

 

[Paul B]

A couple of weeks ago I went to a deli for coffee. Outside was a huge tanker truck and on the side read something like "Long Island Aquarium". The driver was a big guy and I asked him what he did for the aquarium.

He told me he collects a truck full of NSW from the Atlantic just outside the
Shinnecock Canal in Peconic bay.
He didn't know if they used the sea water for just the seal tanks or for their coral display.

Where he collects is pretty clean water, much better than from where I collect in the Sound. If I get time, I will drive there to check it out. I live about 40 minutes from there.

 

[Subsea]

A couple of weeks ago I went to a deli for coffee. Outside was a huge tanker truck and on the side read something like "Long Island Aquarium". The driver was a big guy and I asked him what he did for the aquarium.

He told me he collects a truck full of NSW from the Atlantic just outside the
Shinnecock Canal in Peconic bay.
He didn't know if they used the sea water for just the seal tanks or for their coral display.

Where he collects is pretty clean water, much better than from where I collect in the Sound. If I get time, I will drive there to check it out. I live about 40 minutes from there.

I fished stripped bass in Shinnercock.

Also, it’s the oldest Indian Nation in the United States. I have family in that area.

 

[Paul B]

Also, it’s the oldest Indian Nation in the United States. I have family in that area

Yes, and I am the oldest aquarist or person here.

 

[Subsea]

Yes, and I am the oldest aquarist or person here.

And, you might be older than dirt.

 

[Paul B]

In the 7 years since I posted this thread I still have not lost even one fish from any communicable disease even though I probably added a dozen or two fish that ether died of old age, jumping out, bullying or I gave it away.

I added 3 yesterday.

I have two tangs and I know everyone thinks tangs can't live this way, but they are wrong. Tangs are just as robust as any other fish.

They are both a few years old so far and I have no doubt they will live at least another 10 years.





I did add a harlequin shrimp that I can't find but he may be molting someplace and I also can't find one very skinny Rainsford gobi that may have gotten eaten.

I should not have bought that fish as he was very small, sickly and skinny. But at 8 bucks, it wasn't a big deal and he would have died in the store. He is also probably hiding in a bottle someplace trying to fatten up.

I normally find all these creatures eventually. My 6' tank is all tunnels, passageways and interconnected caves so I rarely find anything I look for.

 

[BryanM]

I'm not sure what kind of bleeny that is, but here is her mate. Notice the growth on my rocks. Most people would throw a grenade in there, but I like it and feel it is healthy as it looks exactly like the sea.

I wouldn’t mind a rock that looks like this at all. What I hate is dirty sand!

 

[BryanM]

@Paul B - Curious, if you think that your method, and starting tanks with live rock and sand, have enough similarities or not, to say thats one of the reasons using live rock and sand is so successful generally?

 

[Paul B]

I wouldn’t mind a rock that looks like this at all. What I hate is dirty sand!

Actually, you can't see any detritus on my gravel. (I don't use sand)

@Paul B - Curious, if you think that your method, and starting tanks with live rock and sand, have enough similarities or not, to say thats one of the reasons using live rock and sand is so successful generally?

I feel if you have enough live sand and rock, it would be a lot easier to keep an immune tank. But everything else has to be correct. That means plenty of "natural" hiding places so the fish, being not to smart, "think" they are in the sea. No or very little stress is key so real food with living bacteria, no dry foods, no PVC fittings and places where the fish can't see you.