Rethinking standard practice: 8 years, no testing, no disease.
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From my perspective and approach, which emphasizes healthy, long lived fish, I'm neither impressed or critical. At this point there's insufficient data. You can't really know or compare things like internal organ health and chemistry to healthy fish at this point without a biologist testing them (which would mean euthanizing the fish). Water test numbers will be interesting, but true proof of concept will be in the lifespan of the fish. If your angelfish live close to 10 years (or longer, like 90% of my fish do, including wild and wild descended scalare angels), vs 5 or 6, then you may have something. An appreciably shorter lifespan hints at long term stress and less than optimal conditions.
...Either way, it wouldn't be a referendum or indictment on standard practice (and wouldn't change my own fine tuned approach), simply an example (if your fish eventually live long, healthy lives) of another approach that can work under the right conditions. But I've always said there's more than one way to do things.
Hello; The liquid test kits I am familiar with were around $30 something last time I bought one years ago. Thing is the chemicals in the kit do not have to be replaced each week. The kit supplies can last for many weeks to months to years I guess depending on how often you test. There is, I think, a time frame for some of the test liquids to remain good. So, I take it the promised measured results will not happen????
Hello; what I tried to explain was when I was 12 years old and mowed enough lawns to get a tank, I did not know of WC. For many years I ran tanks with UGF (under gravel filters) and only topped off the tank for usually a year or so but sometimes longer. Everything was run on weak air pumps. I overstocked & overfed. I was running tanks early in my fish keeping under worse conditions that you describe. I slowly learned what are better ways to do things.
I currently have only three tanks set up. One maybe running as is for 12 or 13 years. The others approaching or beyond 10 years. I have evolved from keeping fish with some plants to keeping plants with a few small fish. My 55 gallons
has maybe 10 or so zebra danios total. But lots of plants.I do not have a very recent picture but will look for a representative picture.
I do not reject your claimed outcome outright because a scientific approach ought not to become bogged down in it's own dogma. Too many times, a new approach has proven true. Thing is your claims fly in the face of what seems understood. The criticism being you provide no more than take my word for it.
Hello; The last comment you are using hypothesis and observation in a way far different from standard usage. To have a conversation we need a common language which is mutually understood. I cannot measure in inches while you measure in centimeters for example. We need an agreed upon set of meanings of words and cannot change meanings at will.
I'll just share some unlisted videos that I've literally just took of the tank itself and Ill explain why I chose a ring light over standard practice.
The ring light isn't just for visibility; it’s an intentional part of my design. By centering the light directly over the wooden centerpiece, which isn't in the substrate so nitrogen gas cant be stored in pockets in the substrate, I've created a concentrated zone for algae and bio-bloom. Because the growth is localized to that wood, it stays off the glass and out of the water column. It’s an engineered 'bio-sink' that keeps the system balanced and the glass clean without me ever needing to scrub it.
The ring light isn't just for visibility; it’s an intentional part of my design. By centering the light directly over the wooden centerpiece, which isn't in the substrate so nitrogen gas cant be stored in pockets in the substrate, I've created a concentrated zone for algae and bio-bloom. Because the growth is localized to that wood, it stays off the glass and out of the water column. It’s an engineered 'bio-sink' that keeps the system balanced and the glass clean without me ever needing to scrub it.
This is the part of the science fiction movie where the writers don’t have a clue what they’re talking about so to compensate they throw out some concoction of words to sound smart. You know like using the flux capacitor requiring 1.21 gigawatts at 88mph to travel back in time…
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No mate I know exactly what I'm talking about , your just to stuck in the traditional ways, if the water was that toxic the plants I put in 5 weeks ago won't have started propagating splitting and roots developing. If the tank wasn't healthy this wouldn't be happening , since many say sand is not a natural compost the detritus in the sand is actively contributing to growth.
And just incase you don't think I know what I'm doing , I've had this axolotl 5 weeks now , no testing , weekly water changes (dechlorinated and healthy bacteria both put in the water)and feeding twice a day
The first 2 weeks he spent on brine shrimp and blood worm but now he's devouring earth worms
Learn to read the behaviours of your animals, anyone who is anyone know they are the hardest to keep happy with water conditions
The first 2 weeks he spent on brine shrimp and blood worm but now he's devouring earth worms
Learn to read the behaviours of your animals, anyone who is anyone know they are the hardest to keep happy with water conditions
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I have the feeling that this is not so much "re-thinking standard practice" and more "re-marketing the lazy approach to fish keeping". It's common in the hobby; a fishkeeper doesn't want to bother doing all that work, and manufactures a justification for not doing it. It's the Father Fish School Of Aquariological Philosophy.
You don't know what species of fish you have...you seem to think that they are sensitive, delicate and difficult-to-keep rather than being among the easiest beginners' fish...you keep saying more and more, revealing that you know less and less about the topic...and now, you are using the fact that an Axolotl has survived for 5 weeks (!) as evidence that you are an expert.
I have had an Axolotl who has just passed his 15th anniversary with me...that's years, not weeks. He has lived in five tanks spread over three houses in two different watersheds and is so bulletproof that I suspect he might live 5 weeks in between the couch cushions, across the room from his tank. And you are buying Axolotl-specific dechlorinators and bacterial inoculations?!?
I have the suspended lighting above most of my tanks hung in a position and at an angle that it doesn't shine directly only the front glass, which keeps algae growth to a minimum. I don't refer to this as a "concentrated zone for algae and bio-bloom" or an "engineered bio-sink"; it's simple common sense, an attempt at reducing workload.
You've dug yourself so far into this hole of BS that even if you post test results now, they will be difficult to believe because you'll need to save face by manufacturing data. But still, I hope you do get a test kit and check out your water. You actually seem to believe the nonsense you are spouting, so I think a good splash of cold hard reality in the face will do you a world of good.
You don't know what species of fish you have...you seem to think that they are sensitive, delicate and difficult-to-keep rather than being among the easiest beginners' fish...you keep saying more and more, revealing that you know less and less about the topic...and now, you are using the fact that an Axolotl has survived for 5 weeks (!) as evidence that you are an expert.
I have had an Axolotl who has just passed his 15th anniversary with me...that's years, not weeks. He has lived in five tanks spread over three houses in two different watersheds and is so bulletproof that I suspect he might live 5 weeks in between the couch cushions, across the room from his tank. And you are buying Axolotl-specific dechlorinators and bacterial inoculations?!?
I have the suspended lighting above most of my tanks hung in a position and at an angle that it doesn't shine directly only the front glass, which keeps algae growth to a minimum. I don't refer to this as a "concentrated zone for algae and bio-bloom" or an "engineered bio-sink"; it's simple common sense, an attempt at reducing workload.
You've dug yourself so far into this hole of BS that even if you post test results now, they will be difficult to believe because you'll need to save face by manufacturing data. But still, I hope you do get a test kit and check out your water. You actually seem to believe the nonsense you are spouting, so I think a good splash of cold hard reality in the face will do you a world of good.
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