Is there a way to grow a fish to its max potential size in home aquariums?

[RD.]

Hopefully what he absorbed was that sometimes all one really needs in this hobby is a good dose of common sense. S squint feels that he is somehow superior to all others due to his understanding of nitrate toxicity, or its lack thereof, but while falling on his sword of superiority fails to grasp the most simplistic part of the equation, which is elevated nitrate levels generally equate to elevated pollution, and elevated pollution, retards growth in fish, and invites illness.

It does not matter one wit if that growth or overall health reduction is due to nitrates, dissolved organic compounds, pheromones, or aliens. The end result is the same. Nitrates are simply the easiest substance for the average person to test for. There is absolutely nothing wrong with using nitrates as a measuring stick, or tool, to assess for overall pollution. In fact it is for these exact reasons as to why it has been used to measure overall waste accumulation, in an aquarium, for so many years.



I don't think that for most folks it's difficult to understand you don't grow out fish like the young pair of Stendker discus shown below, in dirty water. And like myself this breeder read that spiel on the Stendker site many years ago as well. He also understood how marketing works. The discus breeder that owned these fish had 40+ yrs experience in keeping and breeding discus, and while much of what he did near the end of his life would be considered very unconventional by many discus owners, he learned early on how important water quality is to the growth of a young fish. RIP Don.

 

[Ash02]

It's like a debate with flat earthers. There's an appearance of a debate but really there isn't. All the facts are on one side of the argument.

There's probably less than a half dozen people in this entire hobby with new ideas challenging the orthodoxy. Most are content to just repeat garbage facts they saw on social media and perpetuate myths.

I think you have opened my eyes on nitrate toxicity, but you are being obtuse (and needlessly hostile) when it comes to the practical application of that information.

Let's accept that all excreted ammonia will be converted to nitrate which is harmless up to much higher concentrations than previously believed. Fish still produce a variety of other waste types that can serve as food for harmful bacteria, and other microorganisms (and can also be toxic in and of themselves). Since we have no home test kits for for that stuff, we use rising nitrate levels as an indicator of overall pollution. Water changes are a fast, effective way to control nutrient levels in the tank, as well as romove solid waste. I don't see what your issue is with that?

 

[Nilsafeller]

It's like a debate with flat earthers. There's an appearance of a debate but really there isn't. All the facts are on one side of the argument.

There's probably less than a half dozen people in this entire hobby with new ideas challenging the orthodoxy. Most are content to just repeat garbage facts they saw on social media and perpetuate myths.

I dont know man.. I didnt even make it past 10th grade before dropping out so I'm no scientist to say the least... but I can learn off others to an extent.. you havto watch what you read.. take in as much information as possible, but you also have to learn from your own experiences more so.
No one can tell me you cant gauge water quality off of nitrates.. it's a part of the cycle... I'd rather keep them low when I know my fish are happy upto 30 or 40 nitrate with weekly water changes and it stays there consistantly and fish grow consistently.. I thought my nitrates were a bit high and considered stop dosing flourish (planted tank) because it has nitrogen in it... but some people here have said that's not the case... one says this... the other says that... sometimes I've taken advice for granted and made mistakes.. but it's my mistake to learn from and will never happen again. You have your way and another has there way and it doesnt mean one is wrong or right... if it works it works ?‍
I also dont get the "flatearthers" comment... that's just something childish someone would say who has insecurities ?

 

[esoxlucius]

It's like a debate with flat earthers. There's an appearance of a debate but really there isn't. All the facts are on one side of the argument.

There's probably less than a half dozen people in this entire hobby with new ideas challenging the orthodoxy. Most are content to just repeat garbage facts they saw on social media and perpetuate myths.

What!!! You mean the earth's not flat? Citations please or it's a load of old baloney.

 

[Ogertron3000]

Obviously it's flat, if it isn't how could I live down under in Australia and not fall off the earth?

I don't think this thread turned out the way the OP expected somehow, I always assumed the percentage of fish that reach max size in the wild would be tiny due to predators etc. I doubt many even reach adulthood.
In an aquarium if everything was perfect ,theoretically you should be able to grow a fish to max size but as this thread proves no one knows what perfect and even less can achieve it.
The golden rule is get the basics right, if you can do that consistently then do some experimenting with diet , scape etc. and see how it goes.

 

[Luke tomkinson]

omg those are some giants snakeheads i agree with everyone else water changes,good food,big tank ahha