Just rambling

[Paul B]

There are varying degrees of interest in this, and all hobbies.
I don't exactly where I fall in this because it is not really a hobby for me but a way of life as I have always had a tank of some type. But I think many people get into this when they are older and see a beautiful tank and want one. That is normal. Some of us are into the beauty of the tank and inhabitants and just think of it as a thing of beauty or an art form. Tanks in Malls and Dr's offices are there for that purpose as the majority of the people seeing them are just intrigued by the beauty.
Then there are some of us that like the technical aspect and buy all sorts of controllers, dosers, wave makers, ozonizers, test kits, oxidators etc. They like testing, tweeking, and generally having control over the parameters and enjoy the chemical aspect.
Others just love animals, all animals, Kawala bears, duck billed platypusses, oselots, llama's, horned toads, earthworms, Yeti's etc. And feel bad for the animals in the store so they have to buy them, name them, pet them, read to them put them in their will and if you are into that, that is fine. (Wierd but fine)
Then there are some of us (such as myself) who enjoys the thrill of keeping these things alive and getting them to spawn. I have been into this for quite a while so I feel that if I can't get an animal to live for at least it's presumed lifespan, I failed and if I get another one of those same animals I will treat it differently. It is not for me to say but if you keep buying fish and they keep dying in less than a year, you are doing something wrong and maybe should change something.
Now at this point in my life and it this stage of the hobby for me, I feel that I can keep almost any animal alive for it's normal lifespan. I have kept just about every fish available and not just one of each specimin so I have learned what to do and more importantly, what not to do.
My tank has had a few episodes of every malady and disease possable and some that are not possable.
I realize there are all sorts of problems and I cringe when I read some of the cures and treatments. I promised myself that I would not post on ich threads any more but sometimes I just can't help it.
Don't worry I won't talk about ich here as I don't see it as a problem and don't think fish should get that.
OK I have to stop. Anyway about keeping fish, as I have said numerous times it all comes down to our level of interest in the hobby and how much time and space we want to put into this. I purposely didn't say "money" because another thing I don't like to mention is that so many people spend so much on this that is un necessary, but again I hate to get into that.
Don't get me started on Hair algae because that is just one more topic I promised I would not post about as it is another simple thing but those threads are all arguements.
Getting back to food, I feel the biggest problem is that fish want to eat all day and we can only feed them once or twice a day (myself included). If we could feed fish a few times a day "with" the proper foods, our fish would live 10 or 20 years and be disease free. Feeding correctly is where I differ from many people as to what fish should be fed.
I know what to feed fish and as I said, I think I can now keep any fish. Even Great White Sharks. I mean everyone knows that they prefer surfboards. Every time you see that there was a shark attack, you see this picture of this surfboard with a big bite taken out of it, so obviousely, they eat surfboards.
I mean, is it me?

[Lady R]

Well put! My tank is my own garden .I love to start from small what it grow .I learned a lot and know it is on going...

[Dingo44]

I have read way more than I have posted ont this board and I always enjoy reading your posts/threads Paul. Your success with your tank by, what I have gotten from your writings, seems to stem from a big emphasis on proper diet and nutrition for your animals. I was reading one of your post about how you pointed out that you never see fish in the wild eating just the fillet of another fish, they swallow the entire meal whole. Your point was that most of the nutrients are in the gut. It has inspired me to try and find the best, varied diet for my fish. I even ordered some frozen bloodworms just to be like you. I know they're not as good as the live ones you have, but if I can be just a little bit as cool as you, that'll work.

Now time to go drive by some girls with my windows closed on a hot day so they think I'm rich and have AC in my car.....

[Paul B]

Now time to go drive by some girls with my windows closed on a hot day so they think I'm rich and have AC in my car.....

Ha Ha, yes but unfortunately now most cars have AC so it doesn't work any more.

Asa for your bloodworms, that may be a mistake. If they are called bloodworms, they are probably not real worms, but beetle larvae and won't help your fish. If you can find frozen (or live) blackworms, that would be perfect. Also if you could get live or frozen clams that would also be very good.
I see you are in Arizona so clams may be hard to come by, they find it hard burrying themselves in desert sand.

[Dingo44]

Out here in AZ, we've got a lot of beach, just no water....

About the worms, I'm glad I didn't finalize the order yet. I've been shopping for fish food and have been creating online shopping carts while I'm figuring out the best diet. I will have to find some frozen blackworms and give it a try.

[dixiedog]

Paul, you're a fan of blackworms? Years ago I fed them to my Discus on a regular basis, but only just recently started experimenting with them again. I've found that not only do my fish love them, but my LPS devour them as well. It's been a long time, but I recall seeing nutritional analyses on them that were pretty impressive. And whatever nasties they may or may not carry (to my way of thinking) surely can't survive in salt water. Would you agree?

I'm fortunate enough to have a LFS that sells them nice and fresh every Tuesday. A dollar's worth is more than I feed in a week.

[Paul B]

Yes I agree and that is the secret to keeping fish healthy and spawning. All of my paired fish are spawning and I never have to wory about any diseases.

[JHawlz9989]

I've since started feeding my fish a blend of (what was once) fresh seafood, and while their energy is way up, they constantly look at me like I haven't fed them in days. Is that a consequence of better nutrition? And should I keep feeding them just because they're acting hungry?

Josh

[Paul B]

No, ignore them and they will get the idea, unless they want to pay for their own food

[tallball158]

Originally Posted by Paul B

I know what to feed fish and as I said, I think I can now keep any fish. Even Great White Sharks. I mean everyone knows that they prefer surfboards. Every time you see that there was a shark attack, you see this picture of this surfboard with a big bite taken out of it, so obviousely, they eat surfboards.
I mean, is it me?

Lol!

For me, my interest is that it is living art!

[FTDelta]

Geeting off subject here regarding surfboards and sharks. Do you know why sharks go after surfers & surfboards? Looking up from below the water, the shark perceives a surfer paddling as a seal swimming.

[Paul B]

Yes I did know that, or sharks like the taste of Styrofoam.

[Spyderturbo007]

I would love to feed live blackworms, but none of my LFS sell them and I have to order way too many to get them shipped. I wonder if I could find them online frozen and order some? Do you find these better than your normal Mysis shrimp, Rogger's Reef food, etc provided I can only get frozen?

[Paul B]

Blackworms are IMO the best food there is. I never got them frozen but I do freeze them when I go on vacation for my sitter to use.

[SpartaReef]

Teach me master Yoda.... I promise I will finish what I started!


No seriously, can you put together like a class or something??? I would love to learn more from you in an organized manner rather than just hunting down all your posts....

[tallball158]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Yes I did know that, or sharks like the taste of Styrofoam.

Lol it's obvious that sharks are pure styrofoam junkies!

[Paul B]

Teach me master Yoda....

Don't give me that Yoda stuff. He is shorter then me. And you probably would not want to take a class from me. Most people think my methods are to radical and can't possably work as I am the only one why uses them.
In 1971 my ways were the only way, (me and Martin Moe) then someone invented the internet and changed everything. Now there are hundreds of ways to do this stuff. There are also hundreds of problems but what can I tell you.
It seems to me that most people start a system and are more interested in getting it going but don't put much thought into what will happen if it survives and prospers for 5 or 10 years. Like the tanks with DSBs or the tanks where the rocks are glued together or worse glued to the back glass.
People want to use flake food as their main food because it is cheap and easy and they try to convince themselves that that is fine. It is not.
Many people feel ich is normal and just want to know how to cure it instead of preventing it naturally. I feel that fish should become immune from disease and I have posted my theories many times. If my fish don't get sick, then some of my methods seem to work. But then I will read that it only works in my tank, like I got some secret, magic pills. I wish I did, but this stuff is not that hard and a few simple things will keep a tank running disease free with no problems. I guess it is not simple enough so we will always have all these disease posts.
But remember I don't have the nicest tank on here either. OK enough ranting for now, time to go out in my boat and see what I can find.
Have a great day.

[humaguy]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Blackworms are IMO the best food there is. I never got them frozen but I do freeze them when I go on vacation for my sitter to use.

agree, they are outstanding though can be hard to get for some...also recommend pe Mysis, rinse it thoroughly, and fresh clams, scallops, shrimp etc.....

[Ted_C]

Since this is a rambling thread - please indulge me

I'm 42 years old and never had a fish tank of any kind before. There is no single event that I can identify why I suddenley decided to build out my own 120 gallon SPS tank. I can tell you it wasn't the sight of a beautiful tank or a TV show. I think it was mostly I was bored and needed some hobby that would fill my days after work. I dont particuallry love animals or name my fish.

Being a former High School chemistry teacher and now a business systems analyst (i.e. computers) I found the technical aspects of the chemistry, biology and the automation systems to be most enjoyable and easy to grasp.

What I dont like about this hobby are the marketing folks getting ahold of success stories like yours, Paletta, Sanjay, etc and making a product that is only part of your success to be the end all solution for all of our problems.

I remember reading a thread about bacteria dosing where the original poster referenced your Tank of the Month comments and how you do some (or all) water changes from the long island sound water. The theory here is that your taking wild bacteria from NSW and improving the diversity of your biological bacteria. Now we have products out there that people are enticed to use to dose bacteria to an already established tank. I really dont see the practicallity of this. bacteria live / die and reproduce in our systems every second of every day. They naturally adjust their populations to match the environmental conditions they are existing in.

Take Paletta's use of miracle mud. According to Mike - this is the one thing that improves the colors of his corals and his fish. Give that information to an ignorant newbie like me or others who wants colorful corals and fish and we're sold. nevermind the fact that there are a million other variables that need addressed that affect coloration of fish and corals.

To be clear - I'm not trying to attack you or paletta or any of the other succesful stories out there. I'm just disenfranchised with the commercialism that exists.

[SpartaReef]

Originally Posted by Paul B

Don't give me that Yoda stuff. He is shorter then me. And you probably would not want to take a class from me. Most people think my methods are to radical and can't possably work as I am the only one why uses them.

I'm still willing to learn and adapt to my own uses.

[Paul B]

To be clear - I'm not trying to attack you or paletta or any of the other succesful stories out there. I'm just disenfranchised with the commercialism that exists.

That's good as I don't sell Long Island Sound bacteria. It is kind of free to anyone who wants to drive there.

Sparta thank you. I am sure I posted enough that you can find my opinion on just about everything weather you agree with it or not.

[AZBigJohn]

Paul, As usual your granddaughter looks cute, and I don't think you could look prouder.

I keep meaning to ask you on the worm threads, but since you're rambling here I thought I would ask you here...

You feed your worms matzo that you spike with "Fish Oil". What, and where do you get "fish oil"? When I think of fish oil all I can think of is smelly vitamin capsules and squeaking fish..

[Paul B]

I think I got it in a regular drug store. I got a big bottle of it but for years I used those smelly vitamin capsules. I would stick a pin in it and squeeze, but it would squirt in my eyes, on my shirt, on the wall etc. The bottle is better. I have been feeding the worms Cheerios lately since I ran out of Matzo's. They don't seem to care what they eat, but they eat a lot.

[dixiedog]

Originally Posted by Paul B

That's good as I don't sell Long Island Sound bacteria. It is kind of free to anyone who wants to drive there.

Sparta thank you. I am sure I posted enough that you can find my opinion on just about everything weather you agree with it or not.

Hmm, maybe you haven't thought this thing through!

I'm thinking $17.99 (plus shipping of course) for a six ounce bottle of PaulB's very own Long Island Bacterial Blend?

You can thank me later.

[Paul B]

You can thank me later.

Much later