The Puffer Forum

So-called "natural" tanks give me a pain. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, natural about keeping fish in transparent boxes. There is nothing natural in water than only gets topped up, never partialed/changed. Other than the African Rift lakes and similar situations, and the Dead Sea and Great Salt Lake and other dying bodies of water, in Nature the native waters of the vast majority of our fish change constantly and rapidly. To me "natural" tanks should nave multiple water changes per day or even per hour. Flow-through systems are far more natural than so-called "naltural" aquariums.

Then there are those "natural tank" folk who claim that because they have no biofilters as distinct equipment attached to or in their tanks, that they have no nitrogen cycle bacteria present and functioning. just where do they think that the high nitrate in their water comes from? The wild elves or fairies? Nitrates in tanks are bacterial products. The absence of a device labeled "biofilter" does not exclude the presence and function of bacteria. The bacteria were around long before we learned to value them and coddle and protect them in special equipment. Dr Tim Hovanec et al did not create them, they isolated and identified functional bacteria for tanks by isolating them from tanks and then learned how to culture and keep the alive for some period of time outside of tanks. The earlier products such as Cycle did not work because the folks selected the wrong bacteria. There are many, many nitrification bacteria in the world. the trick is to identify and work with those which establish self-sustaining colonies in tanks. That is the art and science of folk such as Dr. Hovanec.

Also off soap box, return to your regular programming.

HTH

RTR wrote:

Also off soap box, return to your regular programming.

HTH

RTR...My soap box is rather worn out by now as I am opinionated and irritating on many issues. I am sure your soap box is worn out as well.

Perhaps we could go into together on a new flashy model...one with lights and shining things attached so that people would pay more attention to us !

The new model is rather expensive, so I figure if we both go in for half the cost we could save some money.

We would of course have to share it, but I am sure we could work something out. Sort of like a time share.

Just kidding!

anyone still keeping up with that thread?

RTR wrote:So-called "natural" tanks give me a pain. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, natural about keeping fish in transparent boxes. There is nothing natural in water than only gets topped up, never partialed/changed. Other than the African Rift lakes and similar situations, and the Dead Sea and Great Salt Lake and other dying bodies of water, in Nature the native waters of the vast majority of our fish change constantly and rapidly. To me "natural" tanks should nave multiple water changes per day or even per hour. Flow-through systems are far more natural than so-called "naltural" aquariums.

Then there are those "natural tank" folk who claim that because they have no biofilters as distinct equipment attached to or in their tanks, that they have no nitrogen cycle bacteria present and functioning. just where do they think that the high nitrate in their water comes from? The wild elves or fairies? Nitrates in tanks are bacterial products. The absence of a device labeled "biofilter" does not exclude the presence and function of bacteria. The bacteria were around long before we learned to value them and coddle and protect them in special equipment. Dr Tim Hovanec et al did not create them, they isolated and identified functional bacteria for tanks by isolating them from tanks and then learned how to culture and keep the alive for some period of time outside of tanks. The earlier products such as Cycle did not work because the folks selected the wrong bacteria. There are many, many nitrification bacteria in the world. the trick is to identify and work with those which establish self-sustaining colonies in tanks. That is the art and science of folk such as Dr. Hovanec.

Also off soap box, return to your regular programming.

HTH

Those are big bad wild biker elves and the party fairies that produces those nitrates....

Well, I have problems with LEDs - they are too bright for me, but if they are set with the right reflectors to keep them out of my eyes we will be fine...

Old fogies do need their soap boxes, but not constantly - that would too self-indulgent and boring to the audience. Just often enough to keep folks awake is quite enough.

We have several pseudo-biker elves in our neighborhood - they tend to be nice people and would not sneak in nitrates to anyone's tanks. Both my next-door neighbor to the north and the folks across the street are confirmed and long-time bikers.

Yeah I have bikers in my family (wife side) that dont get into any trouble. And I do know alot of the party fairies around here also and they will never learn...lol.

I have a biker in my family too.

Yep, We know know you're a biker chick Jeni. Beautiful bike too.

Duh... I was talking about Kalvin!

Oh......lol. Well him too, biker chick....lol. I bet he is a very active crazy dog, extremely spoiled too.

He goes from a couch potato to 60 in 2 secs.

We are having two house gusts for Easter. Our niece is coming down from Alaska, and the Basset from the next block is staying here as well.

I know you love your Bassets!

We had a basset named Dixie Doo Doo.

They are irresistible. They also drool all over everything, shed undercoat 24/7/365, and are as stubborn as they come. But love is blind.