That's a good piece of info there Paul about the corals thank you.
Paul
Complete serious, not trying to come off as a jerk or sarcastic or whatever. You have healthy fish, no denying that.
When was the last time you place a fish in your tank covered in Brooklynella or some other parasite that is very obvious to see on it? I would think many people would like to see your tank "in action". Again not sarcastic, it's hard to read that without hearing sarcasm I know especially since we have never met. A case study not a challenge. For real. Could you start a new thread (maybe you have already done this and if so nevermind) after picking up a known sick fish from a store (maybe someone on here can donate you one instead)? Take pictures of it before and then post daily updates for 3-4 weeks of your tank?
Seriously if your tank can cure everything, you could run a successful rescue business. Local stores around here have free fish every now and then because they have obvious disease. My Regal Tang had ich at the store so was free. But you rehab the sick fish for them to go out to their forever homes like any other animal rescue. Could save the lives of a lot fish.
Actually that was not very long ago and I did document it on this and 5 or 6 other forums. In fact (I just found it) Post #10 of this thread I wrote about 3 shrimpfish I added and one was covered in parasites. It died and I left it in there for the crabs. Nothing else got infected.
I also posted someplace on here where I bought a small copperband butterfly for five bucks because it was infected with parasites. I treated him for a few days and threw him in my tank. (I had to treat him because he was laying on his side and obviousely dying) The rest of the copperbands in the store already died so I tried to save this one. He recovered fine but I had to rescue him from my tank because my large, old copperband beat him to with in an inch of his life. I gave him away. That story is also on page 20 of my book.
I get fish all the time that are half dead because I get them very cheap or for free. I love to find parasite infected fish because parasites are extremely easy to eliminate and I can save a lot on the fish, even if I just give them away. I never sold anything out of my tank, I always give stuff away for free.
The only medication I have is this bottle of copper and formalin. It was made in Brooklyn and I probably got it in the 60s. I have no need for a hospital tank or quarantine tank but if I get a fish for practically nothing and I want to cure it, I set up a five gallon tank and use this medication in conjunction with a diatom filter and if I have it, quinicrine hydrochloride and the fish is clear of parasites in a day. I am not sure why so much ink is spent on curing parasites.
In the 70s when salt water stores were popping up all over the place I was called many times to go to stores and wholesalers to cure ich or other things. Remember, in those days no one had salt water fish so I was considered an old timer even though I just started myself. I learned about parasites and copper from a marine biologist who lived near me. Of course in the early days I used copper pennies for copper because I couldn't get liquid copper. (also in my book) I have been asked to speak on the history of the hobby 4 or 5 times at aquarium clubs and on the radio. I guess because I am old and was here at the beginning.
I bought three fish this week. A possum wrasse, a flasher wrasse and a tiny poisonous thing that looks like a clown gobi but spotted. The possum wrasse I bought right out of the shipping box at the LFS before they acclimated him to their tanks. Those three fish were dumped in my tank like I always do and they are fine.
A few years ago on RC we were having this discussion about immunity and I asked if anyone would like to come over to my house with a fish infected with anything they liked and I would put it in my tank. No one came forward but that is how sure I am nothing would happen. I realize that was stupid but it is what it is.
Here is a question, why wouldn't you want your fish immune from everything? Am I missing something or am I just wasting my time.
You could see those shrimpfish here
