Do you have one set up and what does it look like?

[Sharkbait19]

If the tank lasts another 50 years, will I still be considered lucky?

Lucky enough to never wind up with a disease outbreak in that time.
I have nothing but respect for a 50 year old system, something I hope I could achieve one day.
A closed system is not the ocean, however. If a fish infected with velvet comes in, when it drops the cysts off, they will grab right back on in the next free swimming stage. Same for ich. This is why you don’t see these diseases killing fish left and right in the ocean like they do in tanks. Same reason we would wear masks indoors but not outdoors.

 

[Paul B]

LOL. Ok but have a great day.

 

[Dave-T]

LOL. Ok but have a great day.

Paul - all snarkiness aside, it sounds like you have some useful knowledge to contribute to this discussion! How have you avoided disease outbreaks? Is it "buy fish from a trusted source"? What do you mean about not wanting to kill parasites?

 

[Garf]

My display tank is full now so my QT tank is turning into a mini display, lol

 

[bnord]

easier to keep it running and cycled, though I turn off heater and lights.

Except for now as it has a fox face finishing its treatment cycle

 

[Dave-T]

Paul - all snarkiness aside, it sounds like you have some useful knowledge to contribute to this discussion! How have you avoided disease outbreaks? Is it "buy fish from a trusted source"? What do you mean about not wanting to kill parasites?

Never mind - I found your article. Interesting!

The Other Way to Run a Reef Tank (no Quarantine)

The other way to run a reef tank (No Quarantine) I was asked by my friend Humblefish to start a thread on my practices of running a tank with no quarantine, hospital tanks, medications, dipping or almost anything else. It is "not" just to take...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Sharkbait19]

@Paul B
I just read through the article.
I may not agree with the process, but I certainly see where it’s coming from and am glad that it works for you and many others.

 

[gunflintcamper]

You’ve been lucky - All it takes is one sick fish.

If you were remotely familiar with @Paul B and his WORK, you wouldn’t call it ‘luck’.

I have a dedicated QT, however I debate using it each time I get a new fish.

What I appreciate about this hobby is that there are incredibly intelligent, experienced and helpful reefers in both camps who will support anyone with a sincere desire to keep happy, healthy fish!

 

[Paul B]

In a few weeks my friend Humblefish will be visiting me. He lives in Florida. I am going to take him to my favorite LFS which has been there about as long as my tank, 50 years. The place is filthy and I wouldn't go near that bathroom even if my kidney exploded out of my body and fell on the floor and got dirty.

I told him he can pick out any "small" fish he likes with the disease of his choice and I will let him put it in my reef with no fanfare except maybe 15 minutes of acclimation. I don't care what condition that fish is in or how many spots it has on it.

Of course it also has to be a fish I want, no lionfish or moray eels because the thing may live for 20 years and I won't so I don't want to see it in there every day.

If the fish is very sick, it may die, but my other fish will not become sick or even infected as I do this all the time.

My tank is very old and it will probably not last forever, but after 50+ years I will call it a success no matter what happens.

Of course there are very many who will "still" call it luck even if we put a heavily velvet infected fish in there and all he does is the Macarena.

It is due in part to the gut bacteria, but don't tell anyone.