Tank birthday and I'm a Geezer

[Paul B]

The tank is still doing well. No problems, no diseases, no quaranting etc. I have lost some corals in the last couple of years. A couple of nice bubble corals and a bunch of acropora. I don't care about the acropora because that was the clown gobies that spawned all over it and killed it.. I have quite a bit of montipora and it seems that everything kills that so it has a hard time growing to big. The gorgonians sway into it and kill it. The sponges grow fast and block the light as do the large encrusting gorgonians and green star polyps. I keep giving away pieces of blue sponge, but it keeps growing. I kind of like it. I can't remember the last time I lost a fish but I am sure it was from jumping out. I think I have all the holes covered now so it is hard for something to get out.
The bluestripe pipefish and fireclowns are still spawning although I have not seen the bangai cardinals spawn in a while. They grew very large and it is hard to get enough food to them without dumping large clam pieces in there as they have huge mouths. I can get them to start spawning again with just a little more food but they are very healthy and old.
I have 3 filter feeding anemone crabs which I target feed as I do all my animals. The clingfish I especially target feed as he is a large eater but very lazy and probably near sighted because you need to put food right near him. Unless he is just a Sissy and afraid to come out in the open.
I am going to try to list the fish, (but I am sure I will leave some out)
Copperband
2 fireclowns
clingfish
queen anthius
2 bluestripe pipefish
2 mandarins
2 bangai cardinals
leopard wrasse
some other kind of anthius
watchman gobi
2 other gobie's
2 yellow wrasses
striped (who knows what it is wrasse)
clown gobi
Some wired pipefish
And this guy



There are also 3 anemone crabs and 2 arrow crabs. I have no idea how many hermit crabs or other crabs there are.
In the summer I collect amphipods and mud a few times. The tank is at 80 degrees and that is about the only parameter I know.

Yesterday I was at my boat and I thought I blew an engine. I got the horrors because first of all, that would be very expensive and second of all, I would be boatless for the rest of the summer and I don't know how to live without a boat.
I changed the oil in both engines and when I shut down the port engine, it backfired and turned in reverse for one or two revolutions. In a boat, that is not good. I heard a big BANG!!!%#$Clank*&%$#BANK%$#&SWOOSH and another BANG. Then, nothing. It wouldn't start or even crank. Nothing, Nada, Kapoot. I thought by the sound I broke a connecting rod.
The marine mechanic just happened to be near me so I went over to him. (I am sure I frantically ran over to him practically shoving him into the water)
He told me that on my marine engine, and most marine engines, when that happens, the engine pumps water into the cylinders stopping the pistons from rising. Like Duh, of course. I was a car mechanic and cars don't do that. So all I had to do was to remove all the spark plugs from that engine and crank the starter. When I did that, about a gallon of water shot from the cylinders. I let out a loud sigh of relief because I knew that was the problem. I put the plugs back and after a few minutes of cranking my baby hummed back to life and my boating season is saved.

 

[Paul B]

I haven't seen my male arrow crab in a few days so I know he is under a rock someplace growing a new shell as he must have shed.
I also noticed 4 or 5 places on one of my yellow wrasses where he had some parasites on his tail. I view this as a good thing because I want parasites in my tank and because I never quarantined, and I collect mud, amphipods and water from the sea, I would be very surprised if there were no parasites.
The parasites on that particular fish are no longer there. The fishes immune system more than likely either killed the parasites or the parasites completed their cycle and fell off. Either way, the fishes immune system was enhanced as it is in nature because all wild fish are exposed to parasites continuously during their lifetimes. Parasites are natural and they evolved right alongside fish. If wild fish never encountered parasites, they would have no natural defense against them. But they do. Of course if we deny them the presence of parasites for a long time. (I am not sure how long) they will lose that immunity and be susceptible to them if they are encountered. That is why if we quarantine, we must be very careful never to add any parasites as those fish will have no immunity and will most likely die.
Here is something I just found on the web about this. I deleted a lot of the information that was irrelevant to our hobby.

Journal of ISSN: 2378-3184JAMB
Aquaculture & Marine Biology

Volume 3 Issue 1 - 2015

Parasites as Health Indicators in Wild Fish Populations

Gonzalo Illán*

Independent Aquaculture Consultant, Spain

Received:October 24, 2015| Published: October 29, 2015

*Corresponding author: Gonzalo Illán, Independent Aquaculture Consultant, El Chopo 26, apt. 109, 40196 La Lastrilla, Segovia , Spain, Tel: +34610425220; Email: gonzaloillan@hotmail.com

Citation: Illán G (2015) Ciguatera, an Emerging Human Poisoning in Europe. J Aquac Mar Biol 3(1): 00055.DOI: 10.15406/jamb.2015.03.00055

Abstract

Here, we present you another opinion, based on the conclusions of some researchers, about a new role for the fish parasite communities, this time as helpers and indicators of the health status of the wild fish populations and the whole aquatic ecosystem.

Keywords: Parasites; Fish populations; Mortalities; Health indicators; Water quality

Introduction

Parasites play a key role in natural ecosystems, mainly considering that their life cycles are developed among different hosts, either vertebrates or invertebrates. Hence they play an important role on the ecological balance of the aquatic ecosystems, sometimes acting as a control mechanism of the size of wild fish populations. Whether we see them or not, in natural populations of animals and plants, parasites are always present, normally under a complex and dynamic balance within the populations of living things.

Conclusion

Under normal circumstances, fish, the apex of most aquatic trophic chains, are always infected by a considerable number of parasites. However, there may occur a slight change within the environment, of natural or anthropic origin, the scenario may change in a very significant way, affecting the parasite-host balance and thus leading to an epizootic situation where one or more types of parasites can thrive. This situation may last for long depending on how affected has been the balance and the health status of the fish population. Even though the original situation may come back to normal eventually, and a new balance can be established again, these populations can lose a part of their members during the disease outbreak [2].

As expected, the human intervention on the fish habitat usually makes things worse. It’s being observed that some hydraulic modifications have caused a negative effect on the hydrological, physicochemical and biological parameters of the water, leading to the impoverishing of the fragmented habitat and the life conditions for the fish populations

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

I haven't seen my male arrow crab in a few days so I know he is under a rock someplace growing a new shell as he must have shed.
I also noticed 4 or 5 places on one of my yellow wrasses where he had some parasites on his tail. I view this as a good thing because I want parasites in my tank and because I never quarantined, and I collect mud, amphipods and water from the sea, I would be very surprised if there were no parasites.
The parasites on that particular fish are no longer there. The fishes immune system more than likely either killed the parasites or the parasites completed their cycle and fell off. Either way, the fishes immune system was enhanced as it is in nature because all wild fish are exposed to parasites continuously during their lifetimes. Parasites are natural and they evolved right alongside fish. If wild fish never encountered parasites, they would have no natural defense against them. But they do. Of course if we deny them the presence of parasites for a long time. (I am not sure how long) they will lose that immunity and be susceptible to them if they are encountered. That is why if we quarantine, we must be very careful never to add any parasites as those fish will have no immunity and will most likely die.
Here is something I just found on the web about this. I deleted a lot of the information that was irrelevant to our hobby.

Journal of ISSN: 2378-3184JAMB
Aquaculture & Marine Biology

Volume 3 Issue 1 - 2015

Parasites as Health Indicators in Wild Fish Populations

Gonzalo Illán*

Independent Aquaculture Consultant, Spain

Received:October 24, 2015| Published: October 29, 2015

*Corresponding author: Gonzalo Illán, Independent Aquaculture Consultant, El Chopo 26, apt. 109, 40196 La Lastrilla, Segovia , Spain, Tel: +34610425220; Email: gonzaloillan@hotmail.com

Citation: Illán G (2015) Ciguatera, an Emerging Human Poisoning in Europe. J Aquac Mar Biol 3(1): 00055.DOI: 10.15406/jamb.2015.03.00055

Abstract

Here, we present you another opinion, based on the conclusions of some researchers, about a new role for the fish parasite communities, this time as helpers and indicators of the health status of the wild fish populations and the whole aquatic ecosystem.

Keywords: Parasites; Fish populations; Mortalities; Health indicators; Water quality

Introduction

Parasites play a key role in natural ecosystems, mainly considering that their life cycles are developed among different hosts, either vertebrates or invertebrates. Hence they play an important role on the ecological balance of the aquatic ecosystems, sometimes acting as a control mechanism of the size of wild fish populations. Whether we see them or not, in natural populations of animals and plants, parasites are always present, normally under a complex and dynamic balance within the populations of living things.

Conclusion

Under normal circumstances, fish, the apex of most aquatic trophic chains, are always infected by a considerable number of parasites. However, there may occur a slight change within the environment, of natural or anthropic origin, the scenario may change in a very significant way, affecting the parasite-host balance and thus leading to an epizootic situation where one or more types of parasites can thrive. This situation may last for long depending on how affected has been the balance and the health status of the fish population. Even though the original situation may come back to normal eventually, and a new balance can be established again, these populations can lose a part of their members during the disease outbreak [2].

As expected, the human intervention on the fish habitat usually makes things worse. It’s being observed that some hydraulic modifications have caused a negative effect on the hydrological, physicochemical and biological parameters of the water, leading to the impoverishing of the fragmented habitat and the life conditions for the fish populations

@Paul B some nice information there.

 

[Paul B]

I really need to clean my powerheads today as they have a bunch of growth on them which is impeding the flow. Flow is very important and I like to see the water sloshing all over the place. In the sea the water moves much faster than we can provide in a tank. I also need to scrape the algae scrubber.

I have been neglecting my tank due to my wife's illness. (she has MS) Lately she has been in a lot of pain and I just don't get the ambition when she is like that, not that the pain ever goes away. But maintaining the tank is not as important than having a wife in a good mood and pain will crash a mood in seconds.

I am going to try to keep my tank going at least until it is fifty years old in 5 years. I am not sure what will happen then as we may move to a smaller home or condo. It depends on her health.

I am at the point in my life where I don't need money or time. I just need my wife cured.

 

[Paul B]

Someone asked me a question about how I keep my tank immune, and I responded with this:

Actually my system always had an infusion of bacteria and mud. I am not sure the tiny percent of NSW I use is of any consequence. I have not even collected any in probably 8 months. I do add a little mud and did last week. But I am not sure that would do anything for the fishes immune system. I do that for the bacteria in the substrate to control nitrates. Does it do anything? I have no idea. I think the big secret is not the mud or NSW. I think it is the natural food with the live bacteria and possibly parasites associated with it. Many of us fail to feed properly. Just because a commercial food comes in a nice package with an angelfish on the front and is very expensive does not mean it is a good food. It could be, but most foods state right on the package
"irradiated to kill harmful bacteria and parasites" To me, that is a No no. We need to get live bacteria and parasites into our tank and the live bacteria should be in their food every day.
But before we expose the fish to parasites, they should be in excellent condition and spawning or making spawning jestures. DaveK and many people feel this is unattainable. I think they just don't understand how simple it really is. All it takes is some whole foods such as clams and live foods almost every day such as live blackworms. That is all you need. Clams are filter feeders and accumulate tons of minerals including calcium which is missing from many foods. They also contain bacteria as do live worms.
Fish in the sea eat live food at "every" meal. Fish in the sea are exposed to parasites "every day". That is what keeps their immune system ready to kill any parasite that attacks it. If you quarantine for a long period of time the fish will lose it's parasite immunity. Fish come to us already immune from the sea and they probably already have parasites. They are natural and normal and needed by the fish to even have an immune system.
We are in the dark ages when it comes to fish diseases. There are just as many tank crashes now as there was in the 70s. Just search on this or any other forum as to how many tanks crashed even if they were quarantined. You don't have to listen to me, just look it up.
In the 1900s my Grand Parents came here through Ellis Island. If they were found to be sick, they were quarantined.
I can put any parasite or bacteria infected fish in my reef, and do, and nothing will happen.
That's not magic or due to mud. That is because my fish are eating correctly. They are eating foods with live bacteria and parasites.
When I went to Viet Nam I lived in the jungle for the entire year, I never came out. I took an anti malaria pill every day or I was almost certain to get malaria. The Vietnamese people who were born there didn't have any pills and they rarely got malaria. That is because they were bitten every day by malaria carrying mosquitoes and were immune. As long as they had food to eat and were in good shape, they were fine. If they got severely wounded or something else happened to them, they may have died from malaria just as my fish may die from parasites if the heater broke or a Supermodel dropped her hair Goo into my tank.
All my paired fish are spawning. That means they are as healthy as they can be which is the first step in revving up their immune system. If fish can't or won't spawn (or at least make spawning jestures because they are alone) they are not healthy and their immune system will not make antibodies against parasites. This is not rocket science but we make it difficult. Just look at what fish eat in the sea. Did you ever see a wild fish eating flakes or pellets?
Most people on here are smarter than I am. All I have is more experience which means that I made all the mistakes and killed more fish than Starkist Tuna. In a long lifetime I learned how to get and keep fish healthy and it is extreamly simple. I write about it al the time and even wrote a book because I got tired of posting the same thing.
Everyone says my tank is an enigma. It is only an enigma because I found out that the correct food will make the fish immune. Immune means I can put anything in the tank and any bacteria or parasites will just make my fish stronger. Is that a bad thing?
Here is one article I wrote about immunity. I am sure you saw it. http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/marine-fish-heal-through-slime-3962/
If I were you, I would start feeding my fish, every day with something live like blackworms. Earthworms work as well. Then I would feed only whole foods such as clams. Not squid, shrimp, fish fillets or scallop as those are only the muscle of the creature. They need the guts and a clam is almost all guts. In the sea fish eat nothing but whole creatures, bones and all. Don't feed any dry foods. In a few weeks your fish should be in breeding condition. Their colors will pop and they will probably bite you when you stick your hand in there. Your paired fish will spawn.
That is the secret to keeping fish healthy. Immunity from parasites is harder especially if you quarantined your fish for a long time. But that can come in time.
Just my opinion of course.

And this:
The proper food "with" it's associated live bacteria. Not a varied diet, but a diet that the fish need. Bacteria is the key. Fish are not like us. We can live and "spawn" no matter what condition we are in. Our immune system will also function if we are near starvation. A fishes system is different and those systems will not work. I didn't make this up, you can Google a fishes immune system. There is so much new information now about the health giving properties in gut bacteria in us, and fish. But the fish needs to be in great condition through whole foods with the guts and bacteria.
My tank had flatworms a couple of years back. It may be on this thread. They didn't do anything to the corals and in a month or two got bored and disappeared. I have also never dipped a coral in insecticide or anything else and never had a problem. Maybe I am lucky or maybe it comes from the mud I add. I really don't know why my tank is not afflicted with those things.
A quarantined system functions because the fish are sterile, their environment is sterile and their guts are sterile. This is like the boy in the bubble. It can work but it is un natural and un healthy. If those fish are subject to almost anything, they will die as they have no immunity. Immunity is not only to protect the fish but the process of being immune also enhances other functions in fish. Fish in the sea are "always" pregnant. That is their normal state. Are your fish pregnant? That is the reason most fish don't spawn in captivity. They are sterile and have no immunity. Most fish are in horrible health. Fish should be pregnant, never get sick and live for their normal lifespan which in some fish is 25 or 30 years. Most gobies and smaller fish should live at least 10 or 12 years. If they are not, why not?
If you lived in a town where virtually everyone died in their teens would you want to live there?
I don't make a lot of friends with my theories. Most people think inside that old box. But gradually the thinking is changing. People are wondering why there are so many disease problems in a hobby that is 45 years old. Just go on the disease thread and be horrified.
That upper pipefish is always pregnant. Always. That is the condition all fish are supposed to be in and it is very simple. He eats live new born brine shrimp every day in a feeder I designed. I can train him to eat cornflakes, apple pie or beef jerky. But I want to see pregnant. immune fish and that is what I am seeing.



The normal shape of a female mandarin.


Spawning clown gobies.




Watchman with eggs.


Spawning Manatees....OK,, Maybe not

 

[Paul B]

Target feeding my Clingfish. I target feed everything. The clingfish takes a little time to chew.

 

[Paul B]

I love this red seaweed. I can collect it fairly easily here in New York when it is dead low tide and I anchor near shore. To bad it doesn't last too long.

 

[Paul B]

My tank seems to be doing great, no problems that I can tell. I recently "spoke" to Albert Thiel who informed me that bangai cardinals in the sea only live 2 or 3 years old. (which seems pretty short for a fish that size) Mine are older than that and one seems to be getting cataracts so I don't feel to bad. I love it when fish live to their assumed life span. My pair are still fine but I can see they are slowing down and I have to wake them up sometimes to eat.
I have never dove in the sea with Bangai Cardinals and it is one of my diving regrets because I doubt I will get the opportunity to do that in the future.

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

2 to 3 years does seem short for those fish. Mine is coming on to the one year mark in my tank.

 

[Paul B]

According to Wikipedia, Bangai cardinals only live one to two years in the sea and a little longer in captivity which I assume is the reason one of mine has the beginnings of cataracts. I have them longer than that and will hope for the best.

Quote:
Unlike many other species of marine fish, the Banggai cardinalfish lacks a planktonic stage in its life history.[4] The species has a short life span, reaching around four years in optimal conditions in captivity, and perhaps 1 to 2 years in the wild.[4]

 

[Paul B]

I am happy to report I found my clingfish. No, not dead and dried up on the floor like a prune, but happy and healthy near the place he used to hang out. After I removed a large rock that he used to call home, I couldn't find him for over a week.
But I fed the tank some clams today and he couldn't resist. I saw him dart out for some sushi. Now he settled in in a spot where I can continue target feeding him as he is to lazy to hunt for food himself.

 

[redfishbluefish]

According to Wikipedia, Bangai cardinals only live one to two years in the sea and a little longer in captivity which I assume is the reason one of mine has the beginnings of cataracts. I have them longer than that and will hope for the best.

Quote:
Unlike many other species of marine fish, the Banggai cardinalfish lacks a planktonic stage in its life history.[4] The species has a short life span, reaching around four years in optimal conditions in captivity, and perhaps 1 to 2 years in the wild.[4]

I didn't know that about Banggai.....makes me feel a little better over the loss of the ones I had a couple years ago. I now have pajamas, and wonder if they are short lived as well??? They are easily more than 2 years old now.....probably more like 3 - 4.

 

[Paul B]

It does seem very short for a fish that size. Maybe that's why they have live young that are very large at birth.

 

[Paul B]

I have too many bristleworms and too many big bristleworms. They are not normally a problem unless they crawl into bed with you but they are a problem to certain invertebrates. Especially ones that shed like crabs and shrimp. I also have lost baby clams to them many times. My large arrow crab recently shed and I still can't find him, but I know it was bristle worms as I can tell by their smile. The worms wait behind a rock and trip the helpless crab when he walks by.

I designed a few traps for the worms and I normally catch 4 or 5 a night. But now most of my tiny hermit crabs grew into golf ball size creatures and if I look at my tank at night I find 4 of them with the bristle worm trap on their shoulders carrying it around the tank. This is annoying because the trap only works when it is on the gravel. The crabs are all fighting with each other, taking turns trying to get the clam bait out of the trap. Now I am looking for a bowling ball I can use as a weight to keep the crabs from carrying the trap. AAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHH

 

[Paul B]

Tank is doing well, everything is happy and healthy. Cleaning the algae scrubber every couple of weeks is a pain and a little time consuming. The water cooled LED lights are still functioning as I expected.
Clingfish and bangai cardinals seem happy.
The biggest feeder is by far the copperband. That thing will eat all the food I put in there by himself if I didn't target feed everything.
Almost all the gorgonians are growing out of the water and if I get time I will trim them and glue the pieces someplace.
I am also thinking (not to seriously) of removing the algae trough and scraping it out. There is no algae in it as it is filled with small corals and tube worms. I would assume it is a great nursery for the numerous amphipods I have in there. I only collected amphipods twice this year and I hope to go collecting maybe once more. If not I at least want to collect some more mud, but I can get that from the shore anywhere without going to a tide pool.
The reverse undergravel filter is the oldest thing in the tank and was in there from the start. I still think of that as the heart of my system and if I started a new tank tomorrow (not likely) I would add a reverse undergravel filter.
What's not to like? Of course I doubt I could still get dolomite.
I wonder what will happen to this tank when I finally take it down. It has to come down at some point because I am not exactly 16 any more.
I was also thinking (again not very seriously) about removing my skimmer temporally to fill with vinegar and clean. That has only happened once many years ago. It is bolted to my stand so it is not really a five minute job.
Recently I re-designed and re-built the venture valve and this new one (which costs about a buck) works much better. I have 3 air pumps running my skimmer because it is about 5' tall and there is to much back pressure for the venture to suck enough air in so I supplement it with air pumps and I couldn't find one strong enough. I also use it with Ozone but I run it full power and removed the sensor from the tank as it wasn't doing anything anyway.

 

[Paul B]

Yesterday I had to euthanize my female bangai cardinal. She was at the end of her life and could no longer swim. I saw this coming for a couple of months and she lived out her life happy and healthy. They only live 3 or 4 years. Her mate is also near his end. The pair stopped spawning and slowed down a lot and ate very little near the end.

I can tell when it starts happening.

I wrote an article about it if you are interested.

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/how-to-tell-marine-fish-dying-old-age-5782/

 

[njtiger24 aquariums]

Yesterday I had to euthanize my female bangai cardinal. She was at the end of her life and could no longer swim. I saw this coming for a couple of months and she lived out her life happy and healthy. They only live 3 or 4 years. Her mate is also near his end. The pair stopped spawning and slowed down a lot and ate very little near the end.

I can tell when it starts happening.

I wrote an article about it if you are interested.

http://www.saltwatersmarts.com/how-to-tell-marine-fish-dying-old-age-5782/

Sorry for your lost. Good read Paul

 

[Trio91]

Ru going to pick up another pair?

 

[Paul B]

I will wait for the other one to go as they are the same age. He is also slowing down and is near the end of his life. I may get another pair of them or something else just to shake it up. I am surprised those bangai's have such a short lifespan. I would not have believed it if I didn't read about them

 

[Paul B]

This mushroom has been in my tank for years. I don't even remember how many years because it grew from another mushroom which grew from another one.
Yesterday I noticed it had all but disappeared for no apparent cause. One minute it is there, the next it is gone. There is still a little piece of it left but a tiny one. This mushroom would expand during the day to about 8 or 9" across and at night shrink a little.
Now it is almost gone but everything else is fine.
This is one of the things I find so fascinating in this hobby. How life can just appear and disappear after many years for no known reason. I am sure the mushroom knows, but I certainly don't.
Now I am not going to test the parameters, change the water or offer up tea leaves to the moon. It is what it is and sometimes creatures die. I am not sure if this one died or moved to the back of the tank because the parts that are left look perfectly healthy. This also gives me an excuse to put something else in that place where this guy was.
Very cool.
(PS. I just looked at my tank which is now just lit with a small red light and my mandarins are spawning again. I love this stuff)