Old Fishkeeping Techniques...

[dnn3]

great topic ,i've often wondered how fish keeping was done in the "old days".

 

[jourdy288]

I like collecting old fish books, man, all the species they didn't know how to breed! And, UG filters were REALLY considered tops. One thing I find interesting is how they used to cycle tanks. "Throw in some chopped clams until they rot away" they just didn't know how easy it could be! Also in many of the old books plants were considered extremely difficult.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Hey Lud you dont still have any of those hang-on stats (silk stats) controlling god knows how many small heaters do you.
Regards
BigC

Man, Big C.... Tis is not even impossible..... I've loads of boxes with stuff out of production and which I cannot find parts for, but I know I've given most of 'em to chicken farmers to control temperatures in their hatcheries....

I will have a look.... and then also, Your favourite baby,..... I know I've got a brand new 600 page book (also somewhere in a box) on "Dawn on the reef" type topics, & have been looking around to mail it to you when I find it. I will make a concerted effort at the coming weekend & hope to find both.

 

[invader]

How about under gravel filters? I remember when I first starting keeping fish, I had one and I was asked why I used old school techniques...

Now Now!!... Invader??.... Have those been phased out too, cause I'm still using 'em... You calling me old fashioned??

I wasn't the one who said it was old school! It was the members on here. I think they are very smart, actually, but I prefer the clean look a wet/dry has for a tank. But that's just me.

 

[BigC]

I know I've got a brand new 600 page book (also somewhere in a box) on "Dawn on the reef" type topics, & have been looking around to mail it to you when I find it. I will make a concerted effort at the coming weekend & hope to find both.

Bloomin heck, that would be fantastic Lud.

You know what.... I cant even Google an image of one of those old stats (must be a museum piece)....I must be gettin old.

 

[dnn3]

BiG C,age is just a number.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I like collecting old fish books, man, all the species they didn't know how to breed! And, UG filters were REALLY considered tops. One thing I find interesting is how they used to cycle tanks. "Throw in some chopped clams until they rot away" they just didn't know how easy it could be! Also in many of the old books plants were considered extremely difficult.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

I like collecting old fish books, man, all the species they didn't know how to breed! And, UG filters were REALLY considered tops. One thing I find interesting is how they used to cycle tanks. "Throw in some chopped clams until they rot away" they just didn't know how easy it could be! Also in many of the old books plants were considered extremely difficult.

Ye know..... One of the very first books I got to help me with my breeding techniques...... Proclaims.... Port Acara (our common Blue acara)....... "Not yet bred in captivity"..... You know how "chuffed" I was when I got it right???..... I stocked the whole Freestate province and eventually used 'em as feeder fish to my oscars ( which was also listed under the "not yet bred in captivity".

 

[BigC]

Its good to look back through old literature and see where we're at today. Also remembering when new species come to the market place, species that, today are considered bread and butter fish at your LFS.
BigC

 

[jnms]

Some really great replies?

So - throughout the decades, which were considered the most exotic and / or difficult fish to keep?

 

[BigC]

Marine fish and corals would be the obvious choice but......
I'm biased so I would have to go with the subject dearest to me and say Killifish.
Regards
BigC

 

[Ludwig Venter]

Its good to look back through old literature and see where we're at today. Also remembering when new species come to the market place, species that, today are considered bread and butter fish at your LFS.
BigC

Only problem is Big C.... Not upgrading my literature, and not having fellow "experts" to exchange views with..... "Meet the caveman"..... I'm still at that level...... (old habits die hard) & a lot of the recommendations I give, is based on personal experience rather than publicised literature....... (& Obviously a lot of the Newbies does not agree with this and I think it is Gospel).

 

[dnn3]

but ludwig there are people like me who didn't plan on getting into fishkeeping and appreciate people like you with alot of knowledge.

 

[Ludwig Venter]

but ludwig there are people like me who didn't plan on getting into fishkeeping and appreciate people like you with alot of knowledge.

Thanks dnn.... I think this must be the 3rd time you're making my day......

 

[BigC]

Just a word on the subject of "Experts"
I dont really believe in the term in the sence that, we are all learning all the time even the old timers. No one is a complete expert, some may pretend to be but no-one really is IMHO.
Lud you may consider yourself as a caveman now but again I dont believe that to be true either, You were once at the cutting edge with breeding the Acara's, You experienced notority and withdrew as things rolled on.

And how things have rolled on, We didn't know about Cycling, Bloomin heck take a look at the Medication section in your LFS.....Gee what the bloody hells going on There's cures for this, that and the other. Pull your hair out while you decide weither you think your fish has contracted this disease or that. Step forward storekeeper and recommends you buy both.