armadillo

Hi guys.

I had the fortune to spend the day with a rainbow fish breeder this week-end. He's got over 70 tanks, and 50 years' experience (father of a childhood friend). He was a joy to speak to, and gave us lots of plants! If you're interseted in pictures of his set-up (awesome!), try this link DEUX PASSIONNES DES ARC-EN-CIEL. It's in French, but the pix are cool.

He also gave me the following advice:

• If you have bottom dwelling fish, do not ever use copper-based meds. The copper will soon concentrate just above ghe substrate in lethal doses for your bottom dwellers
• Use clay-based conditionner as this will wrap parasites in clay, releasing their hold on the fish' skin/scales and preventing an all-out tank infection. One brand he recommended was
• Use dark substrate (and mix it with lighter substrate for esthaetics if you want) as it will make most fish feel safer, even the lighter coloured ones. This will bring out their colours more due to lighting too.
• Don't discourage snails. If you ever have an infestation, it will be short-lived as the tank cannot sustain a huge population of snails. Snails are good for certain kind of algae that most fish won't eat, can eat up uneaten food from places fish can't reach, and will aerate your substrate.

Butterfly

Isn't it exciting to spend time with people who have the same interests? Fish hobbyist seem to be the most passionate about their hobbys.
Thanks for sharing
carol

armadillo

Yeah, it's really cool. And it's nice to see what 50 years of the hobby can achieve. I mean he's bred everything under the sun. He's read all the books, he knows the authors, some come to him for advice and references. He's really impressive. And his wife is really patient, LOL.

MrWaxhead

I like him already, the second you said snails in the tank
I am a firm believer that they are a healthy addition to a tank, and that they do much more good then harm.

Copper is also lethal to inverts, and they would let you know real fast to its presence.

Glad you had a chance to hang with what sounds like a old time fish nut.

armadillo

Well actually, I assume you and him have a lot in common, as you're quite advanced in your fish keeping techniques. I mean you're well versed in planted tanks, CO2, etc.

MrWaxhead

Well I am far from well versed, I am only a couple years into the planted thing, but I spend a fair chunk of time trying to learn what ever I can on them.

But it sure is nice to have a brain to pick like that, I was blessed with a grandfather that was a fish nut, and was always around tanks through the 70's and 80's and had his brain to pick on fishy matters. But he had pretty much stopped running tanks by about the 90's due to health. He unfortunatly passed away right around the time I started to convert my tanks to planted. I wish he was still around to see them, as he would have loved to have seen tanks running in a planted style. I guess in someways he probably does see them though

Allie

I love learning new stuff for people...experience is a much better teacher than just reading.
Thru our local fish club we met a lot of people who have been in the hobby for years...took every bit of their advice. Seems to be working so far. *knocks on wood*

armadillo

It's so great that you had yoru passion in common. I am sure he'd be really chuffed and proud with your tanks.

2 years of intense reading already makes your brain very much worth picking, LOL.

armadillo

Yeah, totally. I think I'd like to do that. There is of course the language barrier for me as I don't feel that comfortable in Dutch.

timg

What was the conditioner that he recommended? It's not showing on the post!

I find it facinating to talk to people with the same passion for fish as I have, and it's very true that experiaence is the best tutor, but when it's someone else's experience, it's the very best!

My whole life has been a learning curve, sometimes very steep, sometimes gentle, but when we stop learning, we stop living. People like this are so wonderful because they really have done it all.

I have a mear 20 years of experience, mostly low tech and simple, but this last year we have gone all out to find out just how far this "Hobby" can go, and it's with the help of all of you and people like your friend that it's possible.

Our fish-keeping would be much more sedate if it wasn't for the input from places like this forum, where there is so much experience in all fields! All it needs is to tap into it and take it on board, be prepared to try new things and have an open mind.

armadillo

Wow, Tim, you're kidding?! 20 years! I am so impressed.

He said it was Easy Life (that's the brand name), and the conditionner itself seemed to have no name, so we were guessing Easy Life conditionner by Easy Life? He has his usual supplier over in Belgium.

Butterfly

Is this it?
Easy Life Int. BV - aquarium & pond products for discus, koi, marine fish, plants & tropical fish
Carol

MrWaxhead

Thats funny I didn't even notice your link until just now, but those pics of the rainbows in what looks to be a 240g planted 8x2x2 on the ceramic tiles, are absolutely stunning. And stunning fish on the other pages as well.

Callum The Cat

those are some awesome fish and tanks

Peace Out Callum!

armadillo

That's the right company, but I don't find a conditionner called Easy Life there. It's definitely the right company as the logo is right. He buys his stuff in huuuuuge quantities. Perhaps they don't make that miracle conditionner anymore?

In my experience, things get better, not worse, in terms of product development. I for one am definintely going to try that Easy Life Neo conditionner, then, as it seems the latest in their range.

armadillo

I thought of you when I was over there, Callum, as he collects New Zealand and Australian fish at the moment.

armadillo

Cool you guys. I'll pass on your reactions. Nothing better than fellow amateurs who know how to appreciate the time and effort you've spent on your tank.

Callum The Cat

ohh of course coz rainbows are native to her and to new guine

Peace Out Callum!

voiceless_kat

LOL Tim... a mere 20 years! I have a mere 7 months, and the learning curve is steep. I am thinking it is better to start with something other than bettas, cuz they steal your heart and make you sad!! ( and happy, of course, when all is going right).

You want to see just how high this hobby can take you.....still another LOL...I think the sky is the limit. Your tanks are awesome, and you have certainly found a way to integrate the hobby into your home. I am still at the put a tank on any available counter place.........that even makes me crazy when I am trying to cook or bake and the counters are full of fish tanks!!

It is so good to have people experienced like you around, then I can tell my husband that I am not really that crazy....yet!!!

armadillo

he he he. I have the same problem with my husband (he thinks I am fish-nuts. The 7th tank sneaked in today didn't help), and that's why taking him along to see my friend's father (the experienced aquarist referred to in the thread title) was kind of a double-agenda. 1/ learn lots of things; 2/ show him how far this can go!

Just fininshed aquascaping my 2nd tank with dark gravel mixed with the old brown gravel. Hopefully, in a day or two, my corys will be less nervy (that was one of the advice: darker substrate = calmer fish, especially bottom feeders).

Allie

I think we are even for tanks too. We have 7 going too. Weird! lol

armadillo

OK, the darker gravel (seems) to hve helped my corys chill out. Hurray!

And another success. My hsuband keeps reading up on Figure 8 puffers, and am pallies iwth the fish store close to our house, so I'll discreetly ask them to push him (my man can't say not when someone asks nicely)