Peter, my favorite, but old, was the "under gravel filter". Which in essence is nothing more than an "in-tank" septic system spewing tons of nitrates around the clock.
Dam, I wish you haden't corrected that remark. I really love it when I hear that one. :lol:
Anyway as was said there are no aquarium experts. I have read all the books by all the experts since salt books were written. I also am not the God of fish and I have to disagree with much of the information in these books. There is no one that could be an expert in this hobby because there are just too many facets of it. I have a cousin who is a marine biology professor. When I speak to him I am amazed at the amount of knowledge he does NOT have. He does know the names both common and Latin of various worms and microscope creatures. But when he looks in my reef he is totally overwhelmed. To become a marine biology professor he had to SCUBA dive once. Thats it, once.
Since he is a professor he is a recognized expert in the field.
Would I take any aquarium advice from him? No.
Many of the people (not all) are Marine biologists or professors and are experts on the subject but none of them learned or took a course in aquarium husbandry because there is no such course.
There is no course because it is not a science but a hobby, a hobby by defination is an enjoyable pasttime. You can't be a doctor of an enjoyable pasttime.
:artist:
The best way to gain knowledge is to experience failure. Unfortunately failure in this endeavor could be expensive thats why I try to tell noobs to start with damsels. How many times do we hear "my tank cycled yesterday, when can I add a Naso tang?
After so many years I know all sorts of things that I do not try to keep anymore because I have failed at it. I also know what I can keep and keep well. Don't take advice about an animal from someone who only had one and his tank is 6 months old. Almost anything will live 6 months, even if it does not hardly eat.
I also love the ones where people say they have never changed water and their tank looks great after three years. Any tank can go three years without a water change, three years means nothing, try ten years without a water change. Just about all of our animals including small damsels live over ten years and corals live longer than us. If you want to take advice, take it from someone who has the animal you are thinking about for many years. Many people, even the people who write books never had an old tank. I know of at least two authors that have never even had a tank. Just because something is in print does not mean it is correct. I have published about 16 articles on this subject, as a matter of fact, everything I have ever submitted to a magazine has been published. Why would any one listen to me, I have no formal education on fish and no credentials but my articles are published anyway. Of course I believe what I wrote is correct but it is only my opinion. Good thing I don't write about all of my beliefs and opinions or I would be on fire from all the flaming I would get :lol:
Anyway, enough rambling, Have fun, take your wife out and don't take this stuff too seriousely.
Paul:wavehand:
