[StirCrazy]

Originally Posted by Willito

There's no need to get bent out of shape because I have beaten the odds and done what you wouldn't or couldn't do.

but I used to do that as a normal thing, back when I fist started with fish only tanks I used to look at fish as a disposable commodity, if they fought the fought, if they didn't that was good as it would be a longer time span between replacing fish. But that was about 15 years ago, and sense then I have evolved into looking at it as trying to set up the best environment in my capability/money that I can for the critters in my tanks. We used to have a tank that was 4 foot wide, 8 foot long and 3 foot tall in the basement of our house in Edmonton that was fresh water until one night it cracked down the middle. I can tell you that 700 gal of water makes a mess at any rate we were able to get it repaired and did a fish only salt water tank of 300 gal. Then we loaded it full of fish. for the most part there wasn't really any "fish killing fish" going on except for the grouper eating the occasional small fish. if you pack fish tightly they become more docile out of necessity. I think we had 3 larger angels about 6 different tangs, and about 12 other fish ranging from a small grouper to damsels. when I think about it now although all that was seen was the occasional squabble it wasn't anywhere near natural for any of those fish to have so many tank mates, and the more I learn the more I realize that by taking the fish/corals out of the ocean we are responsible to look after them as well as you can.

Back then there used to be a fish fighting group. you would buy the biggest meanest freshwater fish you could find, and go around pitting it against Buddy's fish and bet on the winner. I never did get into that as I though it was kinda cruel and my Dad would probably be asking where I was going with the Oscar

Steve