When was biological filtration first described in the hobby?
Backstory... I kept tanks during the 1980s. I had no knowledge then that a nitrogen cycle existed. I don't even recall giving much thought to fish waste. I do remember fish getting sick, and as a result I would get to cleaning the daylight out of everything, including having the filter apart in the sink cleaning it spotless. Needles to say that would always end up in tears. I left the hobby to pursue another one killing beers.
It was not until I picked the hobby back up in 2004 that I learned about nitrifying bacteria. I was so disappointed in myself for not learning about that earlier. I can say however that I did figure out in the 80s that the less I cleaned things the less sickness and death I had to witness.
:duh:
Now here is where I start getting to my point.
Yesterday i started to trace back to the point where I either overlooked or ignored that vital information. I started my investigation in the book myself and everybody else used at that time, yes the Handbook of Tropical Aquarium Fishes by Axelrod and Schultz.
I am really concerned about what I have discovered. The book has over 700 pages the majority to the description of many different species of fish. There is a 20 page chapter on plants. Also a 40 page chapter on tank maintenance, which included 2 pages on tank size, another 2 on water temperature, and one half of a page on filtration. Really, two paragraphs in the whole book on filtration. No wonder the chapter on fish disease is over 30 pages. I guess it was quiet the rage in the 20th century to buy rare and exotic fish only to torture them in fancy glass boxes.
page 96
Filtration
Elaborate systems of filtration have been worked out in various public aquaria. Owing to the great care and difficulties inherent in showing marine fishes and the scarcity of suitable specimens, the New York Aquarium has not contained any marine forms for several years. since it has an excellent filtration system and still finds the job a difficult one, the hobbyist should proceed fairly cautiously.
A filter system is a necessity for a successful marine aquarium. The principles and equipment are the same as for the fresh-water aquarium, but only plastic filters should be used. It is better to use a molded filter than one with cemented joints. If there must be a decision as to whether aeration or filtration should be used, aeration is the more important. Aeration and filtration, as a team, go far toward making the marine aquarium a success.
Thats all the info in the entire 700 page book on filtration. I am not trying to make a statement about this book, I am talking about the hobby in general during the time period this book was in popular use. We did not have the Internet at that time to learn about such things, all we had were these books. Most of did not even have color televisions. And on top of that we had to walk to school barefoot uphill in the snow, both ways.
So I ask you again.. When was nitrifying bacteria first described in the hobby?
Bonus question... Why are people still ignoring this information.
edit: The first page of the chapter on aquarium plants list seven benefits by keeping them, none mention filtration or water purification. The closet they come is "As a conditioner and test of the water. If the water is so raw as to be unable to support plant life, then it is certainly unsuitable for fishes."
Backstory... I kept tanks during the 1980s. I had no knowledge then that a nitrogen cycle existed. I don't even recall giving much thought to fish waste. I do remember fish getting sick, and as a result I would get to cleaning the daylight out of everything, including having the filter apart in the sink cleaning it spotless. Needles to say that would always end up in tears. I left the hobby to pursue another one killing beers.
It was not until I picked the hobby back up in 2004 that I learned about nitrifying bacteria. I was so disappointed in myself for not learning about that earlier. I can say however that I did figure out in the 80s that the less I cleaned things the less sickness and death I had to witness.
:duh:
Now here is where I start getting to my point.
Yesterday i started to trace back to the point where I either overlooked or ignored that vital information. I started my investigation in the book myself and everybody else used at that time, yes the Handbook of Tropical Aquarium Fishes by Axelrod and Schultz.
I am really concerned about what I have discovered. The book has over 700 pages the majority to the description of many different species of fish. There is a 20 page chapter on plants. Also a 40 page chapter on tank maintenance, which included 2 pages on tank size, another 2 on water temperature, and one half of a page on filtration. Really, two paragraphs in the whole book on filtration. No wonder the chapter on fish disease is over 30 pages. I guess it was quiet the rage in the 20th century to buy rare and exotic fish only to torture them in fancy glass boxes.
page 96
Filtration
Elaborate systems of filtration have been worked out in various public aquaria. Owing to the great care and difficulties inherent in showing marine fishes and the scarcity of suitable specimens, the New York Aquarium has not contained any marine forms for several years. since it has an excellent filtration system and still finds the job a difficult one, the hobbyist should proceed fairly cautiously.
A filter system is a necessity for a successful marine aquarium. The principles and equipment are the same as for the fresh-water aquarium, but only plastic filters should be used. It is better to use a molded filter than one with cemented joints. If there must be a decision as to whether aeration or filtration should be used, aeration is the more important. Aeration and filtration, as a team, go far toward making the marine aquarium a success.
Thats all the info in the entire 700 page book on filtration. I am not trying to make a statement about this book, I am talking about the hobby in general during the time period this book was in popular use. We did not have the Internet at that time to learn about such things, all we had were these books. Most of did not even have color televisions. And on top of that we had to walk to school barefoot uphill in the snow, both ways.
So I ask you again.. When was nitrifying bacteria first described in the hobby?
Bonus question... Why are people still ignoring this information.
edit: The first page of the chapter on aquarium plants list seven benefits by keeping them, none mention filtration or water purification. The closet they come is "As a conditioner and test of the water. If the water is so raw as to be unable to support plant life, then it is certainly unsuitable for fishes."
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