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Retirement and forum shutdown (17 Jan 2022)

Hi,

John Howell who has managed the forum for years is getting on and wishes to retire from the role of managing it.
Over the years, he has managed the forum through good days and bad days and he has always been fair.
He has managed to bring his passion for fish keeping to the forum and keep it going for so long.

I wish to thank John for his hard work in keeping the forum going.

With John wishing to "retire" from the role of managing the forum and the forum receiving very little traffic, I think we must agree that forum has come to a natural conclusion and it's time to put it to rest.

I am proposing that the forum be made read-only from March 2022 onwards and that no new users or content be created. The website is still registered for several more years, so the content will still be accessible but no new topics or replies will be allowed.

If there is interest from the ITFS or other fish keeping clubs, we may redirect traffic to them or to a Facebook group but will not actively manage it.

I'd like to thank everyone over the years who helped with forum, posted a reply, started a new topic, ask a question and helped a newbie in fish keeping. And thank you to the sponsors who helped us along the away. Hopefully it made the hobby stronger.

I'd especially like to thank John Howell and Valerie Rousseau for all of their contributions, without them the forum would have never been has successful.

Thank you
Darragh Sherwin

organic aqua revisited - Part I

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16 Apr 2009 16:35 #91 by BenEadir (John Murray)
No worries John. Sceptisim is a good thing!!

I don't know if you've ever hear of the busness networking group called BNI but it is based on giving referrals to businesses you have had a good experience with yourself and/or you know and trust. I'm a big fan of referrals hance my enthusism for OA and Fintastc Aquatics.

I also refer ITFS to people BTW.

Regards,

Ben

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16 Apr 2009 17:15 #92 by paulbohs (Paul Doyle)
Thanks for that Trimax. There defenitely was not a 90% water change or even a 10% water change. I will pick up a packet to trial on my quaranteen tank and read the instructions first as i probably would have just dumped it in :unsure:

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16 Apr 2009 17:24 - 16 Apr 2009 17:31 #93 by Trimax (Trimax)
JohnH wrote:

All I can say to those posts is WOW, and - although Ben and yourself have nothing to do with the product - great timing lads.

This Forum does not exist for sellers to be able to use it as a free advertisement medium, however!

That neither of you have anything to do with the product I must accept but it has been quite surreptitiously promoted in the past so you'll understand my scepticism.

John


Timing has nothing to do with it, I have recently returned to the forum and seen this thread revived the other day and because I have an awful lot of experience using oa I thought I would share my knowledge for the benefit of fellow hobbiests. That you have taken a skeptical approach is healthy but please don't attempt to tarnish my honest contribution to an open discussion with irrational ideas of conspiracy, I suppose all my other non related posts of pics of my tank and attempts to help other fishkeepers were all just part of my sinister plan too . My names Jim Kelly, I'm 24 I play guitar for a living and thats my main passion, I am not a planted co-conspirator sent to braiwash you by the evil OA company sorry to burst your grandiose bubble. I will say no more on the subject seems it's degraded to paranoid conspiracy, I have better things to do then prove my integrity to people.

Just one more thing, I personally do not currently use OA as my tank is 400l and I can't afford the treatments. Just wanted to share my experience.
Last edit: 16 Apr 2009 17:31 by Trimax (Trimax).

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16 Apr 2009 18:15 #94 by JohnH (John)

"grandiose bubble"


Great, you have me summed up in two words...most erudite of you to make this observation.

And, even though you're nothing to do with Organic Aqua, it has certainly given them an awful lot of publicity.

Still, I suppose we're all doing this - I can imagine everyone concerned are rubbing their hands together with glee.

'nuff said (from me too). You can rest assured, your integrity's unscathed.

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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16 Apr 2009 18:38 #95 by Trimax (Trimax)
Sorry if I offended, I may have written that post with a more defensive tone then was warrented. Someone pointed out to me that OA was pushed allot before on this forum so I can understand better your perspective. I however was not around or involved in any previous discussion and do not want to bring up any old disputes that are none of my business. I know I said I would say no more but felt it appropriate to reply. I certainly do not wish to aggravate people I have not met such as yourself, Sorry for my choice of words.

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16 Apr 2009 18:56 #96 by JohnH (John)
Let us remember - Forums - especially this one - exist for everyone to contribute opinions, and long may it remain that way!

You shouldn't, therefore, apologise for your choice of words, they were what you felt and we're all adults here (I think we are, might be wrong?) so can all accept criticism.

I have my opinions of Organic Aqua, you have yours, let's agree to differ.

This will run and run, I expect, but hopefully not for too long.

:0)

John

Location:
N. Tipp

We're just two lost souls swimming in a fish bowl - year after year.


ITFS member.



It's a long way to Tipperary.

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16 Apr 2009 20:32 #97 by BenEadir (John Murray)
Trimax, thanks for your insightful observations and analysis on the performance of OA as you have experienced it. Thank you also for showing maturity beyond most 24 year olds in offering an apology to JohnH. I have often been in your situation and not always had the good sense to bury the hatchet.

JohnH, thanks for offering your own perspective on OA. Life would be very boring if we all banged the same drum and without contrarian opinions it would be all too easy for snakeoil salesmen to thrive.

I too don't agree with blatant hijacking of discussion threads by people with a commercial interest in promoting a product but I do feel it is part of this and any other hobby/specialist type forum to examine the performance of new products and discuss the experience of members trying those products. If those using the product see great results then why not share that information with as many fishkeepers as possible so others can benfit even if that does mean we are 'promoting' the product. Do we not want more people like the owners of OA to invest in R&D to produce products which will improve the health of fish or make fish keeping easier and more appealing to more people etc?

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16 Apr 2009 20:50 #98 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
I am delighted that this thread was resurected, the more information that can be gathered on this product the better, God knows the manufacturers and distributors are tight lipped enough, so we can only go with users experience. I have tried to get this thread going before after it was essentially closed down by childish comments and games by another member, that is five months one week ago and it has only come back to life in the last week or so.

I don't currently use the product and haven't for maybe a year or so, but I have used it with great success in the past and fairly recently I used just the health treatment as a stand alone, but I can not point to any particular benefit, the fish may have recovered anyway.

Johnh I understand that you are setting up a tank with OA on the weekend, I am sure you will report your findings here in the future.

On an English forum I am a member of I raised OA twice, exactly one year apart and neither post got one reply, the product seems pretty much unlnown in the UK for whatever reason.

Daragh

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16 Apr 2009 20:54 #99 by Trimax (Trimax)
Thanks Ben, it is easy to type biting comments when in a heated debate and not so easy to apologise later! I have been accused of being an adult allot recently so I suppose I had better act like one :) Seriously though I understand this forum is a real asset to the hobby in Ireland and want to keep up with the spirit of community in this forum. I have my opinions as others do and sometimes I can be abrubt with statements but I am interested in the pursuit of improving the hobby in Ireland and in learning from the more experienced fish keepers here. I think it's a great forum and am here to learn, share info and help out where I can. Well i've said my piece so at the risk of hijacking the thread i'll leave it be. Look forward to reading of other peoples experiences of organic aqua.

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26 Apr 2009 19:30 #100 by Sean (Fr. Jack)
Trimax wrote:

. Nitrates will also evaporate slowly through gas exchange on the surface of the water provided the water tension is broken by a current.

Nitrates bond to the oxygen particles in a marine protein skimmer, and are forced up and out of the water.

.


I am sorry to see PFK banned the organic poster, that's not right if there is any thing I can do to get Organic on the face of the earth good or bad news including north America and the U.K and not just inside ROI I will help, I do not think its right for a poster to say a poster is childish because some one is backing up with proven links that the people behind organic could be ify and even hidding their address(es) on their website even though do on www.whois.com registry. It is hurtful when a poster says that a poster 5 months ago was being childish when they accept/grab bags of FREE rare fish from via Grosvenor Tropicals from the person he says is being childish what happen to business etiquette?



On a completely different note which perhaps I should of made in a second/different post, Trimax thanks for your explaimation on the technical process of Organic, before I can swallow :ohmy: what you say, you need to satisfy me about two of the non organic conventional bio aquatic chemistry statements you have made.:woohoo:

I thing both are incorrect please can you support them with some links to back up what you are stating.

NH3 and NH4 can come out of solution be degassing but not NO3. also organics such as protein phenols can be forced out of a protein skimmer but not inert chemical such as NO3, naturally its also pushes up water so if a cup full of protein scum will removed water also just scouping directly a cup of water out of the tank..

That would be a ecumenical matter!!!

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26 Apr 2009 20:26 - 26 Apr 2009 23:42 #101 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens)
Sean wrote:

It is hurtful when a poster says that a poster 5 months ago was being childish when they accept/grab bags of FREE rare fish from via Grosvenor Tropicals from the person he says is being childish what happen to business etiquette?



Sean I take EXTREME exception to your lie that I accepted or grabbed Bags of free fish from Grosvenor which you supplied.

EDIT: I have deleted the rest of this post as I will take the issue up personally with Sean, no need to muddy this thread futher.

Daragh
Last edit: 26 Apr 2009 23:42 by Daragh_Owens (Daragh Owens).

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26 Apr 2009 23:22 #102 by cardinal (Lar Savage)
Lads.....
Dont be getting upset....I'm not getting involved here ..But .....In reality......Life is too short....:)


Lar

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27 Apr 2009 00:19 - 27 Apr 2009 04:54 #103 by Trimax (Trimax)
Unfortunatly Sean I don't have links to support my explanation of how OA works and used the protein Skimmer as an analogy to explain my experience with how OA works in lay terms as I am not a scientist. I have used and tested the hell out of OA using The best indicator of it's performance, fish wellbeing and survival rate over long period of time compared to the performance of the previous traditional system. I get my info from books, people and experience not wikipedia so I don't feel the need to go trawling through the web looking for pages to support my opinions. I'm not into copying and pasting and calling it first hand knowledge so I won't be getting into a weblinks war with ya here sorry to disappoint. I'm not trying to sell organic so I don't care if your satisfied or not.

Also I think your post is difficult to read and quite rude and unnecessary especially regarding Daragh, I don't think you posted that with any good intentions. I think the internet term is Troll.
Last edit: 27 Apr 2009 04:54 by Trimax (Trimax).

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27 Apr 2009 09:15 #104 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
Oooookaaaay......

So I am about to trial OA on a hospital tank for a Severum that took a real beating from some tankmates over the weekend. I will document the progress here and on the LFKS. Let it be known that I am not getting free product, not previously a user of full OA.

I did, however, spend 50 quid on a large tub of 'health treatment' which seemed to do nothing of note, although I fully accept that it could have been my own poor tank maintenance resulting in high (30ish) nitrates. A question on this stuff, what is all the brown flaky stuff that floats around the tank? Is it OK for fish to be seemingly eating this stuff?

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27 Apr 2009 11:10 #105 by nonie (leonie troy)
Hi didi,

Yeah it is fine for the fish, not too sure what it is but all the OA products are harmless to the fish. Mine seem to love the flakey stuff!! Sorry I cant give you a definitive ans. BTW are you using an air pump in that tank?

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27 Apr 2009 13:49 #106 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
No Leonie, no air pump, just a small internal breaking the surface.

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27 Apr 2009 14:17 #107 by nonie (leonie troy)
Apparently you are supposed to have an air pump in the tank. When I am using it I connect the pump in and when I'm not using it the spray bar is in. One of the reasons I have stopped using it - cos the pump can be a bit noisy!!

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27 Apr 2009 15:00 #108 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
Isn't the idea not to simply break the surface tension so the nitrate gas can escape?
I assumed that an airstone/venturi spray/any other method of doing so would suffice?

Opinions people?

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27 Apr 2009 15:06 #109 by nonie (leonie troy)
Yeah you could be right. I remember when i first got it in the lfs I was told to use an air pump and it says it on thier site. Just checked before I posted this and from www.organicaqua.com/freshwateraquariums

"ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT FOR USING ORGANIC AQUA


Air Pump: This is now the sole component responsible for maintaining water quality in your tank and must always remain on, running an airstone positioned in the opposite end of the tank to the filter.
Filter: A mechanical filter is the best way to maintain adequate circulation in your system and also helps keep the water free of debris. The addition of adsorbing media like carbon can also be administered to the water but is not essential
Heater: Only for use if you are keeping tropical species."

I hope this helps

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27 Apr 2009 16:19 #110 by alkiely (alan kiely)
For someone to come on here and post comments like sean did through out this thread is a liitle childish and also disrespectfull, there is no need to say darragh did anything, thats if its true or not.

There is no need at all to post such comments, we all have our own points on such matters. For Sean to come on here and post a personal attack against someone is way out of order and has no place on this site at all.

Alan

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27 Apr 2009 16:27 - 27 Apr 2009 16:29 #111 by Trimax (Trimax)
Didihno wrote:

Isn't the idea not to simply break the surface tension so the nitrate gas can escape?
I assumed that an airstone/venturi spray/any other method of doing so would suffice?

Opinions people?


You must have a strong air current coming from the bottom via airstone to achieve deep saturation, venturi doesn't cut it above 10 L .
Last edit: 27 Apr 2009 16:29 by Trimax (Trimax).

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27 Apr 2009 22:10 #112 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
Trimax wrote:

Didihno wrote:

Isn't the idea not to simply break the surface tension so the nitrate gas can escape?
I assumed that an airstone/venturi spray/any other method of doing so would suffice?

Opinions people?


You must have a strong air current coming from the bottom via airstone to achieve deep saturation, venturi doesn't cut it above 10 L .

Gottit. Set up my only air pump tonight, added the OA and the Severum is calm and collected. Still got stress bars and still not eating though. Maybe tomorrow.

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28 Apr 2009 12:43 #113 by nonie (leonie troy)
The health stuff that comes in the OA packs is fantastic for the fish. Not sure what it is or the ingredients of it but it works a treat!!

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28 Apr 2009 22:00 #114 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
Slightly less stressed this evening, but still not eating.

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29 Apr 2009 18:08 #115 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
Same body colouration, which is between totally stressed and half stressed.
Not eating, and now she looks unstable in the water, wobbling a bit, swimming near the top with the crest of her forehead breaking the surface. Now I am starting to worry.

Added some more health treatment from the big tub I have, which cost €35, and not €50 as I wrote above, my apologies for that.

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29 Apr 2009 20:00 #116 by sheag35 (Seamus Gillespie)
have you tried sea chems garlic additive, i use it for finiky eaters and some who refuse to eat, works a treat anytime i've done it... if you cant get it crush some garlic and put it in your food box shake to mix then feed, hope it works for you

Fishkeeping the Only way to get wet and wild

currently 25 tanks, and breeding is the aim of everything i keep
location:Limerick

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29 Apr 2009 21:02 #117 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
Feeding NLS Cichlid formula, which is loaded with garlic.
Never had a fish refuse it.

She hasn't eaten since she came home with me on friday last, come to think of it she didn't eat the prime pellet offered in the store either, we (Drew and I) were more concerned with the incredible male. I wonder if she has some intestinal problem. I'll ring Drew tomorrow in AV and see what he can do.

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30 Apr 2009 03:18 #118 by Trimax (Trimax)
Is the big tub of organic health treatment not marine treatment?

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30 Apr 2009 07:07 #119 by Didihno (Didihno)
Replied by Didihno (Didihno) on topic Re:organic aqua revisited - Part I
I doubt a teaspoon of the marine health treatment had much of an adverse effect if any. Perhaps Organic Steve can comment?

Fish was dead this morning and I'll be bringing it out to AV to have a scrape & microscope done on it.

Extremely dissapointed this panned out like this. I've had fish take much, much worse fin damage and survive.

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30 Apr 2009 11:14 #120 by nonie (leonie troy)
Sorry to hear that Didi, was the fish showing symptoms since you broght it home? Is this why you used the OA?

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