Bio - Lee (a.k.a. leebca)

[leebca]

I'll begin the introduction of myself by first asking that all hobbyists, who look to the Internet for advice, recommendations, and help with ornamental marine fishes, to KNOW who it is you're getting information from. You really need to look into the background and qualifications of the person who is posting their suggestions to you. ANYONE can present themselves as an 'expert' to you on the Internet. It is your responsibility to ask the poster their qualifications and credentials to give advice to you, in this hobby. Let me give you an example:

Let's say you have a plumbing problem in the place you live and you yourself have to take care of. Who would you rely upon for help and advice?
1) a random handyman you came across in an ad;
2) a friend that has done some plumbing, but with limited experience and some success;
3) a person who sells plumbing supplies and depends upon sales for a living; or
4) a licensed plumber, having a certificate, with decades of experience in the field?

Your LFS is 3). What if I added that each of the above will provide help and advice for FREE? You might listen to what 1) thru 3) has to say, but why would anyone weigh the advice and recommendations of 1) thru 3) above that of a person of 4) qualifications? To be clear, I am not suggesting you MUST follow the recommendations of 4), but just consider the value of such from the qualifications of who provides it. Not always perfect, but successful to be sure.

In ornamental marine fish husbandry, I am 4). Better than me is a professional veterinarian that specializes in ornamental marine fish. This person's advice won't be free, of course, and they are far and few in between.

I have a degree in Microbiology and Chemistry from OSU. I've been in the hobby for more than 43 years.

TIME LINE
1960 My first freshwater aquarium;
1968 My first saltwater aquarium;
1969 to 1973 Ohio State Univ.
1973 to 1982 Working in Microbiological fields
1981 Began to prepare and formulate marine fish foods
1982 to current Working in metals fields - traveling around the world

NOTEWORTHY FACTS RELATING TO MARINE FISH KEEPING

In the early 1970's I conducted experiments and studies on Marine Ich (Cryptocaryon irritans) and ornamental fish diseases, the use of garlic, the use of antibiotics, the use of dips, acclimation procedures, and fish nutrition.

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After the Horge Cortes-Jorge Jr. article, Garlic versus 'Marine Ich': Diallyl thiosulfinate activity against Cryptocaryon irritans infestations of marine fish of 2000, from 2005 to 2008 inclusive I conducted some additional garlic juice tests. Fresh garlic juice might prove to be more useful.

I used a 6-sectioned 70 gallon tank, using only the middle 4 sections. One fish in each section. All fishes of one species of Damsel. Garlic juice was of two brands off the LFS shelf except when I made my own. Juice was added to homemade food the fish were exclusively fed. Commercially prepared foods were soaked in it. All fish were healthy at first. Microscopically they seemed to be disease/parasite free and without health issues. They were then infected with Marine Ich and the experiment began when they all displayed. A ‘set’ is with each of the 4 sections contains one-fish each, test running/stopping in 3 months.

2 sets (8) fish were tested, feeding garlic to half the fish at each feeding. 2 fish lived past 3 months; one on garlic, one not on garlic.

2 sets (8) fish were tested, all fish were fed garlic. 1 fish lived past 3 months.

1 set (4) fish were not fed any garlic. 1 fish lived past 3 months

2 sets (8) fish were tested, feeding fresh garlic juice to half the fish at each feeding. 1 fish lived past 3 months.

1 set (4) fish were tested, fresh garlic juice added to water at 1 teaspoon per 5 gallons. No fish lived past 3 months.

Living fishes were microscopically tested and found to be infected with the Marine Ich parasite.

1 set (4) fish were tested, no garlic juice. Given treatment with Cupramine. all 4 fish were alive at the 3 month mark. All fish tested microscopically to be free of the Marine Ich parasite.

I cannot detect any improvement or advantage to using fresh garlic juice to help marine fish fend off Marine Ich.
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I specialize in FOWLR system and FO systems. I have handled about 1700+ marine fishes and have learned a lot about their maladies and remedies through experience, biopsy/post mortem exams, dissection, operations under anesthesia, care, and continued education.

I have degrees in Microbiology and Chemistry from OSU as previously stated. While at college, I was a partner of an LFS in Columbus, OH in the early '70's, imported fishes from The Philippines, and helped begin the net-catching practices (trying to reduce and abolish cyanide collections) there.

I often attend conventions and hobby activities around the world, including InterZoo in Germany. I have visited aquariums/LFSs in more than 20 countries and know collectors, exporters and importers of marine life.

I have attended five courses (one of them twice) on ornamental fish husbandry and have certificates of those attendance and accomplishements. I continue my personal education in this area through adult education courses at Universities on the subject of marine fish husbandry.

I lecture for no compensation (other than a free dinner perhaps) around the country and do not earn any money from the hobby in any way.

I try to share my knowledge and experience with others to help their fishkeeping practices and the curing of ill marine fishes. I do not publish for renumeration, but will write long posts and informational posts on the Internet. The posts you find as 'stickies' in Forums on RL are the culmination of my decades of knowledge and experience that I freely share with new and advanced hobbyists.

I don't make any money nor accept any money from the hobby in any way, including speaking engagements, articles, posts, books, etc. I don't have any (financial or business) interest in any equipment, system, food, medication, or product used, sold, or made for the hobby. I have on some occasions accepted a meal as compensation for my lecturing/presentations, but no more than this.

I keep current with technical fish husbandry journals for professionals, as well as hobby periodicals. I subscribe to more than 11 of them, covering fish nutrition, propagation, disease, international water health, etc. Just to be clear, I'm not 'talking' about hobby magazines, I'm talking technical publications on research projects, studies, etc., reviewed by peers and published.

My Internet name is leebca. My name is Lee Birch. (I go by my middle name -- my first name is William).

I hope you can agree that I can provide the best information and help you'll find in this and many other Internet forum sites when it comes to ornamental marine fish care. I hope you have fun and much success in the hobby!

Post your questions and any help you need. Do not send me PMs. Thanks!

[anthias]

thanks very much lee ,for this informations,I was realy interested .
I m reading your thread about feeding fishes , it is very useful .
one very good thing in all your threads that you give the details,it is obvious that you have a deep understanding for this hoppy that is why I asked you ,
I realy dont know how to thank you for all the helps you did to me .

[leebca]

You and others are more than welcome.

I think I sharpened my attention to details when I managed the Ohio State University Quantitative Laboratory Dept. I wrote chemical experiment instructions for the college students.

[vaporize]

Thanks Lee for the bio I am always interested to know, and as always your advices and experience are very much appreciated.

[underseaworld]

My real question is since you live in southern CA. and went to OSU. Who do you want to win the big game?

[leebca]

The best team.

[dabossinokc]

Leebca gets my vote for moderator of the year!

[james_r_edwards34]

Go BUCKS I am pleased to hear you attended school at The Ohio State University. I am from the Columbus, Ohio and I am curious to know if the LFS you wrote about in your bio is still around?

[leebca]

It was a small FW LFS in which my friend and I ran a SW ‘store.’ The FW owner was not interested in SW, but did enjoy selling the equipment to those interested in SW! The LFS owner ‘rented’ out space for the SW operation.

In general, the store was in competition with Byerly’s (sp?). Since the original owner was sort of stuck with not wanting to change, Byerly’s won out as being the primary Columbus LFS. I knew ‘old man Byerly’ and his son. His son inherited the store and ran it during the 70's for sure. After that, I only have secondhand info.

Then the Byerly family sold out a long time ago. Byerly’s closed a couple years ago, if I recall correctly.