MoreCoffee
Fishaholic
OK, It's time to play again, So here's a little something different - The Darker side of Cycling:
Sometime ago I saw a post by George Farmer on an idea he had about doing a totally blacked out ( 'fishless' 'plantless' 'lightless') cycle of a tank.
The idea was to try encourage bacteria growth to get the filter as mature as possible with a view to trying to cut down on the early algae issues, maybe also cut down on the need for quite so many initial fast growing plants.
As I want to use varieties of Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus and Anubias in my final layout (along with some fast growers) I thought this sounded like something worth trying. I spoke to George about this and he had not been able to try it out. So with his permission ...... here goes !
I'm no chemist or biologist, so I have no idea if this will work ..... maybe others who are more qualified can offer some advice (for or against) on this plan.
The filter gets installed tonight and the tank will be filled and blacked out tomorrow !
=============================================================================
The Plan: (All timescales approx - will depend on water tests/conditions)
Phase 1: (Approx 3 -4 weeks)
Total blackout ! - substrate/hardscape/filter only. No plants/livestock. Will include JBL Denitrol to kickstart filter.
Notes:
1. The nitrifying bacteria we want dont like light. Most grow in the darkness of the filter, but there are also colonies in the substrate and to a lesser extent on the surfaces of items in the tank - So we dont give them any light !
2. Algae (most, probably all) need light to grow - So we dont give it any light !
3. The nitrifying bacteria feed on ammonia. Plants take up large amounts of ammonia - So taking away the plants gives them more ammonia to feed on and hopefully encourage faster growth.
4. I may include an air pump during the blackout - Yet to decide ?
Phase 2: (Approx 3 - 4 weeks)
Plants/Uber CO2 (45ppm +) /EI Ferts/Light.
Notes:
1. Let there be light, off with the blackout and the lights go on !
2. Hopefully by now we have a decent bacteria colony in the filter and substrate and the tank is algae free.
3. Get the hardscape tidied up and get the plants in there and start dosing EI
4. Turn the Co2 up high. I'm looking for in excess of 45ppm.
Phase 3: (Approx 2 weeks)
Add livestock 1 - Otto/shrimp.
Notes:
1. I should have a good idea by now if this is working. A clear tank, or a mess of algae !!
2. Turn down the Co2 to 30ppm
3. Get the algae eating shrimp and Otto's in there.
Phase 4: (Approx 1 - 2 weeks)
Add livestock 2 �" shoal fish.
1. Assuming all is OK, stock the tank up with more fish.
2. After another week or two, increase the fish stock to the final level.
=============================================================================
So this whole process could take 10 - 12 weeks (or more) before I'm fully stocked with fish, but if I can avoid early algae issues and can plant with more of the plants I really want and less of the fast growing weeds, then it may well be worth it. It'll be interesting to see if I see any diatoms during the early stages.
I partly decided to give this a try as my tank is sat there empty and I need to do something with it.
The blackout period won't require much maintenance and no plants. I wouldnt want to rely on mail order plants at this time of year and the low maintenance fits in with my plans for Xmas. But the main reason for trying this is ....... curiosity !
Tank details:
Tank: Rena Panorama 120 (220Ltrs useful volume)
Lighting: Interpet luminaire 4 x 36W (approx 2.48wpg) {Edited}
Fitler: AquaEL UniMax Pro 500. 9W internal UV steriliser, 2 x inflow pipes, 2 x outflow pipes, (1 inflow/1 outflow at each end of the tank to increase water circulation).
Co2: Pressurised with Aquamedic regulator, 2kg Co2 fire extinguisher and 2 x glass/ceramic diffusers (one near each outflow pipe to increase CO2 distribution)
Substrate: 4 bags ADA Aquasoil Amazonia.
Fertilisation: EI
Heater: 300w Hydor inline.
I have no idea if this will work and will only be able to answer that question at the end
Any thoughts/comments would be very welcome !
Al
Sometime ago I saw a post by George Farmer on an idea he had about doing a totally blacked out ( 'fishless' 'plantless' 'lightless') cycle of a tank.
The idea was to try encourage bacteria growth to get the filter as mature as possible with a view to trying to cut down on the early algae issues, maybe also cut down on the need for quite so many initial fast growing plants.
As I want to use varieties of Cryptocoryne, Echinodorus and Anubias in my final layout (along with some fast growers) I thought this sounded like something worth trying. I spoke to George about this and he had not been able to try it out. So with his permission ...... here goes !
I'm no chemist or biologist, so I have no idea if this will work ..... maybe others who are more qualified can offer some advice (for or against) on this plan.
The filter gets installed tonight and the tank will be filled and blacked out tomorrow !
=============================================================================
The Plan: (All timescales approx - will depend on water tests/conditions)
Phase 1: (Approx 3 -4 weeks)
Total blackout ! - substrate/hardscape/filter only. No plants/livestock. Will include JBL Denitrol to kickstart filter.
Notes:
1. The nitrifying bacteria we want dont like light. Most grow in the darkness of the filter, but there are also colonies in the substrate and to a lesser extent on the surfaces of items in the tank - So we dont give them any light !
2. Algae (most, probably all) need light to grow - So we dont give it any light !
3. The nitrifying bacteria feed on ammonia. Plants take up large amounts of ammonia - So taking away the plants gives them more ammonia to feed on and hopefully encourage faster growth.
4. I may include an air pump during the blackout - Yet to decide ?
Phase 2: (Approx 3 - 4 weeks)
Plants/Uber CO2 (45ppm +) /EI Ferts/Light.
Notes:
1. Let there be light, off with the blackout and the lights go on !
2. Hopefully by now we have a decent bacteria colony in the filter and substrate and the tank is algae free.
3. Get the hardscape tidied up and get the plants in there and start dosing EI
4. Turn the Co2 up high. I'm looking for in excess of 45ppm.
Phase 3: (Approx 2 weeks)
Add livestock 1 - Otto/shrimp.
Notes:
1. I should have a good idea by now if this is working. A clear tank, or a mess of algae !!
2. Turn down the Co2 to 30ppm
3. Get the algae eating shrimp and Otto's in there.
Phase 4: (Approx 1 - 2 weeks)
Add livestock 2 �" shoal fish.
1. Assuming all is OK, stock the tank up with more fish.
2. After another week or two, increase the fish stock to the final level.
=============================================================================
So this whole process could take 10 - 12 weeks (or more) before I'm fully stocked with fish, but if I can avoid early algae issues and can plant with more of the plants I really want and less of the fast growing weeds, then it may well be worth it. It'll be interesting to see if I see any diatoms during the early stages.
I partly decided to give this a try as my tank is sat there empty and I need to do something with it.
The blackout period won't require much maintenance and no plants. I wouldnt want to rely on mail order plants at this time of year and the low maintenance fits in with my plans for Xmas. But the main reason for trying this is ....... curiosity !
Tank details:
Tank: Rena Panorama 120 (220Ltrs useful volume)
Lighting: Interpet luminaire 4 x 36W (approx 2.48wpg) {Edited}
Fitler: AquaEL UniMax Pro 500. 9W internal UV steriliser, 2 x inflow pipes, 2 x outflow pipes, (1 inflow/1 outflow at each end of the tank to increase water circulation).
Co2: Pressurised with Aquamedic regulator, 2kg Co2 fire extinguisher and 2 x glass/ceramic diffusers (one near each outflow pipe to increase CO2 distribution)
Substrate: 4 bags ADA Aquasoil Amazonia.
Fertilisation: EI
Heater: 300w Hydor inline.
I have no idea if this will work and will only be able to answer that question at the end
Any thoughts/comments would be very welcome !
Al
