AGGRESSIVE CICHLID TANK WITH NO AGGRESSION

[Judge Holden]

So if I put terracotta in my tank I can expect 0 nitrates!? If what you're saying is correct it's as revolutionary as cold fusion. Can you site any independent sources on this? I like how we're expected to accept it on faith or join the benighted rank of "hillbillies." Skepticism isn't the same thing as "hating." It's the rational mindset to have when confronted with something that goes against an established paradigm of knowledge.

Here's how science works: someone else has to reproduce the results you have. It doesn't have to be the same group of fish; ANY tank with big cichlids and 0 nitrates would be helpful (astounding, actually). I have two canisters crammed full of Seachem Matrix, which claims to lower nitrates. I remain unconvinced that ANYTHING other than conservative stocking and massive water changes works. Your filtration is admirable, but that creates nitrates; it doesn't lower them.

I encourage others to test this theory.

 

[Jc1119]

How does crashing a tank qualify as "working"?

I'm asking honestly because I've never crashed a tank myself. Since your giving out advice here.


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[Jc1119]

So if I put terracotta in my tank I can expect 0 nitrates!? If what you're saying is correct it's as revolutionary as cold fusion. Can you site any independent sources on this? I like how we're expected to accept it on faith or join the benighted rank of "hillbillies." Skepticism isn't the same thing as "hating." It's the rational mindset to have when confronted with something that goes against an established paradigm of knowledge.

Here's how science works: someone else has to reproduce the results you have. It doesn't have to be the same group of fish; ANY tank with big cichlids and 0 nitrates would be helpful (astounding, actually). I have two canisters crammed full of Seachem Matrix, which claims to lower nitrates. I remain unconvinced that ANYTHING other than conservative stocking and massive water changes works. Your filtration is admirable, but that creates nitrates; it doesn't lower them.

I encourage others to test this theory.

Plants. Pothos can reduce them. My 300 stays between 5-10ppm since I ve added them


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[tiger15]

I do accept the fact that what I have done is outside the norm and pushes boundaries but end of the day it is working for me!

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You reported the tank has crashed twice, so it is not working for you all the time. An established tank does not get crashed easily, as long as the water is moving and providing adequate oxygenation. Looking at your set up, I can understand why. You have a heavily stocked tank in a nearly sterile bare bottom tank. The lack of any substrate means that you have to rely almost totally on the canister filters for external biological filtration. Canister filters aren't the best for biological filtration despite the large filter media because it is a closed system not open to the atmostphere. The flow through in a canister can actually subtract oxygen from, not adding oxygen to, the tank water. The dirtier the media, the greater the oxygen depletion. A canister re oxygenate the tank water by turbulence created by the return flow. But it is a delicate balance because a short power outage in an over stocked tank with dirty canister media can quickly upset the balance and turn anaerobic.

 

[sunley213]

another hillbilly! Irrespective of what you think/know this works.my question in other threads was how do I kick the cycle off with my fish in the tank.

Most breeders have half a terracotta pot,I'm using a a kg to liters ratio.

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Having fish in the tank will cycle the tank but the amount of fish you have in the tank i guess that the amount of ammonia produced by the fish will slowing the cycle down.

 

[FMA4ME]

Awsome tank! Ilike the heater and filter guards, dont know why I havent thought of this years ago, thanks!

 

[StevieTheG]

You must of missed the part where he said his wife accidently filled his rainwater bucket with regular chlorinated tap and failed to tell him. Not her fault if she doesn't follow the hobby and not his fault because he didnt know. He didnt do it on purpose nor was it a result of ammonia, nitrite, or nitrate.

 

[StevieTheG]

The only way of removing nitrates is by:
1. Water change- physical removal of the water
2. Plants & Algae- use nitrates and convert to harmless nitrogen gas that disipates
3. Anaerobic denitrifying bacteria- found in deep sand beds usually used in marine aquariums. converts nitrates to nitrogen gas

If there were no other way to remove nitrates besides doing a water change then it wouldnt be called the nitrogen CYCLE

That being said, to the OP... nice looking fish

 

[seedubs1]

Hillbilly crew checking in.

Nothing's as fun as hillbilly fun. Drinking beers, shooting guns, and generally being a redneck for the win.

 

[WTB]

Hey man tank and fish look great... really love the fen. Hope you can get the levels back to normal soon!