Algae scrubber as bio filter.

markstrimaran

Potamotrygon
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Nov 21, 2015
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According to the API TEST liquid drops, The seachem alerts, should all be dark dark blue. 2ppm toxic.


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.75 ppm at 7.8 ph
 

tarheel96

Polypterus
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Feb 2, 2015
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This is from the Seachem site on the ammonia-alert.

"As little as 0.02 mg/L of free ammonia will produce a greenish hue on the detector surface. This corresponds to a total ammonia (both ionized and free ammonia) of 0.25 mg/L in marine water at pH 8.3. In freshwater at pH 7.0, this corresponds to 3.6 mg/L total ammonia. Free ammonia is much more toxic than ionized ammonia."
http://www.seachem.com/ammonia-alert.php

It checks out on the calculator.
0.25 ppm NH3 + NH4 @ ph 8.3 SG 1.024 = ~0.02 ppm NH3
3.6 ppm NH3 + NH4 @ ph 7.0 = ~0.02 ppm NH3

0.75 ppm NH3 + NH4 @ ph 7.8 = ~0.025 ppm NH3
 
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markstrimaran

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I don't like the idea of having any Ammonia. I have not fed any in 3 days, added 5 more lights, with 15 more "sterile balls" in addition to 12 already going.

I have all the balls in the tanks, square chamber. The small canister, was too rouph on the balls, causing very thin algea.
 

markstrimaran

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Update

6 day later and nitrates are at 22ppm from 15ppm. With 5 balls in motion.

The 400 watt engine coolant heater needs 2hrs on once ever 24hr to hold 74 F.

Still waiting on a ammonia test kit. In the mail.View attachment 1288880Got a new ammonia alert. However the old one has not registered ammonia at all in the last week.
I have not done a water change yet.
Tested nitrates at 20 ppm, no noticeale change.

Started testing API, Ammonia. With 5 balls it spiked at 1ppm. Which I stopped all feeding, and added 5 more balls, and doubled the lighting.
Ammonia is down to .5ppm as of today.

Been a rouph week for any consistant results. Fish all seem fine, but the test results between the api, vs the sea chem. Don't make me confident. That every thing is working. So I am just going to use the API, Liquid ammonia test. Then pretend my ph level is 8.8.
 
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markstrimaran

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This many balls with ten, 3 watt leds. The white balls were added 2 weeks ago.
Have about 20 medium African Cichlids.
 
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NathanKS

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Love seeing updates to this project/ theory being tested.

Are you still utilizing the drip grid in addition to the balls or are you only using the balls at this point?
 
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markstrimaran

Potamotrygon
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Love seeing updates to this project/ theory being tested.

Are you still utilizing the drip grid in addition to the balls or are you only using the balls at this point?
Only the balls in one compartment. The drip thing, daphnia chamber, had too much plant without good light penetration.
 

markstrimaran

Potamotrygon
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Nov 21, 2015
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Tap water, algea test tank , 75 gal cycled. Some comparative ammonia tests.

Ammonia has been around .50 ppm, but been reading up on the whole ph, temp, Ammonia vs ammonium relation. The tank will lose heat fast, so I might use that as a way to lower ammonia in case of an emergancy.

I have been watching the fish close for ammonia toxicity, nothing is unusual.

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I spent most of the day, wiring up some leds, so I was able to watch the fluidised balls. They jammed up twice, around the wires and air tubes. Both times about 10 balls in a stand still.
I reconfigured , the wave maker, and moved the lights opposite of the bubble wand. To provide better flow, and coverage.
I have an idea in my head as to build some custom streamlined lights. The led diodes, showed up in the mail today. So changes are coming.

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This is my third filter sock this week end, after running for a week with out any mechanical filtration.
 

markstrimaran

Potamotrygon
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Nov 21, 2015
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Thank you. Tarheel for pointing out the ammonia chart, calculator . If I hold out around 72f Until more algea grows, I will be fine. Even with alkaline water.
 
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markstrimaran

Potamotrygon
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Nov 21, 2015
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Tap nitrate, tap ammonia, new ammonia level, false ammonia, from contaminated test vial?

So currently 20ppm nitrate down from 30ppm.
Ammonia at .25ppm down from .50ppm

Merry Christmas.

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