nc_nutcase;3630645; said:
no need to worry, take a look at those photos, my 100g IS my test setup it's been unfinished and my playing ground for experimentation with different types of media, different types of stocking, different lighting, tops, etc.
none of the stock is in danger as the mollies and platys (along with the rainbow shark) can go into the 3 45g tubs used for fry raising in the garage. The RD and JD's along with the plecos can go into my 125g with the Oscars as they had been prior to the 100g.
the 100g is in my den rigth across from my computer. It is the tank I most observe and the setup I test everything on before applying it elsewhere.
I assure you there is no danger in my experiment.
now as for test:
I fed everyone shrip and pellets to the cichlids, algae wafers and zuchini to the plecos (as well as shrimp the cichlids didn't get first)
flake to the mollies, platies, and rainbow shark. i also added 3 more balck mollies ranging from 3" to 2" , 1 3" dalmatian, and 1 2" platy(trip to lfs to get some new breeders, after this summer and half my breeders died from old age I started adding some new one every once in a while to revitalize the breeding stock)
Observations:
"bio media" has been out for sevaral hours and no crash or ammo spike whatsoever. ammo is reading 0 still even after feeding and adding more stock.
Hypothesis:
In an established tank there is no need for "bio media" you only need mechanical filtration and turnover for waste purposes.
"Bio media" as in media with increased surface area per square inch from another tank however is important for setting up new tanks because it will enable you to add stock immediatly rather than having to go through a new cycle process.
Reasoning:
1. I have yet to cycle a new tank that I have enough media to provide from an existing tank. The 100g's "bio media" actually came from my 125g when it was setup, it had stock immediatly and never had an ammo spike. I attribute this to the existing bb on the bio media from the 125g.
2. I have never had a tank crash because I removed "bio media" from it to sponsor another. I have never even had a mini cycle because I removed "bio media" from a tank to sponsor another.
we are still in the preliminary stages but initial observations are supporting my hypothesis thus far.
Possible Counter arguments:
1. Your tank is not overstocked.
Answer: Of course not, I in no way advocate overstocking and thus excuse it as poor judgment and not a baseline to use for filtration setup/observation/teaching.
2. Your tanks has been setup and runnign for a while.
Answer: Of course it has. My hypothesis is based on an existing setup and specifically differenciates new setups from existing.
3. Your experiment has not been run long enough.
Answer. Of course not, my experiment is in no way over. I will keep the "bio media" out until I feel a valid conclusion can be drawn form my experiment. I do this with all experiments on this tank.
May be "fancy" bio media is not needed, but that doesn't mean bio media in any form is not needed at all!
ammonia 1.0 ppm, nitrite .25ppm, nitrate less then 5ppm looks to be maybe 1-2ppm. pH 7.4