Lets put this to rest: Do large water changes have a negative effect on Nitrifying Bacteria / BB

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
N nzafi I hope this doesn't turn you off to HMF's. They are one of the best filters around when you look at efficiency, maintenance and cost. Used in Europe and Germany in many a breeders fishroom they have a lot to recommend them. It is just an unfortunate coincidence that over here info. on them is in short supply and incomplete. For instance I've yet to find any info. on how long they take to become fully established.
 
N nzafi do you have a hob laying around that you can throw the ceramics into until the mattenfilter is fully established? If that media was established, I would think it still is but may not be getting enough direct flow to handle the bioload. Sorry if this was already discussed on your other thread, I missed that one.
 
BTW - I just wanted to say that I wish that the OP had posted a link to nzafi's thread when he started this one. This hobby is NOT a one-size-fits-all thing. Way too many factors involved, with members scattered around the globe. The advice given to nzafi early on in his thread was solid advice, that being not to perform massive water changes, as in his case I do not believe that the BB in his tank is established enough to take that kind of hit, repeatedly.


Yes, certainly those with well established bio media, and know what they are doing can get away with 100% water changes, but in this specific case the member cannot, and should not.

That should end both arguments......


I would think it still is but may not be getting enough direct flow to handle the bioload.
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That's exactly what I stated in nzafi's thread. They came out of AC 110's, and went into an HMF environment where the turn over and 02 levels would have dropped off the chart. Add to that a brand new piece of HMF foam, and you have a very delicate BB situation.
 
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I have ordered stability that will arrive tonight and will hold off on water changes by doing daily doses of safe. I have my ac110s that I can reconnect if.

RD. RD. do the 3 steps above sound good. Btw for added oxygen and movement I have had air stones running under the biomax from the start.

koltsixx koltsixx it has not turned me off. Only drawback I see is that I have a bare bottom tank and this filter increases debris on the bottom vs high flow. His was an experiment as the plan was that my Aimara would need a 800g tank and I wanted to go with hmf.

Fish Tank Travis Fish Tank Travis do you run a powerhead on yours? I was but turned it off do to voltage leakage in the tank.
 
Did you order a Seachem Ammonia Alert? Remember, using typical ammonia test kits can give false readings for ammonia, when using products such as Prime and Safe. And both Prime, and Safe are reducing agents, so if you don't have chlorine/ammonia to reduce, those products will reduce the next thing in line, which in an aquarium is typically 02.
 
nzafi said:
I have ordered stability that will arrive tonight and will hold off on water changes by doing daily doses of safe. I have my ac110s that I can reconnect if.

RD. RD. do the 3 steps above sound good. Btw for added oxygen and movement I have had air stones running under the biomax from the start.

koltsixx koltsixx it has not turned me off. Only drawback I see is that I have a bare bottom tank and this filter increases debris on the bottom vs high flow. His was an experiment as the plan was that my Aimara would need a 800g tank and I wanted to go with hmf.

Fish Tank Travis Fish Tank Travis do you run a powerhead on yours? I was but turned it off do to voltage leakage in the tank.
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I don't use a powerhead. When my tank is running my sump system turns over about 1600gph. I also have all bottom dwellers, two of which are active catfish, so the bottom stays pretty clean when that is combined with the flow rate.

As for when I'm filling the tank, I don't use a powerhead then either. I pump water into the tank with a large pump at a rate near 500-700gph. I find that this moves the water around plenty to create agitation for neutralizing the chlorine. The hose also does well at that. I usually dump the Safe in at the same spot where the water is entering the tank.

My sump never sees new water until the system is turned back on. All of my media remains submerged during the process of my water changes.
 
Yup, ordered that test kit. Will do tests and everything tonight. Just need to figure out how to get my Amaira to take the hex pellets :)
 
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Typical weekly water change on my son's ten gallon tank. Put Prime in and refill with aged water. Been doing it this way for over a year.
 
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