Probiotic experiment
- Thread starter duanes
- Start date
I was starting very conservatively.
Back when I was studying water/waste water treatment, we used the "food to microorganism ratio" (a mathematical equation for dosage) for treating activated sludge. In that situation bacteria would reproduce exponentially according to the amount of waste, so I was thinking a small population of bacteria would quickly exhaust the amount of waste in my system, and starve.
Guess my thinking was a bit backwards.
So for me, this is also time to teach this old dog some new tricks.
On my way to add some more Rid-X this morning.
Back when I was studying water/waste water treatment, we used the "food to microorganism ratio" (a mathematical equation for dosage) for treating activated sludge. In that situation bacteria would reproduce exponentially according to the amount of waste, so I was thinking a small population of bacteria would quickly exhaust the amount of waste in my system, and starve.
Guess my thinking was a bit backwards.
So for me, this is also time to teach this old dog some new tricks.
On my way to add some more Rid-X this morning.
Your approach makes sense, it would actually be more efficient to dose for unique system bioload instead of volume. From my understanding the dosage is still experimental anyways, but considering a $10 box will last for years it doesn't hurt to overdose 
Btw, Ive been using a mesh media bag too and it works great. I like to give the bag a few shakes throughout the day to break up any clumps, but I didn't notice the bag ripped last time as I was hanging it from my spraybar. It released a white cloud but cleared up in less than 5 mins so I'm thinking about just dumping it in next time. There's a decent amount of pulp left over tho so maybe not lol
Btw, Ive been using a mesh media bag too and it works great. I like to give the bag a few shakes throughout the day to break up any clumps, but I didn't notice the bag ripped last time as I was hanging it from my spraybar. It released a white cloud but cleared up in less than 5 mins so I'm thinking about just dumping it in next time. There's a decent amount of pulp left over tho so maybe not lol
the white cloud going out from bag is only the good stuff. I do jiggle & shake the bag a few times while in tank, to release it better than just water flow does.
I didn't like the bran in tank when I put it all in directly, dry.. but the fish loved picking at it.?
I didn't like the bran in tank when I put it all in directly, dry.. but the fish loved picking at it.?
This morning I added 3 heaping spoonfuls to the filter sock in the sump, removed cyanobacteria from half the glass of the refugium, and pulled some cyano sheets off the gravel. It should be interesting to see if there is a significant difference.
I also did a slight gravel vac on about 1/3 of the main tank.
None of the fish have shown any sign of stress so far, and the plants seem unaffected in any negative way.
The entire system is about 300 gallons.
stock include in the 100 gal main tank
5 xCichlasoma ornatum
5 Guianacara owroewefi
a small belly crawler pike or 2
3 lemon tetras
and a bristlenose pleco
Plants are a few Vallisneria americana, and some floaters (I believe Cabomba carolina)
in the same line
a 60 gal tank with sub-adults of
6 Gymnogeophagus balzani
5 Australoheros red ceibal
10 Corydorus erhardti
3 adult Xenoteca eiseni
an adult pleco
and a 75 gal with
5 sub adult Tomocichla seiboldi
few floating plants
log from previous pics
main tank
I also did a slight gravel vac on about 1/3 of the main tank.
None of the fish have shown any sign of stress so far, and the plants seem unaffected in any negative way.
The entire system is about 300 gallons.
stock include in the 100 gal main tank
5 xCichlasoma ornatum
5 Guianacara owroewefi
a small belly crawler pike or 2
3 lemon tetras
and a bristlenose pleco
Plants are a few Vallisneria americana, and some floaters (I believe Cabomba carolina)
in the same line
a 60 gal tank with sub-adults of
6 Gymnogeophagus balzani
5 Australoheros red ceibal
10 Corydorus erhardti
3 adult Xenoteca eiseni
an adult pleco
and a 75 gal with
5 sub adult Tomocichla seiboldi
few floating plants
log from previous pics
main tank
this documentation will be an interesting watch,
... your fish actually becoming visible ;-)
LOL!!
... your fish actually becoming visible ;-)
LOL!!
I'd never thought of it either, until I read about people on MFK using it.
It is normally used poured down toilets for septic systems.
And yes it will be nice to see the fish, once in a while.
The ones in the 100 gal are young, and fairly small, so they spend a lot of time under cover, especially the wild caught ornatum. After 6 months they are now first starting to get comfortable.
Quite unlike the adult Madagascans, that are always out front.
It is normally used poured down toilets for septic systems.
And yes it will be nice to see the fish, once in a while.
The ones in the 100 gal are young, and fairly small, so they spend a lot of time under cover, especially the wild caught ornatum. After 6 months they are now first starting to get comfortable.
Quite unlike the adult Madagascans, that are always out front.
I have to say thank you for pointing out that sticky, I hadn't noticed it yet!
Just read it all the way through...
This is exciting, BGA is why I tore down my planted tank. If I can keep it under control I would love to get back to having a planted tank...
Just read it all the way through...
This is exciting, BGA is why I tore down my planted tank. If I can keep it under control I would love to get back to having a planted tank...
By the way, the Madagascans in the tank above are in a separate system, not on Rid-X at the moment.
And also, the system I'm trying it on, was the obvious (at least to me) to try it on because of the cyanobacteria out break.
But cyanobacteria is not the primary concern.
In general by having a large population of aerobic species (considered good bacteria), I am hoping these bacteria will out compete and basically replace and less desirable, anaerobic or even pathogenic species that enter the system.
This, along with more quickly metabolizing waste products and sludge.
This would be akin to part of the "activated sludge " process in waste water treatment.
And also, the system I'm trying it on, was the obvious (at least to me) to try it on because of the cyanobacteria out break.
But cyanobacteria is not the primary concern.
In general by having a large population of aerobic species (considered good bacteria), I am hoping these bacteria will out compete and basically replace and less desirable, anaerobic or even pathogenic species that enter the system.
This, along with more quickly metabolizing waste products and sludge.
This would be akin to part of the "activated sludge " process in waste water treatment.
