Some bites from the professor!

[Hendre]

J jaws7777 got the answers
I asked him how he set up and ran his filters and this was the response:


Very low flow rate, maybe 50 liters per hour perhaps even less. This would be termed an anaerobic filter
Two canisters in fact and this is fed by my central pump which feeds everything, bliological filter and all the tanks, and then it has this side arm which flows very slowly over these two canisters.
Optimally, for it to work even better, one should feed such filters with organic substances such as alcohol! I do not do this so the filter must be running sub-optimally. What this filter does do though is it keeps my nitrate levels below 10 mg per litre.

 

[dan518]

J jaws7777 got the answers
I asked him how he set up and ran his filters and this was the response:


Very low flow rate, maybe 50 liters per hour perhaps even less. This would be termed an anaerobic filter
Two canisters in fact and this is fed by my central pump which feeds everything, bliological filter and all the tanks, and then it has this side arm which flows very slowly over these two canisters.
Optimally, for it to work even better, one should feed such filters with organic substances such as alcohol! I do not do this so the filter must be running sub-optimally. What this filter does do though is it keeps my nitrate levels below 10 mg per litre.

This sort of set up is used on marine tanks I thought the reason it's not so common on freshwater tanks is the outlet has to be near a protein skimmer?

 

[Angelphish]

J jaws7777 got the answers
I asked him how he set up and ran his filters and this was the response:


Very low flow rate, maybe 50 liters per hour perhaps even less. This would be termed an anaerobic filter
Two canisters in fact and this is fed by my central pump which feeds everything, bliological filter and all the tanks, and then it has this side arm which flows very slowly over these two canisters.
Optimally, for it to work even better, one should feed such filters with organic substances such as alcohol! I do not do this so the filter must be running sub-optimally. What this filter does do though is it keeps my nitrate levels below 10 mg per litre.

What's the maximum flow the bacteria can efficiently consume nitrate at? Will adding more canisters increase the maximum flow rate the bacteria can survive in?

 

[Hendre]

This sort of set up is used on marine tanks I thought the reason it's not so common on freshwater tanks is the outlet has to be near a protein skimmer?

It is pretty similar yeah.

Never heard of the protein skimmer thing

What's the maximum flow the bacteria can efficiently consume nitrate at? Will adding more canisters increase the maximum flow rate the bacteria can survive in?

Yes and no. While more flow and canisters can mean more denitrification, it also means it'll take longer to completely deplete the oxygen and you won't have as much space for the anaerobic bacteria

 

[Mighty Wizard]

Certainly some very interesting points on filtration, something like this is exactly what I'd need for a large low-flow tank. I really love how the most effective setups are usually low-maintenance. That when given enough variables a system will achieve equilibrium by itself, hardly requiring any meddling at all.

I would really love to hear more about his Discus tank, and if at all possible pictures would really help put things in perspective.

He also seems to know a lot about plants, I would really love to hear more.

Also in which topics does he specialize in exactly? Professional and otherwise.

 

[Mighty Wizard]

I have some additional things I'm wondering about.

Firstly, what are his thoughts on microfauna and other secondary inhabitants of the aquarium? Snails, Nematodes, Hydra, Bryzoa, what have you. Does he employ, or discourage any of them himself? If so which, and why?

Also, having been in the hobby all of his life, in addition to being a Professor of Biology, I'd like to know if he has any neat tricks up his sleeve when it comes to combating the various diseases and afflictions we might encounter in the aquarium.

Lastly, I'd like to hear his thoughts on the rather controversial topic of salt. People everywhere it seems have some extremely good arguments both for and against the use of salt, both as a treatment method and preventative means, and it's getting rather confusing. When all is said and done, how does it actually affect the aquarium environment? The Professor's take on the matter would surely put this at rest for good.

Oh and I really would love to hear everything he has to share about aquatic plants!

 

[Hendre]

I have some additional things I'm wondering about.

Firstly, what are his thoughts on microfauna and other secondary inhabitants of the aquarium? Snails, Nematodes, Hydra, Bryzoa, what have you. Does he employ, or discourage any of them himself? If so which, and why?

Also, having been in the hobby all of his life, in addition to being a Professor of Biology, I'd like to know if he has any neat tricks up his sleeve when it comes to combating the various diseases and afflictions we might encounter in the aquarium.

Lastly, I'd like to hear his thoughts on the rather controversial topic of salt. People everywhere it seems have some extremely good arguments both for and against the use of salt, both as a treatment method and preventative means, and it's getting rather confusing. When all is said and done, how does it actually affect the aquarium environment? The Professor's take on the matter would surely put this at rest for good.

Oh and I really would love to hear everything he has to share about aquatic plants!

Being addressed tomorrow!

So guys! Seeing the professor again to pick up some medication for my polypterus, and of course ask some questions. Anything you people would like to know?