This Proves it to me.

[nfored]

This proves it to me that you can have all the bio media in the world but only enough BB for what you need.

about 2.5 weeks ago I took out maybe 1/10th of my bio media from my display tank to instantly cycle a 10G tank for my new ebjd. I took out 2 hand fulls of lava rocks from the top of the sump (mistake), enough to fill two baskets in my fluval 403. This worked the 10G stays cycled from day one, but my 220 which has been cycled for almost 1 year started a mini cycle. at 1.5 weeks after the removal of the lava rocks I had .25 ammonia, and 0 Nitrites, now after another week I am at .50 ammonia and .50 nitrite.

This is not because I don't have enough bio media, but because I took from the top where like the most BB where living since this is the point of first contact.

Just to show that I do have enough media I have 1litter of sea chem matrix, .5 litters bio max, 30lbs of porous base rock, and about 2lbs of lava rock left in the tank.

1 5" Oscar
1 3" Texas
2 6" Bala's
1 4" Rainbow shark

 

[hybridtheoryd16]

Yep

the first media to come in contact with the water will have the densest population of bacteria. Because it also has the most food. (ammonia, nitrite, oxygen)

 

[nfored]

Hope my guys make it through the mini cycle okay. This was a must for the EBJD I lost my first one trying to just toss him in the tank when he was only 1".

 

[mgk]

the reason its like that is because bacteria can only grow to the amount of food they have. so if first rock harbors enough bacteria to use up all the ammonia and nitrite, then the rock below it won't be conducive to bacteria to live on since there is no food.

 

[nfored]

I just thought I would post proof of what I already knew, since at least 4 times a year there is a full blown discussion about how much if any bio media is needed.

To me this shows proof that the more favorable conditions in the sump foster better growth then you would get in the tank; this is for all the people that say you don't need bio media. That the tank and substrate ect is enough.

It also proves to me that adding extra doesn't help, its is highly likely that the 10% I took out was doing the majority of the work I would guess 75% or more. This is for the people that say its better to have more. Sure I have extra and it can grow to accommodate the added load, simulated by removing the major population. But how many people really have to little BB? I mean if that .5 lbs of lava rock was being the work horse for my 220 I would guess most people have at least this much if not more.

 

[KaiserSousay]

Welcome to the “Real World” of biological activity.
If you were like me, the whole, “no such thing as enough bio media” was gospel.

 

[LD50]

This is why I laugh at canisters/hobs packed with bio max in favor of some improved mech filtration in one of their compartments. As well as huge sumps that are filled with nothing but scrubbies when they could have plants/alage scrubbers added to them.

 

[mgk]

This is why I laugh at canisters/hobs packed with bio max in favor of some improved mech filtration in one of their compartments. As well as huge sumps that are filled with nothing but scrubbies when they could have plants/alage scrubbers added to them.

i think its worth pointing out canisters and hob aren't nearly as efficient as wet/drys.

I have a canister of what i would consider huge amount of biomedia , but I still get minute ammonia readings after a week.

 

[nfored]

That is a point worth making also, the flow of water through the media. I had changed the way my sump works, its a wet sump so its 100% submerged, with a power head in the sump forcing water over the media. This likely added to the whole only the media at the top being active. As to where before the media was place in horizontal chambers forcing the water to flow through all the media. Since my sump is a wet sump it is essentially like a canister, in that it only has the O2 from the water.

With that being said its still not about more or less media, it then becomes more about the environmental factors. The media is likely enough however its may be restricted in growth rate due to the lack of o2.

 

[LD50]

i think its worth pointing out canisters and hob aren't nearly as efficient as wet/drys.

I have a canister of what i would consider huge amount of biomedia , but I still get minute ammonia readings after a week.

your right, canisters/hob's dont get nearly the same ammount of O2 as wet/dry's which slows down BB metabolism/reproduction in comparison. As far as your situation of minute ammonia readings after a week there are a ton of factors that could effect that. What size tank, filter and stock do you have? maybe I could help you out with your ammonia problem.