Anoxic filter update day 46

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Howard Hewitt - 6 years ago

Hi Shaun. Just setting up a large aquarium with six baskets I'm 15days into the fishless cycle, no change yet, your results are encouraging! I just need to be patient. Cheers. Hi. In the UK

Howard Hewitt - 6 years ago

That's brilliant!

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Wait till this is 60 days in,,, I was never skeptical about the AFS from Dr Kevin Novak,,, I just take a common sense approach and some reading of his studies, it all makes sense when you go through it, and now lucky me, no more NITRATE factory production.

Kevin Novak - 6 years ago

WOW! Nice going Shaun very impressive big difference from when I first saw your tank.
Isn't it illegal in Australia to use that much electric off the grid putting up that many Christmas lights. LOL! Very nice Christmas lights and thanks for the looksee.

Kevin Novak - 6 years ago

Shaun's Fish Tanks now you're starting to understand what causes cyanobacteria and algae problems in the fish tank, it's not just nitrates but it's also phosphates need to keep down to zero.

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Went out and bought a Phosphate testing kit today and can confirm ZERO ppm Phospate

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

I am stunned at the fact that all the cyano algae has retreated and the plant growth is starting to go bananas without fert or Co2. The No3 at this stage is secondary and will get more reduction over more time as its only 46 days in but I assume phosphate levels are now close to ZERO.

TheDrunkenAlcoholic - 6 years ago

Nice one Shaun, was waiting to see the results of this. Now I have to think up how I can do this with a Corner hamburg mattern filter, I am probably going to use PVC tubes with a shit load of holes and end caps for the anoxic filter housing, then it should fit behind the mattern filter. nice update mate enjoyed it....

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

I'll have a think about this, but I would think putting a large basket behind the filter would do.

Robert Dillon - 6 years ago

Excellent!!!

Gioacchino Galizia - 6 years ago

Another question: don't you rinse cat litter and laterite before to make a BCB?

Gioacchino Galizia - 6 years ago

I understand, I use Prime for my tanks. As far as i know, Prime doesn't remove the pollutants but convert them into a non toxic form so the bacteria could still "eat".
Anyway, I know what you are saying. Infact, using Prime in a cycling tank it's non sense ;)

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Best mix up some water in a tub with dechlor added. Rinse that way. Also good practice when establishing the AFS to use a basic dechlor and chloramine remover, NOT anything like Prime ,safe etc that is also a detoxifier. These more "fancy" products can stall the new cycle as well.

Gioacchino Galizia - 6 years ago

Thansk a lot, that's a good idea. I rinse very well and so many times with tap water cause my cat litter release a lot of dust eve if it's 100% non clumping clay. I think that will reduce the speed of AFS fully setup (see the clorine) but i prevent dust and particulate in my tank. What do you think about?

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

No, I just rinse slowly under my RO tap once the basket is complete.

Gioacchino Galizia - 6 years ago

Hello Shaun, i don't understand very well spoken english, could you be so kind to tell me the values before and after the AFS? thank you

Gioacchino Galizia - 6 years ago

Thanks a lot Shaun.

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Ok, here we go, because I am raising young Discus, prior to setting up the AFS I was doing daily 50% W/C's. My nitrates were almost undetectable on a daily basis as one would expect with almost continual fresh water.
I installed the AFS and let it run for about 30 days, I then did 50% w/c every second day and took nitrate readings 3 to 5ppm over 48 hours. For 2 weeks now I have been doing 50% w/c every other day but I now let it go for 4 days and had abt 2 to 3 ppm. So I have gone from 3 to 5 over 48 hours to 2 to 3 over 96 hours,,, this shows nitrate reducing alongside my w/c reducing. I will slowly extend out my w/c schedule and do more testing.

Matthew Joniec - 6 years ago

Great work!! Keep it up. I have my baskets going for three weeks now. Still worried about when to take out bio balls.

Matthew Joniec - 6 years ago

Thank you!!

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

After approx 45 days, start removing them a few at a time., Remember to take out any form of chemical filtration such as purigen, chemi pure etc, once the filter has fully established, you don't need any of this stuff.. I don't use any ferts either for my plants.

Tesartmania - 6 years ago

Can i ask where & what brand of kitty litter did u get?, im struggling down here in tassie getting the right sort, most are clumping clay litter, or non-clay litters.

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

yes correct

Daniel S - 6 years ago

Shaun's Fish Tanks thanks for advice. The link above took me to clay litter, which was described as:"zeolite, naturally occuring vulcanic clay", is this what you are using? Isn't zeolite jusy type of a clay?

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Zeolite does have a negative charge so it would be ok for use. I use a combo of baked clay and zeolite mix

Daniel S - 6 years ago

Shaun's Fish Tanks very nice Shaun! I am a bit confused, though. In one comment, Dr Novak adviced to use zeolith as a substitute for special kitty cat litter, but in another he wrote not to use it. I cannot find non clumping bentonite clay, but can find non clumping zeolith clay, I guess I can try it then

Tesartmania - 6 years ago

Thnx

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Thats the stuff Chris.

Chris Young - 6 years ago

The kitty litter is a Woolworths own brand. I managed to buy it in Brisbane: https://www.woolworths.com.au/Shop/ProductDetails/109101/homebrand-litter

Shaun's Fish Tanks - 6 years ago

Hey buddy, I use the Woolworths home brand clay litter with zeolite. Took me several different bags of different brands to find one that didn't "mush" away. Keep looking. You gotta get this system up and running in your sump. The journey in the way the tank has changed over the last several weeks has been exciting, especially seeing the change in the Discus.