Ways to get more BB

[em1981ma]

Hi

Am I right in thinking that you can create ways to up a tanks BB. I put a filter sponge inside this ornament. Will BB survive and build up. I have two external filters and one internal but as my Goldie's get bigger they will create more waste so I thought how could I build more BB without having to add filters which take up swimming space. Will this work?

Emma

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[ImACoolguy]

If it's running then I would say yes. Sponge filters can hold a cycle and therefore will hold extra BB in your case.


Caleb

 

[em1981ma]

Yeah my tanks been established for over year. That tube is just an air bubbler.

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[em1981ma]

It's just the sponge from an old filter in the ornament.

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[coralbandit]

What are you expecting to see from more BB?
The tank is year old,do you ever detect ammonia or nitrItes?
I would expect the tank has developed the bacteria it needs by now??

 

[Mebbid]

With an appropriately sized filter then the bb in the tank will constantly adjust itself to handle the bio load over time. Theres really no need to do anything special for it.

 

[coralbandit]

In order to get "extra BB" you would need to add a greater ammonia source IMO.
A tank will develop the proper level of bb needed and extra bio media will not increase it ,but only distritbute where the BB lives over a greater surface area making each individual unit weaker(holding less BB) IMO.
If you can get the bio media you have to "appear cycled"(0 ammonia/0 nitrItes) then you have not reached the media BB limit yet!
When it no longer converts ammonia/nitrItes then you don't have enough media IMO?

 

[em1981ma]

My tank is established I have 0 0 readings for nitrite and ammonia. I was just curious that's all. As I thought maybe as my Goldie's get bigger they will obviously produce more waste I just wondered if you would then have to up BB as the waste produces more ammonia? Correct me if I'm wrong.

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[Mebbid]

My tank is established I have 0 0 readings for nitrite and ammonia. I was just curious that's all. As I thought maybe as my Goldie's get bigger they will obviously produce more waste I just wondered if you would then have to up BB as the waste produces more ammonia? Correct me if I'm wrong.

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The bb corrects itself. It constantly dies and grows based on the bio load of the tank. When the bio load increases the bacteria does as well.

 

[em1981ma]

Ah I see, so its only if you actually get a nitrite or ammonia spike that would indicate not enough bio media. I have quite a large amount of media in my two external filters so I should be OK. I have a 465 litre subtropical tank. 6goldies , 3wcm,3danios and 1variatus platy. I plan to up my danio school. And not replacing wcm or platy when they live out their life.

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[em1981ma]

I'd love to just have Goldie's and variatus platys but not sure with their breeding rate and bio load this would be a good idea.

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[Mebbid]

Just keep an eye on things. Your nitrate level will tell you how your tank is doing.

You can also check your stocking on www.aqadvisor.com

 

[enrgizerbunny]

Ah I see, so its only if you actually get a nitrite or ammonia spike that would indicate not enough bio media. I have quite a large amount of media in my two external filters so I should be OK. I have a 465 litre subtropical tank. 6goldies , 3wcm,3danios and 1variatus platy. I plan to up my danio school. And not replacing wcm or platy when they live out their life.

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A spike would indicate a loss in bb, not necessarily not enough media

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[Delapool]

In order to get "extra BB" you would need to add a greater ammonia source IMO.
A tank will develop the proper level of bb needed and extra bio media will not increase it ,but only distritbute where the BB lives over a greater surface area making each individual unit weaker(holding less BB) IMO.
If you can get the bio media you have to "appear cycled"(0 ammonia/0 nitrItes) then you have not reached the media BB limit yet!
When it no longer converts ammonia/nitrItes then you don't have enough media IMO?

This makes sense.

And that bacteria ebb and flow to match the food source.

But, are the bacteria say 100 fat and happy clusters or 300 mean and starved clusters waiting for any ammonia to come along?

I asked this elsewhere and the leaning was towards 300. Possible?

So then in theory if true the bacteria population would respond more quickly to any extra ammonia produced. Make any sense or complete rubbish? Was looking at what makes established tanks and filters more indestructible compared to new tanks even when say a month old but cycled (or even if they are).

 

[coralbandit]

This makes sense.

And that bacteria ebb and flow to match the food source.

But, are the bacteria say 100 fat and happy clusters or 300 mean and starved clusters waiting for any ammonia to come along?

I asked this elsewhere and the leaning was towards 300. Possible?

So then in theory if true the bacteria population would respond more quickly to any extra ammonia produced. Make any sense or complete rubbish? Was looking at what makes established tanks and filters more indestructible compared to new tanks even when say a month old but cycled (or even if they are).

Had some bacteria "specialist" on another forum and they basically said bacteria will"hybernate" for a long time before true death.
I believe(this is IMO) that hibernating bacteria can be 'woken up' and strengthened a lot faster then just cultured or generated.
I'm not sure these"creatures" get fat or hungry ,but more so survive equally amongst each other.(and we are the top life form on this planet???)
SOOOOOO.......
If you rocked your t ank with ammonia you would get extra bacteria that won't die tomorrow and could seed another tank quickly a month later IMO.

Making any sense????(I've been in the sun for awhile!)

 

[Delapool]

I think this happens with fish ponds over winter where the bacteria can hibernate in cold weather?

Its the only way the bacteria in a bottle could survive I think? I know they can go for a long time without food (months), but oxygen seems more critical unless they are hibernating in the bottle somehow.

I think it makes sense (I thinka!).