Bi-Orb Blues

[Shadowpearl]

I'm in a bit of a quandry at the moment -where to start?

I bought a Bi-Orb a week ago -no excuse, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I filled it with water, added the sachet of Stress Zyme, plugged in the light and the therm, (78 degrees) , added a lump of bogwood, a small laval rock and water. Four days later, because it wasn't clear, I changed the water leaving an inch covering the ceramic media for no other reason than I couldn't suck the stuff out without a stone blocking the pipe.

Anyway, I changed the water added more Stress Zyme and then sank 10 strands of Densa in two clumps (6/4) and popped in a mossball. 24 hours later I came home with four Black Widow tetras, squirted a liberal dose of Stress coat and felt chuffed.

Twelve hours later I discover this site, learn about cycling, curse the Bi-Orb marketing department; white wine in general, my own stupidity and haste, and the internet specifically.

Now I feel crashed.

I'm panicking about the longevity and general welfare of said creatures.

They're all alive, perky even, but water changes to control the nitrites and ammonias not withstanding, I fear the worse, (a testing kit will be mine tomorrow as soon as I can get to the shop).

The bogwood was from an aquarium that was in use 8 months ago, the Densa I bought because, like the Bi-Orb, it said 'easy' on the label.

I have access to a small amount of gravel from an established aquarium, will it help? I'm considering bagging it up and sinking it into the tank.

Perceived wisdom is that I have been a bit of a numb-nuts but practical advice would help.

The plus side, imminent fish-killing notwithstanding, I'm hooked.

Cheers all.

 

[jams.alaskan]

How many gal in the bio-orb? YES to the established gravel (place some in a panty hose stocking and tie it off. Temp sounds fine to me, maybe someone else might have an opinion... With water changes and your interest in testing the water you may be ok. Best of luck

ALASKA

 

[jams.alaskan]

oh..... and check out what others are saying about feeding. Over feeding at this point would not be so good.

ALASKA

 

[Shadowpearl]

10US gallons. And thanks Alaska. I'll keep you posted.

 

[jams.alaskan]

OK - ten gallons, you may be ok! Just watch the spikes and keep the water fresh, what type of filtration is in a bio-orb?

ALASKA

 

[Shadowpearl]

According to the blurb, it's a five-step filtration system. From what I've ascertained primary is the aeration, secondary is the sponge filter and carbon pellets, and then as a tertiary measure, once established, ahem, it's the bacterial growth on the ceramics. The Bi-Orb website and the literature is vague to the extentent that it calls it 5 stage, but offers no specifics.

According to my math tho', there's a missing variable. Algebra was not my strong point.

cheers

 

[Shadowpearl]

I feel better now.

Woke up this morning to find four fish still looking perky. I'm in the process of preparing and heating a five gallon bucket for a series of 10-20% water changes. I managed to get my hands on a litre of gravel from an established, and disease-free, tank which I've bagged in a new and snatty-looking black 15-denier popsock.

I then popped it into the Bi-Orb, away from the central filter.

The sight of the bacteria floating out of the happy-sack was quite a relief.

It's been in for three hours now and I've given the Bubble Brothers their first meal, (6 pinheads of Hikari Staple).

All the Triage arrangements are satisfactory and have been stood down to Defcon Two.

Tomorrow the test kit arrives.

Tonight I will sleep.

Thanks friends.