Nano experiment

[Willow 123]

Hi
As noted in my other thread 'airlift capabilities', I am a fan of airlifts, using them to power Mattenfilters quite successfully.
So, as I had a 32cm cube tank ( 30 litres) spare ,I thought I'd try an experiment.
The challenge is to run a nano tank filtered only by live rock and an airlift ( or maybe 2).
So I bought 6 kg of live rock and fitted a 22mm dia airlift tube, added a heater and some saltwater and am now in the process of curing the live rock.
Any suggestions, and ( constructive) criticisms are more than welcome.
Intend to update this thread as and when there is anything to report.
Wish me luck!

 

[Willow 123]

So a little update on the nano tank.
I built a pipe 'undergravel filter', which the live rock sits on, powered by the uplift, along with 3 kilos ( approx) of aragonite coarse sand.
The nitrite is now at zero, so the tank is cycling nicely. will let the tank cycle for another few days, then intend to add a small feed of fish flake and see how the tank reacts before moving on to the next stage

 

[Willow 123]

In this pic you can see the 'undergravel'. It keeps the rock off the glass ( no sharp pressure points) and also allows flow around and under the base of the rock

 

[Willow 123]

ok so first mistake, don't drill the holes in the 'undergravel' larger than the grains of sand othrewise you get a perpetual sand storm.
So I took this opportunity to add another airlift. And I slotted the pipes this time, as you can just see in the second pic.
The first pic is the, almost, finished item. The second is a dry fit in the tank, the third is with the live rock on it, and the 4th is a top view.
once the tank settles ( bit cloudy at the moment) I'll post an 'up and running' photo.
As you can see from the pics I have the outlets pointing towards each other but they're not fixed so I can alter their juxtaposition as I want

 

[Back in the fold]

Very interesting . Keep us updated .

 

[Willow 123]

Thanks, I intend to.
Will test tomorrow, just in case the upheaval has caused any spikes in parameters, tthen a small test feed is on the cards to make sure the tank has cycled.
Any suggestions for inmates ( softies, cuc, and maybe a fish?) would be more than welcome

 

[Willow 123]

So the tank has cleared nicely, now to start making plans to stock the tank.
I have just put in some brine shrimp eggs (need them for my lampeye and platy fry), lets see how they get on.

 

[MaloK]

Hehehe

First error.

They are going to feast on what you're trying to establish first.

But loll. I do it all the time, just takes longer if they explode.

 

[Willow 123]

Lol Learning is all about making mistakes, I am in no rush to get to the journey's end. As the old saying goes 'slowly, slowly catchee monkey'
At the very least I'll have a 'sea monkey' tank

 

[MaloK]

I'm trying to start an absolutely clean algae and biofilm only tank atm and seed shrimps made their way in.

I stop filtration and wait until everything stops, and fish them out with a coral feeder.

It's serious to the point that they really are able to even prevent biofilm to build.

I'm experimenting with a crash ammonia startup that should eradicate invertebrates and promote algae to a theoretically near cycle stalling. Enough to disinfect a 5 gallons.

I have some good magnifying stuff and I see a lot of dead ones, but today some are still swimming and ammonia is dropping.

The nitrite spike already started and is going to be off chart for a long time. loll. But if it can poison them it would make my day.

 

[Willow 123]

The 'crash ammonia 'startup you mention, how does that work re algae and how do you impliment it?
Also would it be appropriate for a tank thats already cycled with live rock?

 

[MaloK]

The 'crash ammonia 'startup you mention, how does that work re algae and how do you impliment it?
Also would it be appropriate for a tank thats already cycled with live rock?

It depends on what you want to survive.

The gross idea is to setup a tank, then start the cycle with a poisoning level of ammonia even to snails an mainly scuds and cods.

Once boosted with bacteria supplement nitrite are going to blow off chart...

If I'm able to certify that not a single one of them is moving. I will probably change half the water to cut back on the nitrite spike...

If only one moves I'm letting it go until the end.

 

[Willow 123]

..... then the resultant nitrate spike gets the algae and biofilm a boost, with you now.

 

[MaloK]

..... then the resultant nitrate spike gets the algae and biofilm a boost, with you now.

The algae and biofilm boost starts with the ammonia, no problem with that. I already scraped the front glass to make sure I see well inside. I also overdosed a little with liquid fertilizer to help.

I have to wait to see how the nitrate will result after nitrite spike. But I guess algae will have turned around at least as fast as the bacteria.

Denitrification is another layer that has to be worked in this setup. And will be compensated with water changes when required.

Edit: The idea is to have enough algae to never have nitrate.

 

[Willow 123]

Thanks for the info, what do you intend keeping in the tank? And how large/small is it?