kevin
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Posts: 121
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Post by kevin on Oct 28, 2014 15:50:51 GMT -5
I don't do it often, but how does it "leach"? Vapor in the air? I have an 80% covered glass top- except for the open strip in the rear where air lines and filter tubes are. I haven't ever sprayed the top since I WAS afraid of it getting in the water. But I like the idea of ruling out another potential cause.
And I have been more conscientious about sticking my hands in there after our last discussion- for him AND for me, (eg oils etc off my hands or picking up bacteria ONTO my hands).
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kevin
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Posts: 121
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Post by kevin on Oct 28, 2014 15:57:28 GMT -5
Also to answer you question Kevin. It's typical for a Hydro Sponge to have a very gentle flow about it. You wont see anything being drawn to it, but more flow around it. This is because the air pump is pushing water out, not in. This is normal and working just fine. I thought the air pushed water up- which caused a "drawing" at the sponge? I guess my expectations of how much it should "look" like its drawing is compared to the 200-300 gph that goes towards the strainer of my HOB, where you see things moving towards it. I know you use it so I trust your experience. (ps finally learned how to qoute!!!)
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kevin
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Posts: 121
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Post by kevin on Oct 28, 2014 16:27:18 GMT -5
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kevin
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Posts: 121
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Post by kevin on Oct 28, 2014 16:39:40 GMT -5
Damn, I typed a paragraph blow the above quote and when I hit the button-poof-gone.
So, the sponge filter is for Nitrifying bacteria and mechanical filtration (and reduces a high bio load). But as the biowheels produced much of this bacteria, as Carl said, the "denitrification process" isn't keeping up. So I show high nitrates that have yet to turn to N2 or gas out.
This is the purpose of adding more Matrix type of media, so that the process can continue by creating more area for Denitrifying bacteria to "anaerobically" convert nitrates to N2, thus reducing my overall nitrate level!! ??
And, all the other products Im using are utilizing primarily "adsorbtion" to essentially do the same as above, but it can't do it as fast, or keep up with how fast the process is cycling ammonia and nitrites.
(I hope this isn't too tedious for you guys, not trying to be. Really just trying to understand the process rather than just repeating the words. Don't want to keep needing to have the same conversation).
Kevin
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Post by Carl on Oct 28, 2014 19:09:57 GMT -5
How a sponge filter excels is that it traps bio material, unlike a bio wheel. This then is easily rinsed off. If you never rinse your sponge, it too can become a nitrate factory. The amount of oxygen that bio wheels are exposed to also accelerates aerobic nitrification. Reference: www.aquarium-pond-answers.com/2006/12/do-bio-wheels-really-work.htmlFrom above reference: Unlike a sponge filter, especially the patented AAP/ATI Hydro Sponge Filters, the Bio Wheels have no capacity for trapping nitrogenous waste that can then be easily removed via a rinsing or similar maintenance procedure.The Pro filters allow for much higher flow rates and do not clog nearly as quickly as the more fine Hydro Sponge material. However the finer sponge material actually has more area for bacteria and I have even demonstrated some de-nitrification with the larger regular sponges (albeit when less rinsing were performed). Carl
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Post by devonjohnsgard on Oct 29, 2014 10:06:32 GMT -5
Also to answer you question Kevin. It's typical for a Hydro Sponge to have a very gentle flow about it. You wont see anything being drawn to it, but more flow around it. This is because the air pump is pushing water out, not in. This is normal and working just fine. I thought the air pushed water up- which caused a "drawing" at the sponge? I guess my expectations of how much it should "look" like its drawing is compared to the 200-300 gph that goes towards the strainer of my HOB, where you see things moving towards it. I know you use it so I trust your experience. (ps finally learned how to qoute!!!) Yea, use something like a chemical dye, meth. blue. Drop it in next to the Hydro Sponge. You will see it being pushed, not pulled to the filter
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Post by Ameenah on Nov 15, 2014 2:45:50 GMT -5
I don't do it often, but how does it "leach"? Vapor in the air? I have an 80% covered glass top- except for the open strip in the rear where air lines and filter tubes are. I haven't ever sprayed the top since I WAS afraid of it getting in the water. But I like the idea of ruling out another potential cause. And I have been more conscientious about sticking my hands in there after our last discussion- for him AND for me, (eg oils etc off my hands or picking up bacteria ONTO my hands). Hi Kevin about the glass fish tank not being cleaned with glass cleaner or other window cleaning products. Consider glass at the atomic level. It is gazillions of atoms that connect to make the glass. Glass is not a purely solid item even though we think of it as such. Now can you visualize the atoms connecting; add chemicals (also at the atom level) to one side and they do leach through to the other side of the glass. If you repeatedly use the chemical on the one side of the glass, the glass continues to be polutted each time. This is how your tank water gets bad chemicals in it and of course ruins your water chemistry. Again, I only use strongly diluted white vinegar mixed with aquarium water to clean the outside of my tanks. The inside of my tanks gets cleaned only with aquarium water. Hope this helps
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Post by angelminx on Nov 15, 2014 17:28:15 GMT -5
Hi, Ameenah!
That's so interesting about glass and chemicals, and something I've never heard before.
Do you have any idea on how to get rid of the "streaks"/smears that seem to be permanent? Right after I clean the glass it will look good for a few seconds, and then they're back again! I can't always see them, but if the light is reflecting off the tank from a certain angle, or like when I take certain pictures, they can really stand out!
Angelminx
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Post by Ameenah on Nov 16, 2014 3:34:32 GMT -5
Angelminx, use a soft cotton cloth, or a paper towel. Dab some strongly diluted white vinegar + aquarium water mix. Scrub the glass in circular motion (wax on wax off as Sensi Miagi says) The white vinegar should get rid of streaks this way. I use the same mix for my house windows and mirrors and do not have tons of streaks. A few streaks but not tons. I rather have a few streaks than chemicals anyday. I know of a person who made the white vinegar + aquarium water mix who put it into a spray bottle and squeegied the glass tanks. I suppose this method is good for less streaks too but I just use paper towels.
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Post by angelminx on Nov 16, 2014 21:44:59 GMT -5
Thanks, Ameenah!
I've got to pick up some more vinegar next time I go to Sam's Club. 2 (1G) bottles in a box there for less (each) than one bottle on sale elsewhere. I go through it pretty fast when I soak my cat's Drinkwell Fountain (I leave it run with just the vinegar for a little bit) before taking it apart to clean the impeller, etc.
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