Greetings all wogers and wogettes. As you know I have been incommunicado as me sister matriarch came to pay visit to me and the crew, who has now departed back to the land of Disney. In my last ships log entry I mentioned that the tank was almost cycled with Darth Ammonia a cowardly yellow making 0 PPM threats. Tis true since then we have been maintaining that number for the past 4 days, with Prince Nitrite down to 1 PPM and the Borg Nitrites unwavering at 40 PPM in accordance with our armistice. Albiet we have one or two more skirmishes with the enemy before the water readings are pristine. I believe the crew and I have finally mastered the Black Cycle Sea and have even added two members to the crew list, SA (seamen apprentice) Afro Frog and SA Siam Fighter, bringing our crew complement back up to 30.
My short but intense experience has learned me some valuable information (IMHO) I would like to share. Therefore not withstanding my critics, I offer the following lessons learned:
(1) Cycling method. Although there are a few methods to cycle a tank I prefer cycling a tank with fish, only perhaps 1 fish per 20 gallons and that of a hardy variety. Do not put yourself through what I went through trying what is almost impossible trying to navigate a 60 gallon vessel with 30 green crewmembers in the hostile waters of the Black Cycle Sea. Although exciting it is a method I will never use again. The benefit of cycling with just 1 hardy fish per 20 gallons is you get the experience of how to fend off Darth Ammonia and his spawn with all the weapons at hand gaining valuable fighting skills for the future.
While a fishless cycle while requiring almost no effort also offers no lessons learned, making you unprepared and unskilled in recognizing and fighting off the enemies evil hordes the first time they climb aboard with a full crew complement that has no experienced hands. Learning to protect a few hardy fish through a cycle will make earn you the rank of Captain Aquarius.
(2) Changing dirty water (water changes). I have learned that although water changes are a key tool in the fight against evil hordes of ammonia, nitrite and nitrates, it has little effect against high PPM numbers if the source is a dirty filter which can and must be changed simultaneously provided old aquarium water is used (no new chlorinated water) and the old bio sponge and carbon is retained while new filter media is used to replace old. This IMHO makes a huge difference in the progress toward dropping otherwise stubborn high enemy PPM numbers. While negligibly affecting good bacteria numbers which cover the entire aquarium as well.
(3) Carbon. I have learned that low ash Carbon, preferably made from coconut shell is a valuable tool in polishing water to crystal clarity, controlling odor, and most importantly providing unrivaled surface area to harbor good bacteria and there food source bio waste. 1 cup of carbon provides many times the surface area of your aquarium in providing a home for good bacteria, believe it or not.
(4) PH. I have researched and confirmed to my own satisfaction that a PH level between 6.5 to 7 is extremely valuable in shielding a new or established tank against ongoing or surprise ammonia attacks against deadly NH3 ammonia that are naturally contained when standard test readings are as high as 8 PPM. Maintaining a PH range between 6.5 to 7 respectively is not only doable and livable for most fish species but is an invaluable missile defense system against the most common killer of all fish, Darth Ammonia.
(5) Use of chemicals. In an open natural environment such as in a lake toxic levels of fish waste are easily controlled by those forces that the Creator has set forth by design, the explanation of which are beyond the scope of this entire forum. But I can tell you that in a closed environment such as in our teeny tiny aquariums (by comparison) fish waste has nowhere to go except into a filter where mechanical and biological processes cannot compare to creation. It is therefore reasonable and necessary to use chemicals and or medicines to offset the hazards we create in an artificial environment in order to have ornamental fish, plain and simple. Using those chemicals and medicines on the word of a few individuals without personally understanding there cure, cause and effect is a big mistake.
(6) Study to show thyself approve. Speaking for myself I have learned that there is as much enjoyment and satisfaction learning about how a hobby works then just going through the motions on the advice of others. Like my old Gunner on the USS Midway used to say “ before asking someone for the answer, try cracking a book and providing a possible solution.”
(7) I found that a
UV Sterilizer in combination with having carbon in your filter really provides the knock out punch on water cloudiness whether caused by minerals or bacteria bloom. I recommend the affordable "Green Killing Machine" with its own built in water pump as the answer to bio and algae bloom problems.
Anyway all is well aboard and the crew are happy, hungry and playful, despite the naysayer’s you can accomplish just about anything if you put your mind to it.
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