TAL's Zero Water Exchange Test Thread - Page 2 - MyFishTank.Net Freshwater Saltwater Aquarium Fish Forum

TAL · 10-27-2008, 12:27 PM

OK, getting back on track.

BTW, I make a mean PB and J.

One of my air tubes on the top of a tower was disconnected.

Repair is easy. Remove the cap of the tower be removing the two screws or pegs at the top of the tank.

Put the tube back in place. There is only one spot for it to go and it is easy to find.

The air tubes at the top of the towers allow air into the system. They can just be hung out over the tank. I used the ties that were on the power cords to tie the air tubes to the power cords so the air tubes would stay in place.

TAL · 10-27-2008, 01:56 PM

Time for the included water filter.

Curious as to what are the patented Bio Balls??

Also included are small amounts of the Vita Magic and Bio Magic additives. We will be seeing more of these when I have the tank refilled as they are part of Zero Water Exchange kit.

TAL · 10-27-2008, 01:58 PM

A black background has been chosen for the tank:

And with a little gravel added, it is time to stop and think about how I want to decorate...

TAL · 10-27-2008, 04:31 PM

With everything back together and the system installed, it was time to add

Vita Magic

and

Bio Magic

TAL · 10-27-2008, 04:35 PM

The label says Vita Magic provides a protective coating over the body of the fish. It also helps grow and maintain beneficial bacteria.

Bio Magic's label says it is a water conditioner that rapidly accelerates the nitrogen cycle's decomposition of ammonia and nitrites while also helping to cultivate beneficial bacteria.

TAL · 10-27-2008, 04:37 PM

System all ready and running:

LET THE FUN BEGIN !!!

I am going to observe for a while and get the fish back in tonight.

ishar · 10-27-2008, 05:59 PM

Sorry if you answered this already, I just skimmed through this, but if you are truly testing the zero water change system, maybe you should have used uncycled, fresh gravel. From what I can see you used your old gravel which will already have some bacteria on it. Just to point it out.

TAL · 10-27-2008, 06:17 PM

This was, as mentioned, a fully cycled tank.

The real test to this system is how it handles the nitrates. We know we can get a tank to cycle without this system. We know we can grow beneficial bacteria without this system. But as we know that leaves us with Nitrates to be removed by water changes or partially controlled by aquatic plant life which would use nitrates for food.

Now if you are a first timer or begining a new tank you do have the advantage of the items included in this kit to help establish the nitrogen cycle.

PS I will be testing the water this evening to establish our starting point. With the change in water filter I have no doubt lost some beneficial bacteria.

Kissyboots · 10-27-2008, 06:36 PM

ishar: as far as I can see, it looks like Froggy is doing the "totally new tank with nothing cycled" and Tal is doing the "already established, fully cycled tank."

That's perfect because now we can see the differences between setting this up in a new tank versus an established tank.

brian1973 · 10-27-2008, 07:46 PM

I believe it was said the tank still has to go through a cycle before adding fish but the system should shorten it.

TAL..I have to say that so far this has been a very enjoyable thread..even if half of it has nothing to do with the system itself..lmao.

10-27-2008, 12:27 PM	#11 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	OK, getting back on track. BTW, I make a mean PB and J. One of my air tubes on the top of a tower was disconnected. Repair is easy. Remove the cap of the tower be removing the two screws or pegs at the top of the tank. Put the tube back in place. There is only one spot for it to go and it is easy to find. The air tubes at the top of the towers allow air into the system. They can just be hung out over the tank. I used the ties that were on the power cords to tie the air tubes to the power cords so the air tubes would stay in place. __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-27-2008, 01:56 PM	#12 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	Time for the included water filter. Curious as to what are the patented Bio Balls?? Also included are small amounts of the Vita Magic and Bio Magic additives. We will be seeing more of these when I have the tank refilled as they are part of Zero Water Exchange kit. __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html Last edited by TAL; 10-27-2008 at 05:25 PM..

10-27-2008, 01:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	A black background has been chosen for the tank: And with a little gravel added, it is time to stop and think about how I want to decorate... __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-27-2008, 04:31 PM	#14 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	With everything back together and the system installed, it was time to add Vita Magic and Bio Magic __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-27-2008, 04:35 PM	#15 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	The label says Vita Magic provides a protective coating over the body of the fish. It also helps grow and maintain beneficial bacteria. Bio Magic's label says it is a water conditioner that rapidly accelerates the nitrogen cycle's decomposition of ammonia and nitrites while also helping to cultivate beneficial bacteria. __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-27-2008, 04:37 PM	#16 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	System all ready and running: LET THE FUN BEGIN !!! I am going to observe for a while and get the fish back in tonight. __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-27-2008, 05:59 PM	#17 (permalink)
ishar MFT Staff Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hamilton, ON. Posts: 1,477	Sorry if you answered this already, I just skimmed through this, but if you are truly testing the zero water change system, maybe you should have used uncycled, fresh gravel. From what I can see you used your old gravel which will already have some bacteria on it. Just to point it out. __________________ Old 20G- NOTE there are no pics in this journal anymore 20G Long "The Meadow" Journal ~~~~VOTE FOR MFT HERE~~~~ Ishar's Auctions Ishar's Planted Tank Website

10-27-2008, 06:17 PM	#18 (permalink)
TAL Medium Fish Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 426	This was, as mentioned, a fully cycled tank. The real test to this system is how it handles the nitrates. We know we can get a tank to cycle without this system. We know we can grow beneficial bacteria without this system. But as we know that leaves us with Nitrates to be removed by water changes or partially controlled by aquatic plant life which would use nitrates for food. Now if you are a first timer or begining a new tank you do have the advantage of the items included in this kit to help establish the nitrogen cycle. PS I will be testing the water this evening to establish our starting point. With the change in water filter I have no doubt lost some beneficial bacteria. __________________ 03 Gallon Tanky Wanky - Empty 38 Gallon Tanky Wanky - 1 young Betta Fish, 1 GloFish, 1 Pleco, 1 Rainbow Shark, 1 Painted Swordtail, 2 Peppered Corys and 5 Gold Pristella Tetras, 2 Swordtail fry (Hi-Q Test Tank) Check out my HiQ Zero Water Exchange System Blog at : http://www.myfishtank.net/forum/equi...st-thread.html

10-27-2008, 06:36 PM	#19 (permalink)
Kissyboots Super Fish Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,838	ishar: as far as I can see, it looks like Froggy is doing the "totally new tank with nothing cycled" and Tal is doing the "already established, fully cycled tank." That's perfect because now we can see the differences between setting this up in a new tank versus an established tank. __________________ Kissy's Tank <--NEW PICS AND BLOG ENTRIES!!

10-27-2008, 07:46 PM	#20 (permalink)
brian1973 Super Fish Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Posts: 1,763	I believe it was said the tank still has to go through a cycle before adding fish but the system should shorten it. TAL..I have to say that so far this has been a very enjoyable thread..even if half of it has nothing to do with the system itself..lmao. __________________ http://www.nanfa.org/ Hi my name is Brian I suffer from MTS, please be aware it is very contagious.