Update 8-26-13
Yogas
Dear Dr. Novak,
First of all I
would like to apologize that my observation towards my water quality after the
insertion of the Biocenosis Baskets is far from meeting any scientific
procedures. I just carry out the tests whenever I have enough spare time.
Anyway, it has been 3 weeks now, and my last test two days ago, showed an
increase in nitrates from 10mg/L to 25 mg/L. My usual measurement of nitrates
would be 10mg/L, but then again the condition is not ceteris paribus
with the only change being the insertion of the baskets. I also reduced the
frequency of backwash. The reason for this is because the water looks great
anyway, it is clear, foam and blanket weed exist but much less and increases in
a much slower rate. It looks as though the alga is struggling to survive. But
since the nitrate level is already in moderately high, and I would be off on a
long business trip beginning next month, I decided to scrub everything off
again and also inform my pond keeper on how to take care of the baskets during
extreme cleanout (hopefully the last) such as yesterday.
Just to give a
description of what is done when scrubbing of blanket weed yesterday:
1: Took out all Biocenosis baskets and put in water containing
buckets.
2: Flushed all water in waterfall pool.
3: Scrub off the entire blanket weed in the waterfall pool.
4: Refilled waterfall pool with new water and moved all Koi to
waterfall pool.
5: Pumped out all water from main pond.
6: Scrub off all blanket weeds from main pond walls.
7: Refilled water and replaced all Koi into main pond.
8: Put Biocenosis baskets back into waterfall pool.
I figure even
though the baskets are still in its early mid stage, it would be best to
upgrade my UV clarifier from using submersible lamps to evolution aqua UV lamp
(I use EA UV 30). This too was installed yesterday. In order to maximize UV
sterilization and also save electricity, I plan to turn off my circulating pump
every night, leaving only the main pump to the waterfall, which now passes the
Evo-lamp, first. Anyway, things are going great for me, and I closely follow
every new post you have on your blog. I notice the white of my Tancho is
getting whiter from a pinkish white and the black of my Showa is getting
blacker. Oh yeah, forgot to tell you, I also gave my pond 2 teaspoons of
Bentonite clay every week and have already done it twice. Hopefully with all
this done, it’s a one on one between Biocenosis baskets against nitrates. Again
bless you always.
Best regards,
Yogas
Hi Yogas,
It will take some
time for the Biocenosis baskets to break-in as stated several times in my blog
and confirmed by Dr. Franco and Dkoinut observations when they tested the
Anoxic filter. You have something different going on with using Zeolite clay
cat litter instead of the normal cat litter clay used in other Anoxic systems.
I know this is the hardest time for the hobbyist the “waiting game” but
there are really no other options.
NOTE: I get more complaints about the time it takes to cycle the
Biocenosis baskets than any other. It wasn’t very long ago hobbyist had to
cycle their ponds the old fashion way by waiting it out until Mother Nature
took over. Aquariums also played by the same rules too and it seemed to take
forever to cycle a fish tank. Nowadays nobody wants to wait anymore they want
instant gratification…NOW! Did you hear me...I said I want it now! So
hobbyists now add all kinds of inoculating products to their ponds or Aquariums
to speed up the nitrogen cycling process. Unfortunately the facultative
anaerobic bacteria we are looking far takes it own sweet time to colonize the
Biocenosis baskets and no matter what the hobbyist does it will not grow any
faster. Hey! I didn't invent the bacteria I only use it, so please don't kill
the messenger.
In the past as you
have stated: “My usual measurement of nitrates would be 10mg/L, but then again
the condition is not ceteris paribus (Ed: ceteris paribus is
Latin for: All other things being equal or held constant) with the only change
being the addition of the baskets. I also reduced the frequency of
backwash.” Maybe that backwashing was also making your Nitrates lower by
dilution and not by your filtration system as-per-say. As you stated in your E-mail
this has to be the case because the foodstuff for cyanobacteria and protein
foam are exhibiting some restraints already. As you have stated: “The reason
for this is because the water looks great anyway, it is clear, foam and blanket
weed exist but much less and increases in a much slower rate. It looks as
though the alga is struggling to survive.” This is a very good sign when
cyanobacteria starts to diminish [cyanobacteria will start breaking apart
and you will see more and more getting sucked up in your prefilter.] and other
forms of algae take over and/or struggle to dominant the pond. In natural
system this is exactly what we look for: Not one dominating algae but several
algae’s coexisting in the same ecosystem.
You mentioned about
upgrading your UV Sterilizer, good idea, too! We can’t have too much UV
sterilization when it comes to our ponds. You also mentioned about the colors
of your Koi getting better. This tells me you have other issues other than
nitrates alone inhibiting Koi color and your newly added Biocenosis baskets are
doing more in ion exchange or eradication than your old filter and water
changes alone could do
I think hobbyist
dwell to a great extent on bacteria that they forget bacteria only play a small
part in water quality parameters. That’s what hobbyist is told and then they
don’t understand there are other elements (TDS, CE, and Redox) involved in
water quality that will in turn have a negative effect on our animals’, too.
Their only options
are then to upgrade to higher tech equipment or an Anoxic filtration add-on
much like Brian Woodcock in the UK did in his Anoxic Build.
Did
you do any testing on the Bentonite clay in water to see its stability?
Once again thanks
for the letter and update. Keep me posted when you get back from your business
trip on your pond and Biocenosis baskets. It is amazing how you live on the
other side of the world and we are communicating as though you live down the
street from me. Thanks for ready my mind-numbing blog, it then shed some light
of confidence that maybe I’m doing some good in a world were money means
everything.
Godspeed,
Kevin
Anoxic Filtration System ®
February 02-2005-2013
New Updated Version
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