seabass Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 Day 28: Containers: API ammonia tests: Seachem ammonia tests: Seachem nitrite/nitrate tests: Test results: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.1 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Link to comment
nanoreefnate Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Good deal Seabass. hopefully that nitrate doesnt stay up for to much longer. Link to comment
seabass Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Day 29: Nitrite/nitrate tests: Ammonia tests: Test results: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 1 mg/L Link to comment
fewskillz Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 This should be interesting. This is the excruciating part of the cycle, it's ALMOST good enough to put livestock in. "Clowns are hardy, right, they can handle it!" Link to comment
MGDMIRAGE Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 I zero'd out a couple days ago Classic style no water changes. Link to comment
seabass Posted September 18, 2009 Author Share Posted September 18, 2009 @ fewskillz. Good deal MGDMIRAGE; it's hard to beat the classics. In this experiment, the denitrifying bacteria are lowering the nitrate levels. However, if the containers didn't have deep sand beds, they would have insufficient denitrifying bacteria populations; and the container not receiving water changes would have significantly more nitrate than the containers receiving water changes. Link to comment
seabass Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Day 30: Data: "Day",0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27, 28,29,30 "NH4+ (soft cycle)",0.25,0.01,0.05,0.25,1,1,1,1,1,1,2,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,0.5,0.25,0.2,0.1,0.15, 0.15,0.1,0.1,0.1,0.05,0.1 "NH4+ (staged cycle)",0.25,0.1,0.05,0.25,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0.5,0.25,0.15,0.1,0.1,0.1,0.05, 0.05,0.01,0.1,0.05,0.05,0.05,0.01,0.05 "NH4+ (classic cycle)",0.25,0.05,0.1,0.25,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1,0.5,0.25,0.2,0.2,0.2,0.1,0.1,0. 1,0.05,0.05,0.05,0.05,0.05,0.05,0.05 "NO2- (soft cycle)",0,0,0,0.1,0.1,0.5,0.1,0.1,0.5,0.5,0.5,1,2.5,1,2.5,2.5,2.5,5,5,2.5,5,2.5,2. 5,2.5,2.5,1,1,1,1,1,1 "NO2- (staged cycle)",0,0,0,0.1,0.1,0.5,0.5,1,1,2.5,2.5,2.5,5,5,10,10,10,10,5,2.5,2.5,1,1,1,1,1, 1,1,1,1,1 "NO2- (classic cycle)",0,0,0,0.1,0.1,0.5,0.5,1,1,2.5,2.5,2.5,5,5,10,10,10,10,5,2.5,2.5,1,1,1,1,1, 1,0.5,0.5,0.5,0.5 "NO3- (soft cycle)",0,0.2,0.2,1,1,0.2,1,0.2,1,1,2,1,5,2,5,5,5,5,5,2,5,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1 "NO3- (staged cycle)",0,0.2,0.2,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,5,5,10,10,20,20,10,10,10,2,5,2,2,2,2,2,2,2,1,1,1 "NO3- (classic cycle)",0,0.2,0.2,1,1,1,2,2,2,2,5,5,10,10,20,20,10,10,10,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,5,2,2,1,2 Results: © TheReefFarm.com 2009. All rights reserved. Link to comment
seabass Posted September 19, 2009 Author Share Posted September 19, 2009 Thank you for following along. While this experiment has been officially completed, I am extending it a week to observe nitrite levels (which have been relatively steady for almost a week). I will post the results at the conclusion of this extension period. Summary: Trial comparisons: (test=soft cycle, ctrl=classic cycle) Natural Nitrate Reduction (NNR): In this experiment, the (4.5") deep sand beds support denitrifying bacteria which utilize nitrate in the water. However, in a system with a limited ability to reduce nitrate, the addition of food would cause a continual rise in nitrate (which would need to be exported via water changes). Conclusions: The soft cycle method (water changes throughout) proved to extend the ammonia spike. However, this method's ability to lower ammonia levels was inconclusive. While it appeared to lower/'soften' ammonia levels in the second trial, levels were virtually unchanged during the first trial. Note that this experiment doesn't address the effects of prolonged exposure to (potentially lower levels of) ammonia on marine fauna. The staged cycle method (water changes only after the ammonia level starts to fall) did not appear to extend or increase ammonia levels. This might prove to be a valid method to reduce nitrate in systems with a limited capacity to reduce nitrate naturally (benefiting nitrate sensitive animals). Additional benefits to performing water changes during this stage of the cycle might include: • replenishing buffers and necessary elements • removing dissolved organics, algae spores, and toxins from dying plants and animals The classic cycle method (no water changes throughout) is a proven way to cycle a new aquarium. For systems that don't support denitrifying bacteria, this method can result in high nitrate levels. Water changes are performed (to reduce nitrate) only after ammonia has become undetectable. After the cycle, a large water change is usually performed prior to the addition of livestock. By comparing these three methods to cycle a new aquarium, this experiment was designed to show the effects of water changes on the cycle. Although some of the results are inconclusive, I hope that the data provides new insight into how the nitrogen cycle is affected by water changes. © TheReefFarm.com 2009. All rights reserved. Link to comment
seabass Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share Posted September 25, 2009 One week extension: Containers today: Nitrite/nitrate tests today: Ammonia tests today: Breaking down the containers: Cleaning the pumps: Test results, Day 31: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 2 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 2 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Test results, Day 32: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Test results, Day 33: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Test results, Day 34: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.05 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 2 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 2 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Test results, Day 35: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Test results, Day 36: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 2 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 2 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Test results, Day 37: Ammonia (NH4+), soft cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), staged cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Ammonia (NH4+), classic cycle container: 0.01 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), staged cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrite (NO2-), classic cycle container: 0.5 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), soft cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), staged cycle container: 1 mg/L Nitrate (NO3-), classic cycle container: 2 mg/L Like the previous trial, I have to conclude this extension as I have to travel out of town. However, I'm convinced that little new information would be uncovered by extending it further. It appears that water changes primarily affect the ammonia spike and export of accumulated nitrate. By waiting to change water after the ammonia spike starts to decline, we can avoid prolonging the cycle and help eliminate accumulated nitrate once the ammonia level starts to fall. Link to comment
Bamato Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Time for sticky? Awesome research! So thorough! Link to comment
Paul3x16 Posted May 13, 2014 Share Posted May 13, 2014 The following is continuation of a previous experiment, Part 1: Water Changes During the Cycle, that I performed. The data indicated that water changes prolonged the time it took before the ammonia level started to drop; however, once it started dropping, water changes seemed to accelerate the process. Based on the data, I will be testing a new dual staged approach to cycle a new tank. This experiment will test the soft cycle, classic cycle, and a new staged cycle method. The original experiment will be followed to help validate the first experiment's data (one container will receive water changes every other day, while another will not receive any water changes). In addition, after the ammonia level starts to drop on its own, a third container will also start receiving water changes every other day. Objective: Determine how partial water changes affect the time that it takes to establish the nitrogen cycle. Design Variables: • Distilled water • Synthetic saltwater, mixed to 1.024 specific gravity • Evaporated water from the containers will be replaced daily with distilled water • 60lbs of live sand • Container A will receive one gallon water changes every other day for the duration of the experiment • Container B will get one gallon water changes every other day after the ammonia level starts to drop • Container C will not be given any water changes for the duration of the experiment • 60 Ocean Nutrition Formula One food pellets (initial ammonia source) • 15 Ocean Nutrition Formula One food pellets added daily (ongoing ammonia source) Outcome Variables: The rise and fall in levels of the listed contaminants: • Total ammonia (NH3/NH4+) • Nitrite (NO2-) • Nitrate (NO3-) Measurement method: For the duration of the experiment, daily tests will be performed on water from each container using API Ammonia and Seachem MultiTest: Marine Basic (ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate) test kits. Ammonia levels will be recorded from the API Ammonia test kit unless they read below 0.25 mg/L. The Seachem MultiTest: Marine Basic test kit will be used to measure ammonia levels that the API test kit indicates are less than 0.25 mg/L. Test duration: Thirty (30) days Equipment: • 3 five gallon buckets for distilled water/saltwater • 3 Maxi-Jet 400 powerheads • Container to mix saltwater • Powerhead to mix saltwater • ½" ID flexible tubing • Distilled water from Walmart • Instant Ocean synthetic salt mix • 60lbs of CaribSea Ocean Direct live sand • API Ammonia test kits • Seachem MultiTest: Marine Basic test kits • Refractometer/hydrometer • Log book Procedure: • Throughally mix the 60lbs of live sand together • Add 20lbs of the sand to each container • Fill each container with 4 gallons of synthetic saltwater mixed to a specific gravity of 1.024 • Add a Maxi-Jet 400 powerhead to each container (operating for the duration of the test) • Add 20 Formula One food pellets to each container (to support initial ammonification) • Test and chart ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels in the water of each container daily • Top off each container with distilled water everyday • Add 5 Formula One pellets to each container daily (for ongoing ammonification) • Perform 1 gallon (25%) water changes on container A every other day • After the ammonia level starts to drop, change 1 gallon of container B's water every other day Results: © TheReefFarm.com 2009. All rights reserved. Great research !! Link to comment
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