Orca nitra guard bio cubes discussion

With reference to your DSB, I would not add it, it takes a very long time to mature and the cubes are THAT GOOD.
 
Thanks Carlosdeandrade.

So just leave the compartment for extra water?

In summary of what I have read, NitraGuard in the bomb method. Wait for NO3 to be close to zero and PO4 less than 1 then add in PhosphaGuard, preferably in a reactor. Then both NO3 and PO4 should get very close to zero. No need for anything else?
 
you can add it anytime
no reactor :)

use 1ml per L if NO3 is low
2ml per L if NO3 > 20ppm
3ml per L if higher

i think thats right...
 
Cool just got my cubes now,

After reading all 24 pages at work now and the boss thinking I'm working like a deamon as I don't even look up ;) I got one question.

As I understand it using the cubes it will replace the DSB job, if so what is the best method to remove the DSB and at what stage? I always felt that my DSB is not big enough to work 100% and now after 2½ years GHA is a big problem. My ATS is working overtime but again I feel it's to small too.

Any advice?

Cheers
 
the best way is slowly, the DSB also serves as normal biological filtration. one would need to help this when its removed.

what i did was to start dosing with special blend or stability for 3-4 days before, then on a sat morning stop the return, remove the DSB sand and the water in the sump, replace with new water with the same temp and salinity. then dose bacteria and start things again, carry on dosing as this will help alot.

it does require planning and prep, i did also suppliment the biological filter with seachem matrix
 
im gona run the titanium bio cubes on tank..have 500ml..its about 360litres in total with sump..hpw many ml should i run in start? should i add from cycling stage or after a few weeks.
 
you can add from the beginning, 500ml will be fine to add
 
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Ok sent the pic all around my netwiork which was a PITA. Anyway here is the pic.

Note the two zones??? One anerobic and the other arobic. Note (2) that the pic is side on, so the anerobic part is on top and the arobic part the bottom.

163252501eebe7fab.jpg
 
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butcherman said:
Keith just to clarify,

This is in your sump in a high flow zone?

Not using an air stone?

You mentioned a strong sulphur smell too?
Click to expand...

Yup. we preped some bio cubes for the EXPO. after the expo we placed the cubes in the sump of the softy tank and forgot about it. The cubes are in the return section of the sump.

No airstone used.

The point of the post is that the system seems to be a "DSB" type filter using no substrate. Except in reverse. The anerobic part releasing ammonia sulphide at the top and the aerobic bit returning Nitrate free water to the tank.

What you think?
 
Been pondering this situation most of the afternoon. Very fascinating. If the pic is confusing, just imagine a Irish coffee. The milky bit on the upper layer of the Pic is like the cream of an Irish coffee.

The ORP of the upper layer is less than -250 mv whilst the ORP of the lower layer averages around 100 mv.

Not sure if I have stumbled upon another method to use bio cubes. However I would think that if the sump water level were to drop then the anaerobic layer would get messed.
 
Sooooo i have bought cubes 1000ml for 800l tank. Installed them according to the bomb method and well.... Nothing is different ? I have a light livestock load and sps only. Nitrates are 2.5 ppm and phosphates 0.04ppm.

I am running off my pellets (until nothing is left)/
Now as we all know a biomass has x consumption rate which grows and reduces as nutrients rise and fall. Only thing that gets consumed is carbon. So the two would not affect each other as per redfield ratios.

So surely I am missing something ? I thought nutrients would be zero after a month considering I started at 2.5ppm nitrates. And followed the instructions?

Thus far I recon Orca was a waste of money to me. I really hoped this would work as I estimate an upgrade for a bigger pellet reactor would be more costly!
 
when did you install it? Remember the cubes takes up to 2 weeks to be effective.
 
williet said:
Sooooo i have bought cubes 1000ml for 800l tank. Installed them according to the bomb method and well.... Nothing is different ? I have a light livestock load and sps only. Nitrates are 2.5 ppm and phosphates 0.04ppm.

I am running off my pellets (until nothing is left)/
Now as we all know a biomass has x consumption rate which grows and reduces as nutrients rise and fall. Only thing that gets consumed is carbon. So the two would not affect each other as per redfield ratios.

So surely I am missing something ? I thought nutrients would be zero after a month considering I started at 2.5ppm nitrates. And followed the instructions?

Thus far I recon Orca was a waste of money to me. I really hoped this would work as I estimate an upgrade for a bigger pellet reactor would be more costly!
Click to expand...

well i am surprised too, how is the bubble rate through it?
but i will def dig deeper for you and get back to you.

There is a 3000L here on masa thats using them and cope well with the food going in the system, @Nemeziz_za , so while i am sure the cubes do work, the question is why not for you, can you take a pic of the bomb of the cubes?
 
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dallasg said:
well i am surprised too, how is the bubble rate through it?
but i will def dig deeper for you and get back to you.

There is a 3000L here on masa thats using them and cope well with the food going in the system, @Nemeziz_za , so while i am sure the cubes do work, the question is why not for you, can you take a pic of the bomb of the cubes?
Click to expand...


Hi Dallasg

I am just as surprised as you are.

I will take a pic of the cubes for you tonight. I have also rotated and turned the bomb to ensure that every area gets aerated


Thanks
Willie
 
williet said:
I am running off my pellets (until nothing is left)
Click to expand...

Pellets still in the tank?

williet said:
I thought nutrients would be zero after a month considering I started at 2.5ppm nitrates. And followed the instructions?
Click to expand...

How long?
Have you considered that maybe your cubes are competing with your pellets for nutrients?
I, personally, would take the pellets out.
 
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