filter question

[Dan J.S.]

I am getting rid of the last leaky fluval 404 this weekend. I bought the
Eheim 2028 (big als). Now, I am running the Emperor 400 for about 2 weeks.
Do you think the Emperor built up enough nitrifying bacteria to sustain the
aquarium by itself (150 gallon tank)? Basically, is it safe for me to take
the Fluval off line, and put in the Eheim in it's place? Or should I run all
three for a few more weeks?

[WD]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
> I am getting rid of the last leaky fluval 404 this weekend. I bought the
> Eheim 2028 (big als). Now, I am running the Emperor 400 for about 2 weeks.
> Do you think the Emperor built up enough nitrifying bacteria to sustain
the
> aquarium by itself (150 gallon tank)? Basically, is it safe for me to take
> the Fluval off line, and put in the Eheim in it's place? Or should I run
all
> three for a few more weeks?
>

Whether or not the 400 is sufficient for a 150 gallon tank would be
arguable, based on fish load, presence of live plants etc. However, since
the bacteria we have come to know and love doubles in population every ?24?
hours or so, after 2 weeks, I'd be comfortable pulling the fluval, and
plugging in the Eheim (great choice btw, love my eheims) If possible, pull
some media from the fluval, tear up a cartridge if you have to, and put it
in one of the baskets in the Eheim.

hth

billy

[Racf]

"Dan J.S." > wrote in message
...
> I am getting rid of the last leaky fluval 404 this weekend. I bought
the
> Eheim 2028 (big als). Now, I am running the Emperor 400 for about 2
weeks.
> Do you think the Emperor built up enough nitrifying bacteria to
sustain the
> aquarium by itself (150 gallon tank)? Basically, is it safe for me to
take
> the Fluval off line, and put in the Eheim in it's place? Or should I
run all
> three for a few more weeks?
>
>
>

You should be fine......in all but the most extreme exceptional cases.
A majority of the beneficial bacteria is all over the surfaces inside
the tank, anyway. The bacteria create a slime layer to adhere to
stuff. If things in your tank feel a bit slimy......like the
glass.....its there...

[NetMax]

"WD" > wrote in message
news:Zz0Ua.138716$ye4.97455@sccrnsc01...
>
>
>
> "Racf" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > You should be fine......in all but the most extreme exceptional
cases.
> > A majority of the beneficial bacteria is all over the surfaces inside
> > the tank, anyway. The bacteria create a slime layer to adhere to
> > stuff. If things in your tank feel a bit slimy......like the
> > glass.....its there...
> >
>
> I disagree with that. If it were true, there would be no need for
biological
> filtration. There is a small amount of bacteria on surfaces, and even
in the
> water, but not enough to sustain the nitrogen cycle by a long shot.
>
> billy

Perhaps, but there is no expectation that the nitrifying bacteria coating
the tank interior _would_ be sufficient to process all the ammonia, - but
for seeding purposes it might do perfectly. These bacteria double by
fission in less than a day. If only 10% of the total bactericidae were
in the tank, this would be 20/40/80/100% in 3.2x13 hours (nitrobacter
doubles in 13 hours in theory, nitrosomonas are faster), so 41.6 hours to
reach 100% capacity again. This is all lab condition theory, as the
bacteria have to colonize a new area suitable for them, so it takes
longer (so we ballpark 24 hrs to double, which is just over 3 days). If
I believe all the technicaleese I read, I'd guess that a week would be
sufficient (just an opinion though).

NetMax

[Racf]

"WD" > wrote in message
news:Zz0Ua.138716$ye4.97455@sccrnsc01...
>
>
>
> "Racf" > wrote in message
> ...
> >
> > You should be fine......in all but the most extreme exceptional
cases.
> > A majority of the beneficial bacteria is all over the surfaces
inside
> > the tank, anyway. The bacteria create a slime layer to adhere to
> > stuff. If things in your tank feel a bit slimy......like the
> > glass.....its there...
> >
>
> I disagree with that. If it were true, there would be no need for
biological
> filtration. There is a small amount of bacteria on surfaces, and even
in the
> water, but not enough to sustain the nitrogen cycle by a long shot.
>
> billy
>
>

The debate goes on. This comes up every once in a while. You say its
not enough.....but neither of us really knows whats up in that tank for
sure.

In nature it works without a eheim canister filter......... Back when I
was a little boy.....I had a 5 gallon tank...full of guppies.....no
filter....and all was good for many years..... You say not
enough.....but it depends....

I have heard many figures in this debate from 5% up to 85%.......I
imagine the figures really are from 0% to 100%.....Somewhere between
these extremes lies the truth and I think it depends on the specific
situation....

I do know for sure that an established tank with a new filter very
quickly gets up to speed....and also a tank that suddenly loses a filter
very quickly ramps up bio capability, but of course there needs to be a
source of water movement for any chance of any real bio critter growth,
and also, for O2 to be available for fishes...