Tynk wrote:
Jim Morcombe wrote:
Tynk wrote:

Jim Morcombe wrote:


Keep doing the filter "swish". It is rich in bacteria.


Not according to scientists.
It's rich in muck.

Do you have a refernce on that? Speaking as a scientist, I think it is
rich in bacteria. (AlthoughI am not a microbiologist)

Well, research a scientist named Peter Strom. He's an environmental
scientist that has been studying nitrifying bacteria for the past 30
yrs.
His name is tossed out because simply because he was recently written
about in the January edition of Tropical Fish Hobbyist, but I have
learned about this being the case a few years ago.
Also, you can find more about the correct bacteria on the BioSpira info
page at Marineland.com.
Like I mentioned before, this is relativly new information that was
learned within the last 10 yrs (give or take).
I think abut it this way....if these starter nitrifying bacteria
secrete such a sticky substand that not even hard, rushing water can
get them to break loose, how is swooshing a filter going to get them
loose?
They also adhere to more solid surfaces, not goo or gunk that floats
about.
Of course there are a few out there loose, but not enough to cycle a
tank with.
This is why adding a filter pad, gravel, plants, etc., from an
established tank with a more solid surface is the best way because it
will have the most bacteria stuck to it.
Folks that know what they're doing and know how to keep a fishtank
healthy will be doing major water changes and gravel vacs while cycling
a tank with fish. Of course the knowldegeable would lose the least
amount of fish doing so.
Now the ones that swoosh a filter pad (only) in a newly cycling tank,
or use old tank water, may *think* they just added N. bacteria and
started the process, but with their water changes and good tank
maintenance their cycling process is simply less harmful to the fish
they are using. This is because of the water changed and gravel vacs
and had nothing to do with adding old water or gunk from a filter pad.
You're actually just adding debris and old water. I understand this is
a bit hard to believe, as I had a hard time believing it at first.
I used to be under the same impression that by adding debris and old
tank water I was adding the N. bacteria. Now, however, I have learned
otherwise.

As for the side conversation going on (I know I started it with my
comment, sorry) about the one inch per gallon rule being ridiculous, it
really doesn't fit anywhere.
It's no good for newbies, as it just screws them up right off the bat.
I have spoken to countless newbies who have a 10g tank with a few
Oscars, some have a hodge podge of fish that have no business being
together in a tank....but will justify it because it's the right amount
of inches...some that keep buying Discus and they keep dying, but their
Mollies and Tiger Barbs are fine. I hear all sorts of crazy things.
Things that will make a seasoned hobbyist's head spin (several times
before exploding).
99% of the time it always goes back to that stupid "rule".
And for the person who is thinking that newbies don't buy Discus, or
certain Cichlids, etc...oh they do. All too often.
Besides the stupid "rule", another huge problem in the hobby is shop
employees that do not have a clue as to what they're doing, or know
anything about the fish they are selling.
Just last week I was trying to convince a Petsmart employee that he
couldn't add Neons to his newly set up 75g that he already had a Black
Moore and several Platies in.
Besides the whole..new tank syndrome being very bad for Neons, I tried
to explain the whole *don't mix tropicals iwth cold water fish" thing
to him. This was lost on him.
I got the usual response...they look fine, and seem happy.
:: My head has started to spin already::
Then he asks well what would be good to put in it, I reply a couple
more Goldifsh and that's it.
He thought I was nuts and after explaing how large his Moore would grow
to and he thought I was out of my mind, or messing with him. He said
they don't get that large...no way. That's the size of a Koi. I said
yeah, a baby Koi.
:: head has since exploded and is still spinning::
I explained to him to please research Black Moores when he gets home,
and that Koi get like 30" long and should be in a pond, not a
tank...again, he's like Nooooo. Ok, I add research them too.
This guy is giving out "advice" on a daily basis to many newbies out
there.
He's just one guy. Look how many folks have horror stories of shop
employees spreading bull doo doo to the unknowing.
Now do understand that I spoke in a calm, nice mannor to this kid. It
was difficult, but I managed to do it.
I ended the conversation with him like this....
You work in a pet shop. You have fish tanks at home with fish you don't
know about, and that shouldn't be mixed together. You should really
learn about the creatures you are both selling and keeping. It's very
important.
He said he would Google Moores when he got home and bet he wouldn't
find anything about them getting around 8" long and a girth about the
size of a small orange.
I really hope he did. Not so I would be proven right, but for his own
knowledge, his fish, and the newbies he "advises".

As I noted in a much earlier reply on this long thread about using the
filter pad "swoosh" method of cycling, I have conducted side by side
comparisons of this method in one client where I set up several
aquariums at the same time and monitored the ammonia levels. There was
a pronounced ammonia spike with the "swoosh" method and none with a
healthy media exchange (and a reasonable amount of media was used).

As for my two cents on the inch per gallon (one cm per 2 liter?), I
have not recommended this for years, yet I will admit that for narrow
bodied fish such as neons I will still use this on occasion to explain.
But what I think is more important (and this was pointed out earlier in
the thread) are these factors:

*Surface area of the aquarium
*Type of fish, such as fish that naturally produce more waste (partly
do to the type of food they eat) such as goldfish where one fish per 8+
gallons is better.
*Filtration, a properly filtered aquarium with multiple filters is
important.
*Maintenance schedule
*New or experienced aquarist; new aquarist tend to over feed, often buy
cheap foods, listen to inexperienced PetsMart employees (LOL, could not
resist that one, but I found it to be true based on client feedback).

Carl
http://aquarium-info.blogspot.com/