The Evolution of a Filtration System Part 2

[shadow=Black, 2, 300]This is the bio-load, as of today, Sunday, March 16, 2003. Before the end of the month, it should be quite a bit more than this:[/shadow]

[shadow=black, 2, 300]Corals:
Colt Coral
Toadstool Leather
Cabbage Leather
Finger Leather
Encrusting Gorgonians (2)
Purple Fan Gorgonian
Brown Polyp / Green Centers
Brown Polyp / Brown Centers
Green Polyp / Green Centers
Brown Sea Mat
Yellow Polyps
Green Goniopora
Red Mushrooms
Green Striped Mushrooms
Brown/Green Hairy Mushrooms
Metallic Mushrooms
Red Button (Scolymia)
Yellow Lobophylia
Large Hawaiian Feather Duster
Bubble-tip Anenome
Large Flower Anenome
4 small "unknown" anenomes [/shadow]

[shadow=black, 2, 300]Fish:
Checkerboard Wrasse
Carpenter's Filament Wrasse
Yellow-tailed Tubelip Wrasse
Mimic Tang (juvenile "Chocolate Tang)
Maroon Clown
Scooter Blenny
Black Sailfin Blenny
Orchid Dottyback
Strawberry Pseudochromis
Flame Angel[/shadow]

[shadow=black, 2, 300]Inverts:
Skunk Cleaner Shrimp
Peppermint Shrimp
Gray Serpent Star
Many Scarlet Hermit Crabs
Many Blue-Leg Hermit Crabs
Many Turbo/Astrea Snails
Many Nassarius Snails [/shadow]

[shadow=Black, 2, 300]Well, I've told you about my monster protein skimmer, and you've seen my ridiculous bioload (for a 58g tank). I just wanted you to know, that I do "cheat" a little. As my signature says, I have a 20g DIY sump with a refugium. Its' baffled so that the refugium sits in the middle of the sump. I enjoy showing pictues of it, as often as possible, so one more time, this is now the "BEFORE" picture:[/shadow]

 

That is why I like hangin with you,, [smiley=thumbs_up.gif]
I learn something new almost everyday, hehe
I will start to increase my Bio-Load to half of what you have, Wrassman,,,,,
Cause, i'm [smiley=wacky.gif]

 

Whoa cool. I see someone discovered the shadow effect!  8) Nice Wrassman.

If you can't read his text very well click the 'light-switch' on the lower left side a bunch of times.  

Wow, Wrassman, you got a lot in that tank. But let's talk about that sump. C'mon I'll bite.  ;D

 

As I said, that picture is my "BEFORE" picture of my sump. I have been using bio-balls in the "from tank" side for years now (probably 10yrs or so). I used them as a cheap alternative to live rock. The only way they can work that way is if you keep them sumberged 24/7. I was using other parts of my system to reduce the nitrates produced by the bio-balls (not much, I thought, but measureable).

Then I started hanging out with my German friends at meerwasserforum.com. After a few conversations with them, I realized that I was definitely producing MORE nitrates than I should, and that if I would remove the bio-balls that I would have nitrate levels that were not measureable.

So, that brings me to the next chapter of my series, which requires a new picture, and an explanation of what it is I'm trying to accomplish NOW. ;D

 

Jeez what are trying to build up suspense Wrassman, or is that going in part 3?
Let's see the new pics!

;D :

 

Matt,
That's why I love that guy [smiley=iloveyou.gif],
He keeps you on the seat of your pants [smiley=thinking2.gif],
When you think you know it, [smiley=stop.gif]
Here comes Wrassman, with a different point of view...
Exciting, huh... [smiley=laugh.gif]