What is Your System Bio-Load?

[ralphie16]

Shoot, forgot to mention that I have a 10" arm tip to arm tip diameter Red Brittle Star. His entire disk actually melted about 2 months ago but with vigilant care he is not 90% recovered and doing great. Got some VERY weird picture of him right after he melted due to poor water quality. He was pretty much just the arm connected by a very thing ring, central disk 99% gone. Pretty miraculous he survived but now I have to keep him forever ;-)

[leebca]

ralphie16,

Your system has some significant biological advantages, beginning with the shape of the tank (cubes are pretty good), substrate, and circulation. Good job!

The question is why bury the 25 pounds of live rock? Not sure why this is, but this amount of rock has to be subtracted from the total since it is not 'open' to the display tank water circulation.

Your system also has some interesting characteristics, not to mention the relationship between the Goby(ies) and the Pistol Shrimp.

The bio-load capacity of your system I figure to be about 15 units.

The bio-load so far consumed by inhabitants I figure to be about 9 units (which accounts for growth - so no more has to be subtracted as the occupants grow).

Allow each Curious Wormfish one bio-load unit each;
Allow a Fairy Wrasse about 3-4 bio-load units, depending upon species.

With all the Gobies, you might want to 'balance' the aquarium with fish that swim in the middle region of the tank (e.g., Chromis). The Wormfish will partially do this part, although with such a relatively 'peaceful tank' it could stock the Sphaeramia sp. Cardinal fishes.

If the 25 pounds of rock were open to the display tank circulation, you could boost the bio-load capacity to about 17 units.

Good luck!

You want

[Poseidon]

I'll give this a go, I may miss out on a couple of proper names though.... Thanks Lee!

Display tank dimensions and volume in gallons. Is it a ‘high’ model?

90 Gallons, 48x18x24 tall

Water in entire system in gallons (exclude substrate, rock, decorations; don’t include just tank and sump sizes – estimate the amount of water in the system).

120 gallons +/- 10 Gallons

Does your system have any of the following?
Sump (what’s in the sump besides water?)

Yes, 40 lbs of Live rock, and an area that grows Chaeto algae. I have about 4-5 POUNDS of Chaeto at any one time.


Refugium (what’s in the refugium, refugium volume in gallons, is it full, substrate kind and depth?)

Nope.


Display tank substrate (kind and depth)

Southdown Sand, 4-5"

Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)

Poly floss, in the overflow, changed about every 10 days or so. My Reef Creations MR-2 Skimmer.

Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)

110 pounds.

Any additional biological filtration (undergravel filter, trickle, bio-balls, etc.; give sizes/dimensions and volume of gallons per hour that might be passing through these types of filters)

Nope.

Chemical filtration (carbon, resins, absorbent pads, phosphate removers, etc. – number and volume that passes through it)

Nope.

Chemical reactors (phosphate only)

Nope.

More information about the system:
Circulation (total system water volume in gallons that is circulated by powerheads, pumps inside and outside the aquarium, filter pumps, etc.)

2 Nano Streams in the tank, 600 GPH each, return with Penductor, about 500 GPH of actual volume coming through the jet, but I read claims of 4 to 1 because of the venturi effect and the water that is pulled in from the sides... so total in the tank approx 3000 GPH.

Water changes (how frequent and how much (gallons or percent of system volume))

20 gallons per month.

When did the aquarium last cycle (how many months ago?)

The tank had a mini cycle when I moved into the house 17 months ago, the rock has been with me 5 years, and the sandbed 2 now.

To determine how much of the system’s biological bio-load has been committed to the livestock, list all livestock that produces nitrogen wastes (NOTE: nitrogen wastes are produced by livestock that you are feeding; livestock that lives on light only does not have to be listed):
Fish (give common and scientific name, length of fish from nose to tail-base (caudal peduncle))

2 A Ocellaris, 1 3.5" the other 2"
2 Genicanthus Angels, 1 4" the other 3"
1 Pseudochromis, about 3"
1 Purple Tang, 3"
1 Gobie, 3" I do not have a positive ID on this one yet.
2 Bangaii Cardinals, less then 1" each


Shrimp (number and kinds)

0

Snails (number and sizes)

24-30 Trochus Snails, about 1" each
2 Mexican Turbos, 2" each
8 Money Cowries, 3/4-1" each
12 Nassarious Vibex 1/4-1/2" each
12 Cerith about 1" long shells
12-16 Astraea Snails, 1"

Crabs (kinds, number and sizes)

0

Anemones being fed bits of seafood (size and number)

0

Clams being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
etc.

0

then, if you want more livestock, indicate what livestock you want to add:
Fish (give common and scientific name)
Shrimp (kinds and numbers)
Snails (kinds, numbers, and sizes)
Crabs (kinds, numbers, and sizes)

Maybe a trio of small flasher wrasse's. I haven't picked a species yet though.

Here are a couple images that may help:






(This was when I still had a single Tunze 6060)



Personally, I think I am full, but with all the flow I have, and the large Skimmer, 57W UV, and the volume of water/rock/sand I think I may be able to squeeze in a few small wrasse...

[leebca]

Poseidon,

Welcome!

I'd assign your current system a bio-load capacity of about 24 units.

The units already alloted by the livestock totals 21 without including the mystery Goby. Depending upon the Goby it may require 2 or 3 bio-load units.

The current system seems to be at its comfortable capacity. The rock is on the low side for a fully functional FOWLR system, however the DSB does add back denitrification properties (but it doesn't do a lot for nitrification. That is, the surface of the sand bed is where nitrification occurs on the substrate.) Another 90-100 pounds of LR in the display could provide another 3-4 bio-load units.

The bio-load capacity is notched up a bit by virtue of the fact of the good control over organics your systems has. Good job!

[ralphie16]

ralphie16,

The question is why bury the 25 pounds of live rock? Not sure why this is, but this amount of rock has to be subtracted from the total since it is not 'open' to the display tank water circulation.

Your system also has some interesting characteristics, not to mention the relationship between the Goby(ies) and the Pistol Shrimp.

I have the rock under the sand because the pistol shrimp digs under the rocks and all the books I read state to not just put the rocks on sand because the tunnels will undermine the rockwork. I have the live rock in the water column sitting on top of the rocks under the sand. Hope that explains it clearly.

Is this bad?

[leebca]

I think I'm getting the picture. Maybe I'm confused by the 'under the sand' statement?

Are the rocks sitting on the bare bottom of the aquarium then the sand put around the rocks? This would be normal landscaping, especially with marine life that burrows. Is this the meaning of the buried rocks?

[ralphie16]

yes. so they dont count right?

[leebca]

Yes. They don't count for biological filtration. Only for the fact that they don't have excellent exposure to your circulation. There may have been other ways to take advantage of the live rock's biological ability, yet still configure the landscaping the way you wanted.

[weez1959]

Ok, here I go...

Display tank dimensions and volume in gallons. Is it a ‘high’ model?
90 gallon, 48x18x24 high

Water in entire system in gallons (exclude substrate, rock, decorations; don’t include just tank and sump sizes – estimate the amount of water in the system).
82 gallons including sump water, this is close to exact, it was measured as it was going in to the system.

Does your system have any of the following?
Sump (what’s in the sump besides water?)
32 gallon sump with 4" sandbed and15 pounds live rock
waiting to get Chaeto

Refugium (what’s in the refugium, refugium volume in gallons, is it full, substrate kind and depth?)
15 gallons water volume in fuge, full,4" aragonite sand
Display tank substrate (kind and depth)
150 pounds Aragamax select, 4"

Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)
Aqua C Remora Pro 300 gph

Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)
140 pounds

Any additional biological filtration (undergravel filter, trickle, bio-balls, etc.; give sizes/dimensions and volume of gallons per hour that might be passing through these types of filters)
no

Chemical filtration (carbon, resins, absorbent pads, phosphate removers, etc. – number and volume that passes through it)
Chemical reactors (phosphate only)
Phosban Phosphate Reactor, 106 gph

More information about the system:
Circulation (total system water volume in gallons that is circulated by powerheads, pumps inside and outside the aquarium, filter pumps, etc.)
tunze 6060 1585gph, Hydor Coralia 4 1200gph, mag 9 return pump 800gph, =total water moved 3585gph

Water changes (how frequent and how much (gallons or percent of system volume))
12 gallons every 2 weeks

When did the aquarium last cycle (how many months ago?)
New tank, didn't go through a cycle, used rock from my old system plus additional rock that was already cured and kept curing in a separate tank.


To determine how much of the system’s biological bio-load has been committed to the livestock, list all livestock that produces nitrogen wastes (NOTE: nitrogen wastes are produced by livestock that you are feeding; livestock that lives on light only does not have to be listed):
Fish (give common and scientific name, length of fish from nose to tail-base (caudal peduncle))
3 - 1.25" Blue Green Chromis, Chromis viridis
1 - 2" False Percula Clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris
1 - 1.25 False Percula Clownfish, Amphiprion ocellaris
2 - 1" Yellow Clown Gobys, Gobiodon okinawae
1 - 2.5" Coral Beauty Angelfish, Centropyge bispinosus
1 - 1.25" Pajama Cardinalfish, Sphaeramia nematoptera
1 -3" Ornate goby, Istigobius ornatus
2 - 2.25" Bartlett's Anthias, Pseudanthias bartlettorum


Shrimp (number and kinds)
2 Cleaner Shrimp, Lysmata amboinensis
1 Peppermint Shrimp, Lysmata wurdemani

Snails (number and sizes)
12 - Margarita Snails
12 - Bumble Bee Snails
12 - misc ?? snails
not exact numbers but in those areas

Crabs (kinds, number and sizes)
1 - Emerald crab
10 - blue leg hermits, yup I know, I shouldn't have them but my hubby loves them!
1 - 2" electric blue leg hermit also

Anemones being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
0

Clams being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
1 - 4" Crocea

etc.

then, if you want more livestock, indicate what livestock you want to add:
Fish (give common and scientific name)
Shrimp (kinds and numbers)
Snails (kinds, numbers, and sizes)
Crabs (kinds, numbers, and sizes)
etc.

[leebca]

You have what I would call a 'high-end' system. Meaning its ability to handle nitrogen wastes is very, very good.

The capacity of the system is about 25 bio-load units.

The current nitrogen producing marine life is putting out roughly 26 bio-load units of demand.

Your system is maxed out. In time, as the system ages more, there could be additonal bio-load, but then, you would expect your marine life to grow.

Bumble Bee snails are snail killers. Together with the hermit crabs you can expect your snail population to slowly diminish.

[weez1959]

Thanks Lee,
I know about the hermits, but my husband loves them so they must stay, as for the bumblebees, I didn't know that they were killers, I'll take them out as I see them but mostly I never see them, mostly they disapear into the substrate
I originally ordered 4 anthias last month but 2 arrived DOA so I have just 2 of them and since they were introduced into the tank last night they seem to be fighting I hope this passes...

[Clay12340]

Lee,

Do you have an article explaining some of your calculations? It would be interesting to see how various aspects affect bio-filtration in your eyes without having to present a matrix of cases to you.

Anyhow here goes:

Display tank dimensions and volume in gallons. Is it a ‘high’ model?

16.5" L x 15" W x 16.5" H 12 gallon aquapod

Water in entire system in gallons (exclude substrate, rock, decorations; don’t include just tank and sump sizes – estimate the amount of water in the system).
Estimated 8 gallons

Does your system have any of the following?
Sump (what’s in the sump besides water?)
No
Refugium (what’s in the refugium, refugium volume in gallons, is it full, substrate kind and depth?)
~1 gallon full of 2lbs rock rubble and a ball of chaeto
(This is actually a rear chambers of the aquapod and I excluded it from my estimated gallon)
Display tank substrate (kind and depth)
Aragonite sand .5-2.0mm ~2"
Aragonite sand .1-1.0 ~1.5"
Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)
AquaC remora skimmer 295 gph
Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)
~25lbs
Any additional biological filtration (undergravel filter, trickle, bio-balls, etc.; give sizes/dimensions and volume of gallons per hour that might be passing through these types of filters)
Nothing
Chemical filtration (carbon, resins, absorbent pads, phosphate removers, etc. – number and volume that passes through it)
Carbon, Chemipure, and Purigen were recently removed.
Chemical reactors (phosphate only)
none
More information about the system:
Circulation (total system water volume in gallons that is circulated by powerheads, pumps inside and outside the aquarium, filter pumps, etc.)
Maxijet 1200 295gph
Water changes (how frequent and how much (gallons or percent of system volume))
2 gallons every 1-2 weeks
When did the aquarium last cycle (how many months ago?)
8 months, but added more fully cured rock and rearranged after the first 2 months.
To determine how much of the system’s biological bio-load has been committed to the livestock, list all livestock that produces nitrogen wastes (NOTE: nitrogen wastes are produced by livestock that you are feeding; livestock that lives on light only does not have to be listed):
Fish (give common and scientific name, length of fish from nose to tail-base (caudal peduncle))
Hi-Finned Red Banded Shrimpgoby - Stenogobiops Nematodes 1.5"
Flaming Prawn Goby - Discordipinna Griessingeri 0.5"
Shrimp (number and kinds)
1 x Skunk Cleaner - Lysmata amboinensis
1 x Sexy Shrimp - Thor amboinensis
1 x Glass Anemone Shrimp - Periclimenes brevicarpalis
Snails (number and sizes)
3 x Astraea Snails 1" each
6 x Nassarius Snails < .5 "
1 x Nassarius Snail 1" (Larger Species possibly Nassarius distortus)
1 x Nerite .75"
2 x Cerith .75"
2 x Strombus < .5" (lots of tiny babies as well)
That is a lot of snails when it's all listed like that ...


Crabs (kinds, number and sizes)
1 x Dwarf Blue Hermit
Anemones being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
none
Clams being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
etc.
none

then, if you want more livestock, indicate what livestock you want to add:
A Helfrichi Firefish Nemateleotris helfrichi would be nice, but I'm about 99% sure the system won't handle another fish.
Fish (give common and scientific name)
Shrimp (kinds and numbers)
Snails (kinds, numbers, and sizes)
Crabs (kinds, numbers, and sizes)
etc.

[leebca]

Clay,

Thanks for posting. No article as yet. I tried to make it simple, but it just isn't.

The estimated bio-load capability of your system is between 3 and 4 bio-load units. It would move more towards 4 if it was chemically treated (which you indicated was recently removed). The skimmer and the size and frequency of your water changes give you a very positive edge in this system.

The current bio-load on the system is approximately 4. Yes. That is a lot of snails for that size system.

[Clay12340]

All of the larger snails actually came as "freebies" in little detritivore packs. I just never got around to fishing them out and giving them to someone with a larger tank. I guess I'll get around to that sometime soon.

You mentioned tall tanks being nice and I was curious if you could elaborate a little more on how tank dimensions factor into a system's ability to support biological filtration? I had always thought it was a matter of visual appeal and swimming distance for your fish. I didn't realize it would have an impact on how your tank processes the bio-load.

Also, how do you calculate the appropriate ratio of flow to live rock to allow for ideal levels of biological filtration? I've just tried to prevent dead spots and provide a decent amount of turn over up till now.

[leebca]

You mentioned tall tanks being nice

Sorry if I did that. It is just the opposite. The shorter, longer tanks are the best design for most marine fishes. As you point out, they need to swim. Fish don't travel up and down, they travel left to right/right to left. It's the horizontal dimension that is important.

The thing about the snails is that they may starve to death. Your system is not likely to be able to support their nutritional needs. If you miss seeing a dead snail, it will begin to rot and it could have a major, negative impact on the water quality. In a large system, this isn't such an issue, but in yours, it could spell devastation.

The best or optimum ratio of LR to marine life in a FOWLR system is to have about 2 lbs of LR per gallon in the system. Circulation must be no less than 8, but 10 times the system volume per hour flow is optimal for a FOWLR system. Once you have optimum, then there is no better. That is, the system has 'topped out' as far as biological filtration in LR goes. The circulation (I am assuming) is done properly -- no dead places.

I've just tried to prevent dead spots and provide a decent amount of turn over up till now.

That is exactly what to do.