What is Your System Bio-Load?

[leebca]

I can provide you with information regarding the bio-load capacity of your marine FOWLR system; how much bio-load is left over; and if the desired next addition(s) would be supported by the system.

It will take you diligently providing a complete picture of your system -- not just the aquarium, but the entire system. If you can provide ALL the info, I can get pretty accurate/reliable regarding the bio-load. You can copy and paste the list into a reply post with the answers, in the form needed.

If you’d like to have me estimate the bio-load capacity of your marine system, then supply the following information:
Display tank dimensions and volume in gallons. Is it a ‘high’ model?
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).
Does your system have any of the following?
Sump (what’s in the sump besides water?)
Refugium (what’s in the refugium, refugium volume in gallons, is it full, substrate kind and depth?)
Display tank substrate (kind and depth)
Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)
Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)
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)
Chemical filtration (carbon, resins, absorbent pads, phosphate removers, etc. – number and volume that passes through it)
Chemical reactors (phosphate only)

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.)
Water changes (how frequent and how much (gallons or percent of system volume))
When did the aquarium last cycle (how many months ago?)

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))
Shrimp (number and kinds)
Snails (number and sizes)
Crabs (kinds, number and sizes)
Anemones being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
Clams being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
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.

If you will be thorough in providing all the above, I can be pretty close to provide you an idea of where your system is at, bio-load speaking, and how much is available. Since the calculations are done using sub-adult sizes of livestock, the estimate will be for livestock that will mature over the years.

In general, the aquarist can increase the system’s bio-load capability by adding biological filtration (more live rock, additional circulation, other listed (above) filters, etc., and includes biological filtration occurring in the sump and refugium), chemical removers, size of the system, frequent maintenance and upkeep actions, and frequent large water changes. But, raising the bio-load capability of a system doesn’t mean that a certain fish can be put into it. That is, even if the bio-load capacity would match that of a 3' shark, a 40 gallon aquarium is not large enough to keep such a specimen.

Give me time to reply!

[wozza]

hey lee you gonna make this a sticky?

[leebca]

Probably not. I'll reference it now and then to those that may be interested. And. . .we'll see if anyone is interested now. ;;

[wozza]

well i will be, ill porbly post my system stats tonight.

[wozza]

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

36x18x18"
Volume 191 l./42 gal. (50.46 US gal.)
Probable volume 172 l./38 gal. (45 US gal.)


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).

display+sump= 55 us gal aprox

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

skimmer rated for a tank of 130 us gal
fluididized reactor with carbon and phosguard

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

no refugium, display sand is
60lbs of 0.1mm-1.2mm
20lbs 0.5mm-2.0mm aragamax

Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)
Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)

38lbs live rock

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

carbon and phosguard in fluidized reactor - 400lt/h

Chemical reactors (phosphate only)

see above

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.)

4 maxijets 900 = 4 x 920=3680lph
1 newjet 3000 return pump = 2500lph
=6180lph = 1632.58 US gph


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

10% , 20ltevery month

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

didnt cycle was a full system transfer, finnished transfer on 01-25-2007 before that tank was setup for 6-8 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))
Shrimp (number and kinds)
Snails (number and sizes)
Crabs (kinds, number and sizes)
Anemones being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
Clams being fed bits of seafood (size and number)
etc.

1x 1.5" Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris clownfish
1x 2.25" Amphiprion percula - Percula clownfish
1x 2.5" Centropyge bispinosus - coral beauty
1x 2.5" Pseudocheilinus hexataenia - six line wrasse

1x 5" dia BTA fed once a week on 2.5" silver side
1x 4.5" Tridacna derasa
8x Trochus snail
10 x Nassarius sp.
5x Cerithium sp.
2x Lysmata amboinensis - skunk cleaner shrimp


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.

i would take out the six line wrasse then add
3x Carpenter's Flasher Wrasse - Paracheilinus carpenteri


Thanks james

[Fishyz]

My tank isn't set up yet, but i'm starting to consider my fish list. my question is, how many bio-units do hippo tangs tank up? Sorry if this question is in the wrong thread, but I know that you will know the answer

[leebca]

Fishyz,

In my scheme, the juvenile (1" to 3") Pacific Blue Tang (a.k.a. Regal Blue Tang), Paracanthurus hepatus will take up 3 bio-load units. After that, the bio-load will increase about 1 bio-load unit per 0.75 inches.

I rate the sub-adult at 5 bio-load units. The juvenile should be in an aquarium of at least 6 feet long; the sub-adult should be in aquarium at least 8 feet long.

[leebca]

James,

The capacity of your system is approximately 12 bio-load units. I would note that your circulation is high, but the rock content is a bit low. The high circulation can compensate for the reduced rock, but only up to a point. The system is short on biological filtration, from what I can tell.

Current bio-load consumption:
2 . .1x 1.5" Amphiprion ocellaris - Ocellaris clownfish
2.5 . .1x 2.25" Amphiprion percula - Percula clownfish
3. . .1x 2.5" Centropyge bispinosus - coral beauty
2.5 . .1x 2.5" Pseudocheilinus hexataenia - six line wrasse

The other marine life takes up about 3 bio-load units. If the Anemonefish decide to be a mated pair, the female will go to about 3 bio-load units and the male will be about 2 units.

The system is on the edge and could be lightened up some. The switch of the wrasse for the 3 wrasses would be to deduct 2.5 and add 6. I think this would be a strain on the system.

[wozza]

ok thanks lee, i pretty much thought my tank was at it limit the way it is.
if i was to add a further 22lbs of live rock how would that effect things?

thanks james

[leebca]

Another 70 pounds of live rock will of course take up swimming space but add back about 5 bio-load units. The 22 pounds still makes the aquarium about half of what is desired for a FOWLR aquarium and would provide the system with another 1-2 unit capability. This would make the system proper for its current load.

[wozza]

WOW 70lbs more im affraid there is litrely not enough room in the tank for that much rock.
the rock i have in there at the moment takes up about 1/3 of the room as it is. adding twice that and some again would be impossible.

cheers james

[leebca]

That's the value (one of them) of the sump. Up to about 15% of the rock (that's where (or in the refugium) I keep the rubble) can be put into the sump. If you cut back on the internal flow and put that flow through the sump, you can further increase the bio-load ability if the sump area contributes to the biological filter. It's a balance of circulation and rock surface. Right now you have an extraordinary circulation inside the display tank and average through the sump. This is relatively normal since your sump is acting as a place for further water treatment. But if additional biological filtration was associated with the function of the sump (e.g. base rock, substrate, trickle, bio-balls, etc.) with that or an increased flow through the sump, the bio-load unit capability would increase.

[wozza]

so if i put say 15lbs of rock in my sump, and added a power head in the sump pointing directly at the rock and add a further 15lbs to the main display would that be good?
i know your calculateing(sp?) all this for a FOWLR setup but im trying to go more on the reef side of things, does this make a difference?

thanks james

[leebca]

Leaning towards the reef aquarium, the calculation now has to take into account nitrates. Nitrates are best kept under control at the source of their production.

The source of the majority of nitrogen waste is in the display tank, so the rock (majority) must be there to process nitrates. Base rock in the sump would support nitrification, but live rock in the display will perform the most efficient biological filtration (both nitrification and denitrification).

That being written, and the interest more towards a reef system, then you are probably better adding any additional live rock to the display.

[wozza]

haha oh god, this "hobby" is never simple is it.
well so far my nitrates have been undectiable with my test kit same for phosphates so i guess that is a good sign?

well ill stop anoying you with my questions anyway thanks for the insight to my system.

cheers james

[leebca]

You're never an annoyance, James. I have always enjoyed your posts.

With the balance being as it is, I would leave things alone.

[wozza]

You're never an annoyance, James. I have always enjoyed your posts.

thanks, good to know.

With the balance being as it is, I would leave things alone.

ok, that sounds like something i might be able to mannage...well for now at least.

.................................................. .................................................

Ok lee, your gonna regreat saying im not anoying.

i have another question for you, in sept this year im gonna have to take my system down as im off to uni to do a marine biology degree.
when ive finnished that i wanna set up a BIG tank with loads of my fave fish.

questions is what size tank would i need to house permentaly?
Blue Tang
(Paracanthurus hepatus)
Yellow Tang - Hawaii
(Zebrasoma flavescens)
Sailfin Tang
(Zebrasoma veliferum)
2x Powder Blue Tang
(Acanthurus leucosternon)
Achilles Tang
(Acanthurus achilles)

2-3 of the large angel fish
2-3 of the drawf angel fish

10 anthias

2x bluestripe clownfish
(Amphiprion chrysopterus)

5x flasher/fairy wrasse

Copperband Butterflyfish
(Chelmon rostratus)

maybe a couple of other "reef safe" butterflys.

haha PIPE DREAM but hey i might be one of the sucsessfull marine biologists!

cheers james

[leebca]

The wish list isn't a bad one. The large Angels will get along if their size differential is big enough. I'd give up on the the two Powder Blue. They alone would require an extremely large aquarium (500+ gallons) to cope with each other. If those two don't have to be addressed, and you don't want to add anything to the actual list, and you can give up the Anthias, a 300+ gallon aquarium with sump and refugium would do well.

If you really want the two PBT, then might as well do the 500 gallon aquarium, with sump and refugium and then you can add back the Anthias and second PBT, and then add the extra Butterflyfishes, choosing 4 dwarf Angels and 3 large.

.

[wozza]

exelent not as bad as a thorght it was gonna be. i could have a tank 10'x3'x3'+sump+refugium and be able to have more fish!
hmmmm....one day

[ralphie16]

Wow Lee, I've just found this forum recently but the incredible contributions you make to this forum is so very appreciated. I fyou dont mind, would you take a stab at my bioload?


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

40 gallon cube (24Lx18Wx24H)

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).

~55 gallons

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

Refugium (what’s in the refugium, refugium volume in gallons, is it full, substrate kind and depth?)
Fuge is just a part of the sump sectioned off.
~10 gallons, ~10 lbs live rock rubble, ball of cheato under fluorescent light fixture

Display tank substrate (kind and depth)
4" sand

Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)
None

Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)
~70 lbs (25 lbs buried under sand)

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)
None.

Chemical filtration (carbon, resins, absorbent pads, phosphate removers, etc. – number and volume that passes through it)
None. Might add carbon reactor in future if needed.

Chemical reactors (phosphate only)
None. Might add phosphate reactor in future if needed.

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.)
1400 gph powerheads
500 gph return pump (accounting for head loss)

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

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

Fish (give common and scientific name, length of fish from nose to tail-base (caudal peduncle))
Two (2) Stonogobiops yashia = 1.5" each
Three (3) Amblyeleotris randalli = 2", 1.5", 1"


Shrimp (number and kinds)
2 scarlet skunk cleaner shrimp
1 camel shrimp
Banded pistol shrimp (living with gobies)

Snails (number and sizes)
cerith = 5
bumble bee = 2
nassarius = 10
nerite = 5

then, if you want more livestock, indicate what livestock you want to add:

4-5 (curious wormfish) Gunnelichthys curiosus
or
1 fairy/flasher wrasse (not decided on appropriate species yet)

Thanks again!