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Thread: How to mature media?
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18-11-2020, 06:19 PM #1
How to mature media?
I plan to introduce a few small koi to my little grow on set up in a few weeks time.
In preparation for this, I'm not sure whether to attempt fishless cycling or just add one of the filter start products.
What's the general consensus? Opinions would be appreciated.
The water will be heated, once I've sourced some polycarb sheeting, for a lid.
The filter is a small box type unit, with sponges, some plastic bio media and also some K1.
Thanks.
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18-11-2020, 07:49 PM #2
I would set it up to mature fish less- it’s actually fun doing this if you are into science at all
Easiest way is to bring a bin of media indoors if you have a spare air pump to aerate it with- that way you don’t have to pay anything to heat it.
Filter start products are not exactly the holy grail they claim to be. They can help get you out of trouble with a sudden ammonia spike for a few days, but the jury is out on whether they actually do seed a biofilm any faster than if you just waited it out.
If the media is new, PP it first to give it a manganese oxide coating for the new biofilm to stick to (not if it’s that new K+ stuff tho which doesn’t need this).2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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18-11-2020, 09:56 PM #3
Thanks Feline.
I'll add a bottle of ammonia to our Ocado order for the weekend
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23-11-2020, 05:18 PM #4
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23-11-2020, 06:36 PM #5
I did some a few months ago, just put 50 litres of water into a medium sized water butt, stuck in 50 litres of K1 and PP'd it over night. I had an air pump going to an air stone in the bottom of the water butt to give it a bit of a mix up. I was told by one person to use HP to neutralise the PP and then was told by someone else to use ST. Apparentlyboth PP & HP are oxidising agents so not a good idea to use one to neutralise the other? Well that's how it was explained to me
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freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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23-11-2020, 06:45 PM #6
Cheers Frim. I've got some ST so will use that.
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Frimley Koi keeper, freddyboy Thanked / Liked this Post
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23-11-2020, 06:52 PM #7
I used HP as one of Manky Sanke's mates said it was the stuff to use specially if you aren't using it in a pond which is probably why the other person said about the oxidising agents issue? I've got ST too just couldn't be arsed to mix it up lol.
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23-11-2020, 06:56 PM #8
What works a treat too for mixing the PP'd water and K1 up is a small pond pump. I just happened to have to clean up a 3500 lph pump up at the same time as the K1 so left the cage on the pump and left it running. What with that and the little air pump it was churning very nicely.
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23-11-2020, 10:34 PM #9
Yes I would just soak it for a few hours then neutralise it before rinsing off with water.
Technically you could just rinse it off down the drain, but I don’t like putting active PP into the drainage system really, plus you don’t want to splash yourself in the eye with it by mistake etc. While it’s still purple.2016 new 6000 gallon pond
https://www.koiforum.uk/pond-construc...ghlight=feline
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23-11-2020, 10:58 PM #10
With the amount of chlorine in your mains water at the moment you could just soak it in that for a few minutes without the need for PP lol
Well down South you could
I ran the cold tap in the kitchen the other day and could smell chlorine quite clearly
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24-11-2020, 08:02 AM #11
when i pp all my k1 and helx 13 i left it soaking for 24 hours. then gave it all a good rinse with the garden hose. i have used st to neutralize before. and that left a slime coat
in my filters. but admittedly it does neutralize it. just needs a good rinse after lol
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24-11-2020, 09:01 AM #12
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24-11-2020, 09:16 AM #13
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24-11-2020, 09:37 AM #14
Just neutralised. Will be getting some ammonia in there later today.
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24-11-2020, 09:57 AM #15
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Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
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24-11-2020, 09:58 AM #16
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24-11-2020, 09:59 AM #17
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24-11-2020, 10:22 AM #18
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24-11-2020, 12:01 PM #19
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24-11-2020, 12:09 PM #20
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freddyboy, Frimley Koi keeper Thanked / Liked this Post
Running heater at low temp?
Covering the pond with polycarb should be enough to stop water temps dipping below 6C for the most...