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  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
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    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.



  2. #2
    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    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).

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  4. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
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    Thanks Feline.
    I'll add a bottle of ammonia to our Ocado order for the weekend

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  6. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Feline View Post
    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).
    Feline. How long do you think the K1 needs to be in the PP solution and also should I neutralise it with HP prior to starting the cycling?

    Thanks.

  7. #5
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by g mac View Post
    Feline. How long do you think the K1 needs to be in the PP solution and also should I neutralise it with HP prior to starting the cycling?

    Thanks.
    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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  9. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
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    Cheers Frim. I've got some ST so will use that.

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  11. #7
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    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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  13. #8
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    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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    Moderator Rank = Supreme Champion Feline's Avatar
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    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.

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  17. #10
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    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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  19. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    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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  21. #12
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    It's like washing your hair Fred, rinse and repeat

    Aww yes

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  23. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion Frimley Koi keeper's Avatar
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    Morning Fred, how's things with you?

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  25. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
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    Just neutralised. Will be getting some ammonia in there later today.

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  27. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frimley Koi keeper View Post
    It's like washing your hair Fred, rinse and repeat

    Aww yes
    morning mate baldy myself. no rinse

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  29. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Frimley Koi keeper View Post
    Morning Fred, how's things with you?
    good mate hope your well.

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  31. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by g mac View Post
    Just neutralised. Will be getting some ammonia in there later today.
    good on you mate.

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  33. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai g mac's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by freddyboy View Post
    good on you mate.
    Best laid plans and all that. Just leant over to pick up my cup from the coffee table and excruciating pain shot down my back, followed by pain when trying to move
    Now laid out with a heat pad against the painful bit.

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  35. #19
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by g mac View Post
    Best laid plans and all that. Just leant over to pick up my cup from the coffee table and excruciating pain shot down my back, followed by pain when trying to move
    Now laid out with a heat pad against the painful bit.
    Hope it clears up soon mate.

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

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  37. #20
    Senior Member Rank = Mature Champion dbs's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by g mac View Post
    Best laid plans and all that. Just leant over to pick up my cup from the coffee table and excruciating pain shot down my back, followed by pain when trying to move
    Now laid out with a heat pad against the painful bit.
    Gawd that doesn't sound good Gary

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