[AGA Member] Re: automatic substrate surface cleaning system

["Karen Randall" <krandall@rdrcpa.biz>]

Hi Michael,

I don't have a lot of time to chat at the moment, as I am in a frenzy of packing to leave for Europe on Saturday.  In the mean time, I have forwarded your letter to the AGA member's list so that you can get input from others.  If you are an AGA member, and not already a member of the mailing list, you can join via the AGA web site.

I have no experience with a set up like this, and it wouldn't be my preference.  I also don't have the slightest idea what "Agra-alive" is.  I don't find vacuuming much of a headache, since you need to do water changes anyway.  I just vacuum as I do the water change.  The material that settles into the gravel of a planted tank is just extra "plant food", so there's no real reason to remove more than what sits on the surface.  If you don't want to vacuum that, it's easy enough to just blow a couple of powerheads across the substrate surface to keep it in suspension until the filters pick it up.

>> Question is...what are the fatal flaws with this in my new plans for a planted discus tank...if any?? Would the short daily intervals of air bubbles be an issue with roots...the laterite beneath the air wands...aerobic/anaerobic conditions...the fish...etc??? <<

I have no idea of the affect on the fish, other than knowing that discus aren't keen on disturbances.  I WOULD be concerned about all the other issues, plus it would certainly play havoc with the "gentle convection currents" that Dupla cables hope to establish.

Certainly this is far from what is advocated in the Optimum Aquarium, and not something that has any benefit to the tank.  And though it may save you time vacuuming, it seems to me that the time you spend there will be used up in extra filter maintenance.  If you go forward with this, I'd think of it much more as an experiment in engineering than something based on the needs of the plants and fish.  I suppose the good thing is that if worst comes to worst, you just don't turn it on.

Wish I could be more positive about your endeavor, but my feeling has always been "KISS", particularly for novice aquatic gardeners.  When you can successfully maintain a planted aquarium using tried and true methods, then is the time that it makes sense to start experimenting. (if you still want to ;-)

Karen


Karen A. Randall
krandall@rdrcpa.biz
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Michael Milliner 
  To: krandall@rdrcpa.biz 
  Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2003 2:13 PM
  Subject: automatic substrate surface cleaning system


  Hello,
   
  My name is Michael Milliner...a newcomer to aquatic gardening!!  I've seen your name connected with the AGA and various articles...am hoping you might be so kind as to comment on a question I have...or point me in the right direction.
   
  I've had a 55 gallon community tank (non-planted) for 2 1/2 years and am ready to "expand my horizons" with a 105 gallon planted Discus tank (as close to the Dupla "optimum aquarium" model as possible).  I'm hoping to install a substrate surface "flushing system" that's worked well in my current tank by automatically removing the build-up of surface waste which otherwise has to be vacuumed (not seemingly desirable in a heavily planted tank due to the time required, difficulty in doing a good job and potential plant damage).

  I'm planning on using Dupla heating cables in the lower 1 1/2" of substrate (which is "Agra Alive" mixed with laterite). This first 1 1/2" would be followed with a series of airwands placed about 2" apart. The heating cables, substrate/laterite mix and air wands would then be overlaid with a fiber mesh (for protection from roots and planting disturbance). This "assembly" would then be covered with another 3" of Agra Alive.

  Once a day portions of the substrate would be flushed in sequence with air bubbles (on timers) for about 30 minutes.  There would be three intervals of flushing...each covering 1/3 of the bottom surface area. Therefore, the Discus always have 2/3 of undisturbed tank to congregate in during the 1 1/2 hour flushing cycle.

  Idea is to blow fish waste, food, plant bits, etc. up into the water daily where it can be easily picked up by the surface skimmers serving two Fluval 404 canister filters.  The Fluvals each have 50 micron prefilters in separate canisters which are easily cleaned every two days top minimize break down of wastes and increasing Nitrates. The canister filters themselves would therefore be used primarily to support large bacteria colonies. 

  In my current tank this not only prevents the vacuuming headache but does an extra-thorough cleaning job every day and keeps things good looking all the time with no "human input".  Question is...what are the fatal flaws with this in my new plans for a planted discus tank...if any?? Would the short daily intervals of air bubbles be an issue with roots...the laterite beneath the air wands...aerobic/anaerobic conditions...the fish...etc???

  I'd really appreciate any guidance you might provide!! Looking forward to getting things up and running soon...and participating in AGA!!

  Thanks!!
  Michael Milliner


--- StripMime Report -- processed MIME parts ---
multipart/alternative
  text/plain (text body -- kept)
  text/html
---
 ------------------
 To unsubscribe from this list, please send mail to majordomo@thekrib.com
 with "Unsubscribe aga-member" in the body of the message.  Archives of
 this list can be found at http://lists.thekrib.com/aga-member/