New Nitrifying Bacteria Experiment.

The three pictures below - show - 1. the two experimental tanks lit - 2. The 2 tanks with one dark (as explained) - and 3. The original tank from which the sump rock - and the lit rock came today. Hope this helps - The ammonia - by some miracle came today - I will do preliminary measures tomorrow - and then show pictures of before and after ammonia addition. I believe someone requested a day or so of the rock in a tank - before adding ammonia.
 

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EXPERIMENT 2, Day 1. Ammonia added.

Tank 1 (Left) - dark Sump Rock
Tank 2 (Right) - lit x 12 hours Tank

1. All parameters stable
2. Ammonia 0 pre-addition, 2 ppm after addition. Seachem in 'Alert' Range After.
3. Nitrite/Nitrate 0
4. Will Measure every 6 hours.
5. Note will remove Seachem pH indicator - only for use in Fresh water
E1D1 XLS.png

Tank 1 and 2 pre ammonia addition
Exp 1 Day 2. - 1.jpeg

Tank 2 Rock
Exp 1 Day 2. - 2.jpeg

Tank 1 Rock
Exp 1 Day 2. - 3.jpeg

Tank 1 and 2 pH
Exp 1 Day 2. - 4.jpeg

Tank 1 and 2 PO4
Exp 1 Day 2. - 5.jpeg

Tank 1 After ammonia
Exp 1 Day 2. - 6.jpeg

Tank 2 after Ammonia
Exp 1 Day 2. - 7.jpeg

Tank 1 and 2 Ammonia after 2 ppm
Exp 1 Day 2. - 8.jpeg
 
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EXPERIMENT 2, Day 1. Ammonia added.

Tank 1 (Left) - dark Sump Rock
Tank 2 (Right) - lit x 12 hours Tank

1. All parameters stable
2. Ammonia 0 pre-addition, 2 ppm after addition. Seachem in 'Alert' Range After.
3. Nitrite/Nitrate 0
4. Will Measure every 6 hours.
5. Note will remove Seachem pH indicator - only for use in Fresh water
E1D1 XLS.png

Tank 1 and 2 pre ammonia addition
Exp 1 Day 2. - 1.jpeg

Tank 2 Rock
Exp 1 Day 2. - 2.jpeg

Tank 1 Rock
Exp 1 Day 2. - 3.jpeg

Tank 1 and 2 pH
Exp 1 Day 2. - 4.jpeg

Tank 1 and 2 PO4
Exp 1 Day 2. - 5.jpeg

Tank 1 After ammonia
Exp 1 Day 2. - 6.jpeg

Tank 2 after Ammonia
Exp 1 Day 2. - 7.jpeg

Tank 1 and 2 Ammonia after 2 ppm
Exp 1 Day 2. - 8.jpeg
Did you got 2ppm with 16 drops?
 
Did you got 2ppm with 16 drops?
Well. Thats an interesting question. I used 4 drops in a gallon of water - to test it - and got 1 ppm. I found the drops to be extremely difficult to keep consistent - so I just made up a solution with 2 PPM - and used that.
 
Experiment DAY 2 - 12 hours after adding ammonia:

Tank 1: Sump rock in dark. Ammonia 1-2 ppm - clearly lower by test - not as much by photo - by API. Still 'Alert' per Seachem
Tank 2: Tank rock light 12 hours/day. Ammonia 1-2 Clearly lower by test - difficult to see on photo. Still 'Alert' per Seachem

Nitrite - 0 in both tanks. Other parameters the same.

Vial on Left - Tank 1, Right - Tank 2 - There are differences in lighting - causing part of the difference - in person - the ammonia has dropped in 12 hours
IMG_3782.jpeg
Screen Shot 2021-11-21 at 8.13.48 AM.png
 
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OH - I just found this little Gem - which occurred overnight. We can call this Experiment 2a. Skin infection while doing experiment 1, Day 1. (ER trip underway)
 

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OH - I just found this little Gem - which occurred overnight. We can call this Experiment 2a. Skin infection while doing experiment 1, Day 1. (ER trip underway)
What happened there, how did you got that?
 
Good question. Scratched my arm when pulling rock out slightly. Then developed overnight
Do you recon is bacterial infection or just a rash?
 
 
Experiment 1 - Saltwater Rinse.

24 hour results - Interesting - the 'lit tank' - tank 2 - has 1 ppm Ammonia (has decreased 1 ppm in 24 hours). The first tank (dark - is similar to 14 hours. Will see in another 12 or so - and 24 hours how things look. Nitrite - remains zero. So this confirms the results from @Coxey81 - and @sixty_reefer - the lit tank takes up more ammonia. (note my tank 2 is only lit 12 hours - as compared to 24)
Screen Shot 2021-11-21 at 2.48.28 PM.png
 
Experiment 1 Saltwater Rinse - Day 1 24 hour pictures:
 

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Experiment 1 - Saltwater Rinse.

24 hour results - Interesting - the 'lit tank' - tank 2 - has 1 ppm Ammonia (has decreased 1 ppm in 24 hours). The first tank (dark - is similar to 14 hours. Will see in another 12 or so - and 24 hours how things look. Nitrite - remains zero. So this confirms the results from @Coxey81 - and @sixty_reefer - the lit tank takes up more ammonia. (note my tank 2 is only lit 12 hours - as compared to 24)
Screen Shot 2021-11-21 at 2.48.28 PM.png
That’s a interesting result, what’s your opinion on the lit tank using more ammonia?
 
That’s a interesting result, what’s your opinion on the lit tank using more ammonia?
Algae/other items. Plus - If it continues that the unlit rock does not keep up with the lit rock - it also goes against the hypothesis of some that nitrification bacteria cover every surface equally - OR - at least the other photosynthetic organisms on 'lit rock' do more.

BTW - To my view - and will see later today - the Seachem Alert (which is supposedly measuring 'free NH3' - has started to turn lighter (more yellow) than the API total Nitrogen tests suggest. PS - From now on - I will also be testing Nitrates.
 
What is also interesting (to me) - the water has been crystal clear from the start. In both tanks. So - no evidence of any imbalance - based on putting rock of either type into completely new systems.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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