What a hoot reading this thread!
As you may recall, I got my hands on a significant amount of BH a while back and have been having a ball testing it in various applications. Keep taking notes and trying to remain in passionate about the results as that would be the kiss of death in terms of objectivity.
Now we know the 'cuckoo clocks’ among us believe that special rays are emitted from the media perpetually that have the power to change the molecular makeup of water and super charge the mineralization process into ‘ nothingness’. But for the rational among us, a testing of BH as a media in a standard wet/dry filter system seems to be more in order.
When you get to this part of your experiment do try this-
have the BH running in a standard wet/dry application until mature and firing on all cylinders. Then lower the structure containing the BH below the water level or raise the water table above the matured media. I accomplished this using a series of 5 gallon aquarium ( bottomless and supporting media with an egg crate base) feeding a half filled 180 gallon aquarium. Once the media was cycled and the fish stabilized ( koi culls) the water was crystal clear and the ammonia readings were of course- unmeasurable. Then I filled the half full 180 gal aquarium to the top. Within 24 hours the water became cloudy and finally, opaque. Indicating that a major bacteria bloom had occurred. But ammonia levels stayed low. I then added an over flow to an oceanic sump located below the tank and massive sudsing occurred in that sump with hours of creating this circulation loop. Indicating massive DOC trapped in the water. Please note that water was still being flowed through the BH as the 5 gallon aquaria were moved onto one another and the top of the first 5 gallon rim was kept slightly above water surface. The entire BH unit/ affair was fed with a large empty Ehiem filter rated for a 175 gallon aquarium.
Any bright bulbs out there get it?