|
I've kept bioballs and kaldness in a barrel with a hefty airstone to keep it aerated. I use the household ammonia and watch it. When it goes to nitrItes, I know it's on the way. When it gets to nitrAtes, I know it's cookin'. At this point, I do water changes and keep feeding it ammonia for conversion. I watch this barrel just like my ponds. The biocolony will grow to meet the demand of ammonia conversion; I usually make it high so that I don't have to use ALL the media for a filter, maybe only 1/3 or 1/2 of it. It will seed new media that's added to the filter with it, while maintaining the situation.
By doing this, I have a constant, steady supply of virgin cycled media - especially nice for a hospital situation, because I don't have to worry about introducing other pathogens to an already stressed fish. When I'm done with the media, I sterilize it and add it back to the barrel to be re-seeded.
And if you ever have a friend that's accidentally nuked his filter, you'll be able to offer some to replace it.
|