Page 39 - Koi Net - On-Line Koi Magazine - Issue 70

FISHLESS CYCLING is developing, cycling is complete when ammonia and
nitrite levels quickly fall to zero each time more
Syd Mitchell explains ammonia is added.

In issue 68 Syd Mitchell explained The Nitrogen Cycle
Aerated media maturing
and how a filter develops naturally with koi in the pond.
in a dustbin.
In this issue Syd explains how a filter can be matured
without koi.

Ammonia is ammonia and what is excreted by koi is
no different to the household ammonia that we can buy
in supermarkets except that koi excrete pure ammonia
in small quantities whereas household ammonia is
diluted to around 10% strength. Apart from this there is
no difference at all so instead of using koi to supply the
ammonia to mature media, ordinary household
ammonia can be used instead.
Fish are not required to be present and, indeed, they
must not be present, so this gives rise to the name Good quality pure ammonia should be used. Usually
fishless cycling. this will be the cheap ‘own brand’ variety that doesn’t
have any extra additives to improve its effectiveness as
Using the fishless cycling method to mature media
a cleaning product. If the bottle doesn’t state exactly
makes it possible to have a fully matured biofilter before
what it contains, a simple test is to shake it. Some
the pond is stocked. With an immature biofilter it’s
bubbles will be formed and will quickly disperse but if
necessary to introduce koi slowly to avoid exposing
shaking causes foaming which doesn’t disperse then
them to new pond syndrome. However, if the biofilter is
the product will have extra additives which aren’t
fully matured before the pond is stocked then, within
desirable.
reason, there are no limitations as to how many koi can
be introduced without the risk that they will be exposed The media should be matured either in pond water, if it
to high ammonia or nitrite levels. is being matured in a biological bay, or in dechlorinated
tap water if the process is being done externally. Air is
Where a pond doesn’t yet have any fish in it, the
essential. This will not only supply the oxygen the bugs
biological media can be matured in situ in one of the
need but it will make sufficient currents in the water to
bays without the pump running so that the volume of
keep it circulating within the bay or container, ensuring
water that has to be dosed will only be the volume in
that bay which is small in comparison with the volume Good quality pure that the dissolved oxygen, the ammonia and the nitrite,
ammonia should be used. when it eventually appears, are constantly being mixed
of the pond. Alternatively, if this is impractical, or if there
Usually this will be the and evenly distributed. Heating the water to around
are fish already in the pond, the media can be matured cheap ‘own brand’ variety
externally in a suitable container such as a dustbin. that doesn’t have any 20ºC to 25ºC with a small aquarium heater will help
extra additives to improve make the process quicker but isn’t essential if the water
A good test kit is essential because the levels of its effectiveness as a temperature is around 15ºC or above.
ammonia, nitrite and nitrate will show how the process cleaning product.
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