7 months ago

API Stress Coat conditioner (Amazon): https://geni.us/BHYeb
No problems establishing a full cycle when using that one...
I'd imagine that only a very small percentage of viewers will acknowledge what I am saying in this video and that's OK - just think about it please.
If you have to do huge weekly water changes to keep the aquarium water good then the biological environment of the system is not diverse enough and is not functioning how it should.

A huge reason for that could simply be the choice of water conditioner since anything claiming to 'remove / detoxify / bind' the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate will generally have the unfortunate side effect of starving the bacteria.
When the bacteria is on a starvation diet it does not fully populate the filter media, substrate or anywhere else it would normally call home and therefore is not present in large enough numbers to process all the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
The nitrate is especially difficult to reduce since it relies on anaerobic / anoxic (v. low / no oxygen) bacterial processes to do so.
That would normally occur deep in substrate or deep inside suitably porous filter media (e.g. Biohome) where the water flow is extremely slow (and becomes deoxygenated by the aerobic processes on the way to low / static flow zones).
If you 'need' to add bacteria after every water change or 'need' to do 80% water changes it tells you that the filter is not working properly and if everything looks suitably sized and well set up it could be time to try changing the conditioner.

Using a simple dechlorinator will make water safe for life but will not mess with the essential food bacteria needs to prosper.
This has been demonstrated so many times when I've had emails from people struggling to achieve a full cycle (with high nitrate levels), I suggest trying a normal conditioner then I get another email a few months later reporting that the nitrate has come down to 0-5ppm indicating that the full cycle has been achieved.

It bugs me when I see people either not using enough suitable filter media for the tank size and stocking situation or using damaging conditioners / treatments then complaining that a full cycle is impossible and therefore any talk of it is 'pseudoscience' or lies.
A full cycle (reduction in nitrate) is a simple Natural process which happens in every pond, stream and river and is perfectly achievable in any aquarium set up.
Obviously the closer the aquarium is set up to replicate Nature the more chance of a full cycle there will be, even with minimal filtration but for most 'normal' set ups with a moderate to heavy stock of fish and minimal or no plants the pressure is on the filtration to process the ammonia, nitrite and nitrate - that's why I spend so many hours filming videos on filters and filtration.

Hopefully that makes sense - I feel like Beachamps trying to educate people who only know of Pasteur and if anyone wants me to make a video on Terrain Theory vs. Germ Theory just let me know in the comment section since it is critical to understand those different views that to see what is happening with aquariums and filtration.
I'll make that video anyway, lol

FILMING EQUIPMENT:
Panasonic HC-VX870 HD camcorder http://geni.us/3UwE
+Rode stereo microphone: http://geni.us/4OL
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover: http://geni.us/1pmn
JVC Everio quad proof HD camcorder: http://geni.us/e09e
+Rode 'deadcat' mic cover (opened up and held between tripod and camera base) http://geni.us/dee24
Zomei Z666 tripod: http://geni.us/1a1af3
Manfrotto MTPIXI-B PIXI mini tripod: http://geni.us/87f7
We all are on a long path of learning.........

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