Salt Tolerance

[OrionGirl]

Bio Spira is bacteria in a bottle, available at an increasing number of fish stores. It's not the same as Cycle--Bio Spira has to be refridgerated and has a shelf life. As long as your levels don't get too high, and you can do water changes to help out, you should be okay.

Plastic army men have been used by quite a few people. We use the orange plastic construction fencing, wadded up--it helps aerate the water also. Pretty much anything with lots of surface area will work. Legos would work pretty well, too.

 

[ishmael9913]

Is the Bio-Spira more of a last resort when your levels are really high and you need to bring them down, or is it more to start your system in the beginning. How much would it require on a 440 gallon tank? Pricey? I love the army men idea...we use some of the fencing as well. Has anyone done any hydroponics? We did some in a secondary solid waste filter a while back, and the plants still grow, but the system isnt part of our main system anymore. Also, i am looking for a career in Marine Biology.... anyone know any good schools? I have have heard San Diego is great, but im not sure i want to go the California route. I was looking at University of Puget Sound and they seem to have a pretty good program, but the Puget Sound is so dang cold. They do have those crazy seven gilled sharks though.

 

[OrionGirl]

Bio-spira is used to cycle a tank on setup, but can be used after fish have been added as well. Most of the chemical filtrations sold to deal with ammonia shouldn't be used in a new tank, since it will reduce the ammonia available for bacteria, and will result in a spike once it ceases to function. I'm not sure on the amount needed, though--you'd have to find some and read the label, sorry.

Puget Sound is a good school for Marine Biology, but there are many good choices that don't involve going to the coast. Here is a good page, with sound advice: http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/becoming.html It's good to decide what you want to do with the degree first--there's a lot of fisheries science and biology careers, but not all of them require a degree in marine biology.