Re: [Killietalk] Flow-thru/Rec. Systems with Various sp. of Killifish

[LeeH920226 at aol_com]

In a message dated 11/22/03 10:54:36 AM, bjc3 at centurytel_net writes:

<<  Even with the lamps (which I have) I suspect that bacterial counts 
might be higher in a recirculating system than in a flow through system. It 
would be possible to have sumps under individual racks from which water is 
pumped for a flow through system, with each rack having a pump on a timer 
to do the water changes.  >>

I truly believe there is a build up of waste products including growth 
inhibiting substances that UV sterilizers have no effect on or little effect at 
best. Some of those products are removed by an active biological filtration 
system, but even then there is something left. In nature the rains replenish the 
water regularly or if not the rains, the melting snow from the Andes, or whatever 
the local system provides. That is why I chose a flow through system. My tap 
water is not perfect, but it is better than not "flushing the toilet" so to 
speak. It also has been "sterilized" by the chlorine and then further purified b
y my carbon filter. One way to understand the concept is by a simple TDS 
reading. The TDS reading in a stagnant tank builds up with time. If you 
periodically replace some of the water it only partially returns to the original 
condition. The same is true in nature without replenishment with pure water. I 
recorded TDS readings in the Amazon tributary Rio Nanay two years ago. The river was 
less than 5 ppm, but a tub with some collected fish rose to over 30 ppm in a 
few hours. We replaced the water every time we could, but the stress was 
apparent on the fish. I am still perfecting my hardware and procedures, but I 
already see the benefits.

Lee Harper
Media, PA

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