Bakki shower advise

markf1fan · 18-10-2011, 06:02 PM

Hi all

My pond temp has come down to 12c this week and im still running my bakki shower on it, what i would like to know is at what temp is it best to take it off the pond and fit it up in my shed on my QT to keep it alive over the winter. i really believe it is chilling the water down alot already and dont want this to happen any more then poss. my QT is sitting at 18c so is it really worth moving it now before the night temps come down even more.

Also the other prob i have is the shed room is to low to take the 3 tiers of the bakki shower so i would be looking at putting all the crystal bio in 2 tiers. will this still work ok and keep it alive over the winter.

Mark

AlanK · 18-10-2011, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markf1fan

Hi all

My pond temp has come down to 12c this week and im still running my bakki shower on it, what i would like to know is at what temp is it best to take it off the pond and fit it up in my shed on my QT to keep it alive over the winter. i really believe it is chilling the water down alot already and dont want this to happen any more then poss. my QT is sitting at 18c so is it really worth moving it now before the night temps come down even more.

Also the other prob i have is the shed room is to low to take the 3 tears of the bakki shower so i would be looking at putting all the crystal bio in 2 tears. will this still work ok and keep it alive over the winter.

Mark

I shut down mine for the same reason and got a nitrite spike from 0.2 to 2. I put it straight back on and its down to 0.2 again. Might be best to reduce feeding considerably before taking it off. I have fitted a pond enclosure now so I am leaving mine on all winter.

As for keeping it going, it would depend on how much food the bugs are getting, the less food, ie ammonia etc the bugs get, the less will survive.

markf1fan · 18-10-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanK

I shut down mine for the same reason and got a nitrite spike from 0.2 to 2. I put it straight back on and its down to 0.2 again. Might be best to reduce feeding considerably before taking it off. I have fitted a pond enclosure now so I am leaving mine on all winter.

As for keeping it going, it would depend on how much food the bugs are getting, the less food, ie ammonia etc the bugs get, the less will survive.

Hi Alan

I do run a bead filter as well as my main filter. would i still get a spike if i took the bakki off. The QT does have fish in and will be having more put in for the winter. So the bakki would be getting a food source for sure on the QT

AlanK · 18-10-2011, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markf1fan

Hi Alan

I do run a bead filter as well as my main filter. would i still get a spike if i took the bakki off. The QT does have fish in and will be having more put in for the winter. So the bakki would be getting a food source for sure on the QT

All you can do is try it. The good bugs will be distributed over all the media so you may get an increase in ammonia and/or nitrite. I would cut the food down for 2 days, then turn the shower pump of and monitor, monitor, monitor for at least 2 days. If all OK, move the shower. You can then start feeding but slowly, slowly to let the reduced biomass catch up.

markf1fan · 18-10-2011, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlanK

All you can do is try it. The good bugs will be distributed over all the media so you may get an increase in ammonia and/or nitrite. I would cut the food down for 2 days, then turn the shower pump of and monitor, monitor, monitor for at least 2 days. If all OK, move the shower. You can then start feeding but slowly, slowly to let the reduced biomass catch up.

Surely if I turn it off, the good Bacteria in the Media would have died by then. I wanted to move it over to the QT tank to keep it alive to replace back on to the main pond next year.

Davej · 18-10-2011, 08:28 PM

Hiya Mark

Think id be inclined to take it off, throw the media into two trays and run it on the QT.

Always a risk that you will take some critters with it so would keep an eye on things in the QT fish thereafter.

Suggest you knock back the food for a few days before moving it just in case you get a spike.

Dave

markf1fan · 18-10-2011, 08:44 PM

Thanks Dave, would the media stay alive with it being on the QT with not so many fish in it. i will only be having about 6 fish in the QT over the winter to grow on and carry on feeding.

Davej · 18-10-2011, 09:24 PM

There should be enough ammonia in there to keep it ticking over Mark, especially by April when the 6 in there should be pushing on 50cm.

Dave

muttley · 19-10-2011, 07:00 AM

I would have thought the shower would have been right up to speed by now mark and nicely mature so you should be able to crack straight on with some serious feeding rates for the growing on / QT system. This will keep the media well alive and get you some good growth....win/win situation for you!! How many / what size fish have you got in there mate?

Matt

markf1fan · 19-10-2011, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttley

I would have thought the shower would have been right up to speed by now mark and nicely mature so you should be able to crack straight on with some serious feeding rates for the growing on / QT system. This will keep the media well alive and get you some good growth....win/win situation for you!! How many / what size fish have you got in there mate?

Matt

It will have only 6 fish in up to 12" in size some even smaller. Going to fit up my auto feeder as well on it.