The Balance Experiment — Phase 2 Synopsis

🧪

May 2026

Dates Covered: April 28 → May 14, 2026
Days Covered: Day 17 → Day 33

Goal:
- Improve circulation
- Reduce stagnant zones
- Observe nitrate accumulation behavior
- Study Black Beard Algae (BBA) response
- Improve overall ecosystem efficiency
Independent Variable:
- Return nozzle direction changed
Constants Maintained:
- Feeding schedule
- Fertilizer schedule
- Air systems
- Lighting schedule
- Overall filtration structure

(Phase 2 Begins — Flow Optimization)

Pre-Flow Change Reading:
- Nitrate: ~5 ppm
- Temp: 76.4°F
Actions:
- Dosed 1 pump NilocG Thrive AFTER testing
- Redirected return nozzle
New Nozzle Configuration:
- Nozzle location: right rear
- Direction: toward left front corner
- Angle: slightly upward
- Random flow generator nozzle
Immediate Observations:
- Increased plant movement
- Softer distributed circulation
- More leaves visibly “dancing”
- No aggressive turbulence
Betta Behavior:
- Betta actively explored new flow pattern
- Swimming through, over, and under flow
- No stress behavior observed
Insights:
- Cross-tank circulation immediately noticeable
- Plants helping diffuse strong current naturally

Top-Off:
- 2 containers
Observations:
- Fish behavior normal
- Plants healthy
- System stable
Insights:
- New flow pattern did NOT dramatically increase evaporation
- Flow appeared gentle and balanced

Nitrate:
- Low range (~5–10 ppm)
Temp:
- 76.4°F
Observations:
- Fish normal
- Plants healthy
- System stable
Insights:
- Nitrates remained in low range after flow adjustment
- Suggested possible improvement in circulation efficiency
Important Correction:
- Realized nitrate test kit difficult to interpret between:
  - 5 ppm
  - 10 ppm
  - 20 ppm
New Interpretation System:
- 0–20 ppm = LOW RANGE
- 20–40 ppm = MODERATE RANGE
- 40+ ppm = ACTION RANGE

Nitrate:
- Low range (~10 ppm)
Temp:
- 76.6°F
Top-Off:
- 4 containers
Observations:
- Strong plant growth
- Fish normal
- No visible stress
Insights:
- System maintained low nitrate range despite low sump water level before top-off
- Suggested improved nutrient processing or stronger plant uptake

Nitrate:
- Closer to ~20 ppm
Temp:
- 78.9°F
Top-Off:
- 4 containers
Actions:
- Fertilizer dose delayed by 1 day
Observations:
- Fish healthy
- Plants healthy
- System stable overall
Insights:
- Temperature spikes continue correlating strongly with:
  - increased evaporation
  - increased concentration effects

(Phase 2 Ceiling Reached Again)

Nitrate:
- Clearly above 20 ppm
- Estimated closer to ~40 ppm
Temp:
- 76°F
Observations:
- Fish behavior normal
- BBA mostly unchanged overall
- One localized BBA area spreading slightly
Critical Observation:
- Expanding BBA area located in low/no-flow zone
- Nearby leaves showed little movement
Major Insight:
- Localized stagnant areas may contribute more strongly to BBA persistence than general overall flow
Actions:
- ~50% display water change
- Near-complete sump drain/refill
- Trimmed/replanted tall stem plants
Plant Maintenance:
- ~2 stems became ~7 replants
- Goal:
  - improve lower light penetration
  - improve circulation through plant groups
  - maintain plant mass
Additional Observation:
- Kuhli loaches rarely visible
- Realization that dense planted systems reduce visibility of cryptic fish
Post-Water Change Reading:
- Nitrate reset to low range (~5–10 ppm)

Nitrate:
- Low range (~5–10 ppm)
Temp:
- 76.9°F
Top-Off:
- 2 containers
Observations:
- Fish healthy
- Plants healthy
- Stable ecosystem behavior
Insights:
- Tank becoming highly predictable after resets
- Temperature + evaporation emerging as major system drivers

(Current Status)

Nitrate:
- Low range (~10 ppm)
Temp:
- 76.6°F
Top-Off:
- 4 containers
Observations:
- Fish behavior normal
- Plants healthy
- No livestock stress
BBA:
- Slightly increased/spread
- Still localized rather than tank-wide
Flow Notes:
- Some low-movement plant zones still present
Major Insight:
- Flow optimization alone did NOT eliminate BBA persistence
- Tank appears biologically stable but not fully balanced against algae

Findings:
- Cross-tank flow improved circulation awareness
- Localized stagnant zones became easier to identify
- Flow optimization alone did NOT prevent eventual nitrate accumulation
- System repeatedly stabilized after maintenance resets
- BBA appears more connected to localized stagnant areas than tank-wide circulation
- Temperature and evaporation strongly influence system behavior
- Tank ecosystem becoming increasingly predictable and readable

Current Tank Behavior:
- Stable
- Predictable
- Recoverable
- Plant-dominant
- Biologically mature
Ongoing Challenges:
- Localized BBA persistence
- Long-term nitrate accumulation cycle
- Evaporation-related concentration shifts

Phase 3 — Air Cycle Experiment

Locked Start Date:
May 18, 2026

Planned Test:
- Shared air pump OFF during portions of daytime
- Shared air pump ON at night
- Return pump remains ON 24/7
Goal:
- Study gas exchange balance
- Observe possible CO₂ retention improvements
- Observe effects on:
  - plant growth
  - BBA behavior
  - overall ecosystem balance

journal29g-tankbalance-experimentphase-2flow-optimizationnitrate-controlbbaplantsecosystem-balance