Bio Load

[csababubbles]

Lee, I remember a while back you posted a thread stating that if we give you certain info you can give us a bioload rating for our tanks. Can you help me out with this if you would be so kind?

If you’d like to have me estimate the bio-load capacity of your marine system, then supply the following information:

Display tank dimensions and volume in gallons. Is it a ‘high’ model?
220 (72x24x30)

Water in entire system in gallons (exclude substrate, rock, decorations; don’t include just tank and sump sizes – estimate the amount of water in the system).
260 gallons

Does your system have any of the following?
Sump (what’s in the sump besides water?)
40 gallon sump (half-way full) w/ skimmer that is rated for over 1000 gallons (tunze doc master skimmer)

Refugium (what’s in the refugium, refugium volume in gallons, is it full, substrate kind and depth?)
40 gallon refugium (full), with live rock and macro algae

Display tank substrate (kind and depth)
barebottom

Mechanical filtration (what and what flow rate)
filter socks about 700gph w/ head loss

Live rock (how many pounds in the total system?)
300 lbs live rock

Any additional biological filtration (undergravel filter, trickle, bio-balls, etc.; give sizes/dimensions and volume of gallons per hour that might be passing through these types of filters)
None

Chemical filtration (carbon, resins, absorbent pads, phosphate removers, etc. – number and volume that passes through it)
2 Phospate reactors (1 for carbon and 1 for GFO)

More information about the system:
Circulation (total system water volume in gallons that is circulated by powerheads, pumps inside and outside the aquarium, filter pumps, etc.)
~12,000 gph

Water changes (how frequent and how much (gallons or percent of system volume))
40 gallons every week


To determine how much of the system’s biological bio-load has been committed to the livestock, list all livestock that produces nitrogen wastes (NOTE: nitrogen wastes are produced by livestock that you are feeding; livestock that lives on light only does not have to be listed):
Fish (give common and scientific name, length of fish from nose to tail-base (caudal peduncle))

5" regal angel (hopefully will live but I have my doubts...if it dies i will not replace it with any other fish)
2" potter angel
3" anthias (trio, one male and two females)
5" panda puffer
3" dog faced puffer
2" fang blenny
5" moorish idol

this is the total number of fish I want to live in the tank when all is said and done. so far the two puffers and idol are in other tanks at the moment). can it work (in terms of compatability and bio load) if not, what if i add an additional 100 gallon refugium to the system?

 

[leebca]

This system is on the high-end of biological load capacity. It should accommodate an above average biological load.

The bio-load you have proposed and with the estimated growth of those fishes, should be more than adequate for the system to handle.

The Puffers may exert the most pressure on the system as they grow, but before they get to any size that might appear 'out of place' in that display tank, the system should keep up nicely. Each of those Puffers can and do get over a foot long and when they get near this size, that display just won't be enough room for them to swim around in.

I'd predict that, barring any peculiarity in personality, those fish should get along well. Remember the Idol is a member of the Tang family and requires macro algae.

 

[csababubbles]

My panda puffer has grown from a small 3" to his current fat(!) 5" in about a year. Is this fast growth likely to continue until they hit their ultimate size (>12") or does their growth slow down as they mature (assuming proper nutrition and feedings)?