Very cool! Another experiment that would be cool to try would be seeing if splitting the light cycle up makes any difference in plant growth. For example, have one tank light stay on for 8 hours, and have the other tank light stay on for 4 hours, off for 4 hours, and back on for another 4 hours.
Seen it does elsewhere before. It actually does make a difference. Depending on the leaf size and such they found it bloomed algae like mad as it appear the plants switch from absorbing nutrients is slow and algae simply seems to switch faster and would outcompete the plants quickly. Forget where I saw it though. Was a lonnnng time ago but from a pretty prominent planted aquarium info channel.
I'm playing around with my Fluval AquaSky to see if their are any behavior changes with my fish and with plant growth. Right now I have my light set to change colors from first light through sunset and night time light changes color as to mimic all of the moon positions of the night sky. The light does this automatically to mimic the real world.
I've had one in a high light, high tech tank set up for nearly 6 months. Only time I've had to clean my glass is hard water stains from evaporation. People will make fun of these, but they do work in a well maintained, balanced tank.
Then people should also make fun of the same chemicals we put into pools and and hot tubs to keep them clean. Those are also oxidizers. The powder turns into exactly what these bubbles are.
I am glad that you decided to test that device, I've been always curious to try them myself, but they are not available in my country and I didn't want to spend the extra money to import one of these, I always use dirt which is nutrient rich so I always have a couple of types of hair algae, in a video from green aqua Balaz said that they stopped using them because apparently they are bad for moss, I am looking forward to see what results you get. 👍
Thanks Mark. Used a Chihiros for about two years, removed it for a few months, back in now but still not entirely convinced. In harder water it quickly scales up and needs descaling. I will be most interested in this experiment. Pond soil/lily soil is heavier by the way than standard compost/garden earth - more clay normally. Which helps with making trace elements available. Think the electrolysis device might help reduce spores especially in the first few months ref. green algae but compared to controlling Nitrate/Phosphate, photo period, light spectrum, temperature and CO2 levels suspect it has less impact, but your experiment seems well designed.
Hey MJ, love to see your videos. Can you make a guide video about fish poops: whats the consequences, what to do, how to clean, tricks and tips, etc.? That would be awesome..
About maintenance I’m still wondering if siphonning the bottom of the tank while doing water change is better than just doing water change. Some say that mulm triggering algaes and others say that it’s a good fertilizer for plants. I really like to see if there is a big difference in a high tech tank😊.
@@morganealexandra I saw a lot of videos about siphoning the bottom of the tank with sand as substrate. But how about aqua soil like MJ loves to use? I heard bout the benefits too, keeping the mulm at the bottom, but I do care about the aesthetic of my tank
Hi, another super cool experiement! Twinstar sterilizer are in fact water electrolysis, generating H2 and O2 from water. Bubble are then partially O2, just on one side, anode one. Yes O2 boost biological filtration.. but doesn't sterilize. No in fact it seems that other components are also generated, slightly: ozone O3, very oxydative compound. Redox potential can be measured with some mV monitor, e.g. Brand new Aqua Medic one. I would propose you to consider testing directly Aqua Medic O3 generator in same setup, you'll be surprise. But keep mV in Safe range for life stock.. except algae ;-)
Really love your videos!! You really inspired me to start aquacaping. Are you able to tell me what microphone you are using? The sound is so clear. Thanks!
How dare you to post a video without showing the result!? What's going on Mark, you always give us a little "pass forward result" Now we are going to be biting our nails waiting for the results. Looking forward for this one! We'll done.
A few things about twinstar: It's a high voltage electrode that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen releasing it into the water column. I believe the working principle here is that the oxygen and hydrogen are somehow bad for unicellular organisms (like algae). Green algae has weaker cell membranes than red/black algae, that is probably why it is more affected. It certainly didn't do anything to attached blackbeard. I do think it still kills blackbeard spores and free floating cysts, but like all colonial algae, they also spread to neighboring free area where they are attached. It needs good flow to distribute the fine bubbles trough the tank quickly. If a dense cloud of fine bubbles forms around the twinstar, and a fish gets cought/swims inside, they will die. Learned this the hard way.
I will be setting up a 20 gallon (70 l) soon I was thinking about trying this device. I have heard good and not so good things. I will be anxious to see your results! Thanks MJ
It's interesting how pond soil + aquasoil tank had more overall plant mass but Ludwigia wasn't thriving and there were no red elements on this other plant.
Hi MJ, thanks very much for your time and effort. -- On a side note I see you keep testing water parameters from time to time, I suggest you check your test kits against a reference solution. I do not believe the results of your Sera Fe, NO3 and PO4 kits one bit. I got false readings in the past all over the place when I compared to references. -- I always enjoy watching your twin experiments particularly this one, keep going!
I think maybe setting up one tank and let it age and get some algae and then add the twinstar and see if it helps with the algae. I know it won't get rid of it completely but just to see if there is a change.
I've always been interested in how these work and I also wonder if for way cheap you could just use an airstone because its just oxygen your adding right?
In Rotala wayanad..the wayanad is a district in Kerala,india..the plant came Frome here 😊 ..iam leaving near to wayanad we can see so many of this plant in our rivers ..😊
Hey 👋 so I have a bit of knowledge around electrolysis of water which you may find interesting / concerning with the use of this device. Sterilising yes it will sterilise your aquarium if there is aquatic salt in the aquarium. This is done by swapping the chemicals about in a reaction in order to turn NaCl (salt) and H2O (water) into Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine based bleach) As you know chlorines and chloramines aren’t desired in the aquarium and this should probably only be done in a fishless aquarium for disease or pest control. After running this for a while you should be able to smell the chlorine when in a slightly salty tank. I personally add a small amount of salt to my tank to benefit from the health benefits to the fish If the water contains absolutely no salt whatsoever then the product that is produced is hydrogen gas and oxygen with electrolysis . If this was to build up under the hood of a fish tank and someone had a faulty Eletrical connection in their automatic light setup / a sparking relay or switch then this could cause the highly explosive hydrogen and oxygen mix to ignite with a loud bang possibly destroying the tank. Understandably it would have to be a series of unfortunate events to end up like this but it’s concept and mechanism is completely possible.
You say that sterilizer puts oxygen in the water to help good bacteria. What's the difference between using Twinstar's version and Aquaria's air diffuser hooked up to a battery powered aerator that fisherman use for keeping live bait. Wouldn't that do the same thing? • If you use either of these devices in co2 tank during the day in med-highlight tank would plants, still get enough co2? Or does it allow you to add more co2 bps. Without effect fish/shrimp.
I used a Chihiros Doctor and I had read that people had experienced some loss of fish. I bought one anyway and after about 1 week, I woke up one morning to find 23 neon tetras dead overnight! Water was tested and it was fine, so stopped using the steriliser
Salut mark encore et comme toujours super video comme toi j'ai hate de voir l'évolution. Et t'es expérience sont super intéressantes. Et même si je te regarde depuis je regarde encore t'es précédentes vidéos. Merci bonne soirée a très vite pour la suite. 👍👌👍
Im not a 100% shure, but these sterlizers work in an Others Was you explaint. The oxigin that ist released ist not the basic O, ist O2. So called redical oxigin, a connection of 2 oxigin molicules. This oxigin is breaking down the algae spores in the water, and basically destroing them. Aquarium sterilizers do not help against algae, they just keep the algae in Check, and it can not multiply that much as without. Also a sterilizers only destroys green algae sporen, non of the other cultures. There ist also a small possibility that it harms your fish and Shrimps. But all in all IT works. If you usw ist just from the beginning of a new Aquarium, you will geht was less, or non green algae. An it could helt start the Aquarium, and your plants to start growing in this new eviroment, becouse they will geht all of the nutrience in the water. I am very sorry for my english, and my typing errors.
It worked for me well, only on new setups, no changes on already run aquarium. Also, mind that electrolysis cause burned organic material as well. There were times that the water had so much “C” that my drop checker was getting falsely yellow… Also, some chelate iron fertilizer brands get totally useless because the organic compounds that hold the iron molecules get burned. The same thing that UV widgets do. After 2 years of using it, the electrode was no longer cleanable by the cleaning residue they sell along with the widget, and I had to purchase new electrodes for 80 euros… Never bought one. Now I know how to fight algae.
Looks like another snake oil product to me. The submersed fan is just creating cavitation bubbles. Essentially water vapor that is being cooled off by the surrounding water. This looks cool, like it's actually doing something. There may by a small amount of air coming from the breather tubes adding 78% Nitrogen, 21% oxygen. The largest gas water transfer occurs on the surface of the water. This is just a slightly more effective and expensive air stone. It at best is adding atmospheric O2 to the water. Is it better than a air stone? Neither is a good choice for fish. Waterflow across the surface is the most important interchange of gasses. CO2 and O2 are not mutually exclusive in water.
My brother had one of these twinstar sterilizers in his tank. At some point he rearranged his tank and forgot to put it back in. For months everytime I visited him he was struggling with green hair algae and one day I remembered and asked him "hey where did your bubble-thingy go? is it broken?". He then also remembered he owned one and put it back in. Next time I visited him they were all gone so I guess it works really well on green hair algae?
I find this a very dangerous practice .. Imagine people with a lids on an aquarium that would collect enough H2 and O2 gas... waiting to pop ... Hydrogen gas with oxygen is not a thing you should toy with ( electrolysis in general).
@@csfilms2572 well there is the issue with the time it runs and how much gas it generates. I don't say you can't but I would not advice it if the lid is really inhibiting the flow of gases and the volume of air trapped between it and the water surface pretty low.
Very cool! Another experiment that would be cool to try would be seeing if splitting the light cycle up makes any difference in plant growth. For example, have one tank light stay on for 8 hours, and have the other tank light stay on for 4 hours, off for 4 hours, and back on for another 4 hours.
Oh yes, that’s a good idea 😊
Seen it does elsewhere before. It actually does make a difference. Depending on the leaf size and such they found it bloomed algae like mad as it appear the plants switch from absorbing nutrients is slow and algae simply seems to switch faster and would outcompete the plants quickly. Forget where I saw it though. Was a lonnnng time ago but from a pretty prominent planted aquarium info channel.
I'm playing around with my Fluval AquaSky to see if their are any behavior changes with my fish and with plant growth. Right now I have my light set to change colors from first light through sunset and night time light changes color as to mimic all of the moon positions of the night sky. The light does this automatically to mimic the real world.
Super interesting experiment yet again, thanks man!
I enjoy watching your experiments. Thank you for sharing.
I've had one in a high light, high tech tank set up for nearly 6 months. Only time I've had to clean my glass is hard water stains from evaporation. People will make fun of these, but they do work in a well maintained, balanced tank.
Then people should also make fun of the same chemicals we put into pools and and hot tubs to keep them clean.
Those are also oxidizers. The powder turns into exactly what these bubbles are.
I am glad that you decided to test that device, I've been always curious to try them myself, but they are not available in my country and I didn't want to spend the extra money to import one of these, I always use dirt which is nutrient rich so I always have a couple of types of hair algae, in a video from green aqua Balaz said that they stopped using them because apparently they are bad for moss, I am looking forward to see what results you get. 👍
Hi MJ you are getting to be the brilliant super hero of the aquascaping hobby day by day with every experiments you make. Thanks 👍🍁🍂☘️
Love these comparison videos
I always wondered about those gadgets. Can’t wait to see results, if they do magic I’ll have to get one for my new build
Thank you for sharing your knowledge MJ! Looks to be another great experiment.
First time watching one of your video's and I absolutely love your style and organization of things definitely got a sub from me.
Love the experiments, thanks for sharing all your findings!
I'm new to the channel, but these experiments are why I subscribed.
Thank you for all your videos and tests, it helps me a lot and my tank is really much better ! Keep going ! ❤
I’m very keen to see how the goes 👍
nice job I was wondering if I should buy one of these! will definitively check for your new updates on this one
Man iam waiting this for long a time😍
Goeie video Mark , ben ook wel heel benieuwd naar je bevindingen.
Great new experiment 👍🏻
Thanks Mark. Used a Chihiros for about two years, removed it for a few months, back in now but still not entirely convinced. In harder water it quickly scales up and needs descaling. I will be most interested in this experiment. Pond soil/lily soil is heavier by the way than standard compost/garden earth - more clay normally. Which helps with making trace elements available.
Think the electrolysis device might help reduce spores especially in the first few months ref. green algae but compared to controlling Nitrate/Phosphate, photo period, light spectrum, temperature and CO2 levels suspect it has less impact, but your experiment seems well designed.
Going to be an interesting one.
I'm guessing we won't see much difference with the device (just a guess though)
Looking forward to the results. the reason I got out of keeping aquariums was the algae upkeep
Hey MJ, love to see your videos.
Can you make a guide video about fish poops: whats the consequences, what to do, how to clean, tricks and tips, etc.?
That would be awesome..
About maintenance I’m still wondering if siphonning the bottom of the tank while doing water change is better than just doing water change.
Some say that mulm triggering algaes and others say that it’s a good fertilizer for plants. I really like to see if there is a big difference in a high tech tank😊.
@@morganealexandra I saw a lot of videos about siphoning the bottom of the tank with sand as substrate. But how about aqua soil like MJ loves to use? I heard bout the benefits too, keeping the mulm at the bottom, but I do care about the aesthetic of my tank
Hi, another super cool experiement! Twinstar sterilizer are in fact water electrolysis, generating H2 and O2 from water. Bubble are then partially O2, just on one side, anode one. Yes O2 boost biological filtration.. but doesn't sterilize. No in fact it seems that other components are also generated, slightly: ozone O3, very oxydative compound. Redox potential can be measured with some mV monitor, e.g. Brand new Aqua Medic one. I would propose you to consider testing directly Aqua Medic O3 generator in same setup, you'll be surprise. But keep mV in Safe range for life stock.. except algae ;-)
Oxygen is good against algae . All you need is a good o2-co2 gas exchange as Dennis Wong writes about it
Any trace of salt in that water and your making bleach 😂 that will certainly fix the algae
I've been planning to buy this item for my comming 200L aquarium. Can't wait for the updates.. 🙏
Really love your videos!! You really inspired me to start aquacaping. Are you able to tell me what microphone you are using? The sound is so clear. Thanks!
Awesome!
I'm using the Rode wireless go 1
Yay! Could there be a new experiment on CO2 Bottle vs the Cheapest formal CO2 set?
Or a long term experiment of No Ferts vs Ferts?
How dare you to post a video without showing the result!?
What's going on Mark, you always give us a little "pass forward result"
Now we are going to be biting our nails waiting for the results. Looking forward for this one! We'll done.
A few things about twinstar:
It's a high voltage electrode that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen releasing it into the water column. I believe the working principle here is that the oxygen and hydrogen are somehow bad for unicellular organisms (like algae).
Green algae has weaker cell membranes than red/black algae, that is probably why it is more affected. It certainly didn't do anything to attached blackbeard. I do think it still kills blackbeard spores and free floating cysts, but like all colonial algae, they also spread to neighboring free area where they are attached.
It needs good flow to distribute the fine bubbles trough the tank quickly. If a dense cloud of fine bubbles forms around the twinstar, and a fish gets cought/swims inside, they will die. Learned this the hard way.
I will be setting up a 20 gallon (70 l) soon I was thinking about trying this device. I have heard good and not so good things. I will be anxious to see your results! Thanks MJ
I love the experiment videos!!!!
It's interesting how pond soil + aquasoil tank had more overall plant mass but Ludwigia wasn't thriving and there were no red elements on this other plant.
You could also try, twinstar vs UV lamp
Hi MJ, thanks very much for your time and effort. -- On a side note I see you keep testing water parameters from time to time, I suggest you check your test kits against a reference solution. I do not believe the results of your Sera Fe, NO3 and PO4 kits one bit. I got false readings in the past all over the place when I compared to references. -- I always enjoy watching your twin experiments particularly this one, keep going!
The extra O2 from these electrolysis plates is amazing for your bacteria level
This looks like a fun experiment, I'm very curious about the results.
I'm also liking your stemplants, how large do these tend to get?
I would say roughly 30 to 40cm
@@MJAquascaping Thanks!
please do a "with or without" flourish excel
I think maybe setting up one tank and let it age and get some algae and then add the twinstar and see if it helps with the algae. I know it won't get rid of it completely but just to see if there is a change.
Hiw come you didn't do ada Amazonia for the substrate experiment
I've been super curious about this topic! One thing I don't like about these is I need to keep replacing the head because it dies after a few months😢
What are you using to pump the water into the aquarium? Thanks in advance!
The dennerle nano gravel cleaner
I've always been interested in how these work and I also wonder if for way cheap you could just use an airstone because its just oxygen your adding right?
would the baking soda change the water perameters
Barely
Okay I was just wondering.
I have been interested in these devices as well, I am afraid of their effects on shrimp and ottos. Do you have any opinions on that?
In Rotala wayanad..the wayanad is a district in Kerala,india..the plant came Frome here 😊 ..iam leaving near to wayanad we can see so many of this plant in our rivers ..😊
That's awesome!
Hey 👋 so I have a bit of knowledge around electrolysis of water which you may find interesting / concerning with the use of this device.
Sterilising yes it will sterilise your aquarium if there is aquatic salt in the aquarium. This is done by swapping the chemicals about in a reaction in order to turn NaCl (salt) and H2O (water) into Sodium Hypochlorite (chlorine based bleach)
As you know chlorines and chloramines aren’t desired in the aquarium and this should probably only be done in a fishless aquarium for disease or pest control.
After running this for a while you should be able to smell the chlorine when in a slightly salty tank. I personally add a small amount of salt to my tank to benefit from the health benefits to the fish
If the water contains absolutely no salt whatsoever then the product that is produced is hydrogen gas and oxygen with electrolysis .
If this was to build up under the hood of a fish tank and someone had a faulty Eletrical connection in their automatic light setup / a sparking relay or switch then this could cause the highly explosive hydrogen and oxygen mix to ignite with a loud bang possibly destroying the tank.
Understandably it would have to be a series of unfortunate events to end up like this but it’s concept and mechanism is completely possible.
Do i need to switch off the twinstar when i add bacteria like nite-out, special blend or thera p?
Will adding hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) do the same thing as the Tristar Sterilizer? Are both methods only adding extra Oxygen to the tank?
Is this not the same principle as the hydra filtration from ocean free?
Where is the result video ?!
I've been considering one of these but just couldn't believe that it works. My hair algae is so hard to get rid of.
You say that sterilizer puts oxygen in the water to help good bacteria. What's the difference between using Twinstar's version and Aquaria's air diffuser hooked up to a battery powered aerator that fisherman use for keeping live bait. Wouldn't that do the same thing? • If you use either of these devices in co2 tank during the day in med-highlight tank would plants, still get enough co2? Or does it allow you to add more co2 bps. Without effect fish/shrimp.
The oxygen produced during the electrolysis also act as a powerful disinfectant. Hence killing the algae.
I used a Chihiros Doctor and I had read that people had experienced some loss of fish. I bought one anyway and after about 1 week, I woke up one morning to find 23 neon tetras dead overnight! Water was tested and it was fine, so stopped using the steriliser
😮😢
Salut mark encore et comme toujours super video comme toi j'ai hate de voir l'évolution. Et t'es expérience sont super intéressantes. Et même si je te regarde depuis je regarde encore t'es précédentes vidéos. Merci bonne soirée a très vite pour la suite. 👍👌👍
Oxygen or ozone?
They work well for hair algae only. Won't help to reduce GSA
I have one working for two years now. Unfortunately it doesn't work for BBA algae.
I'm very new to the channel hahaha 🤣 how are the cats
They are good!
What happen after all?
The sterilizer definitely helped prevent some algae in the startup phase. The tank without the sterilizer got more brown algae and green dust algae.
💥💯💯
🥰🥰🥰
I sort of hope the sterilizer doesn't work ... so I don't have to ever buy one!
Betteridge's Law of Headlines says, "NO!"
So thanks for stopping me from wasting 11 minutes of my life!
😍😍😍👍👍👍
Can you try Dyna Dirt
Im not a 100% shure, but these sterlizers work in an Others Was you explaint. The oxigin that ist released ist not the basic O, ist O2. So called redical oxigin, a connection of 2 oxigin molicules. This oxigin is breaking down the algae spores in the water, and basically destroing them. Aquarium sterilizers do not help against algae, they just keep the algae in Check, and it can not multiply that much as without.
Also a sterilizers only destroys green algae sporen, non of the other cultures. There ist also a small possibility that it harms your fish and Shrimps.
But all in all IT works. If you usw ist just from the beginning of a new Aquarium, you will geht was less, or non green algae. An it could helt start the Aquarium, and your plants to start growing in this new eviroment, becouse they will geht all of the nutrience in the water.
I am very sorry for my english, and my typing errors.
The ultimate challenge is using it in a 86F discus tank with bright lights...
My tinfoil barbs didn't make it yesterday that's a bummer they seemed to be doing really good before I went to work
Sorry to hear that
It worked for me well, only on new setups, no changes on already run aquarium. Also, mind that electrolysis cause burned organic material as well. There were times that the water had so much “C” that my drop checker was getting falsely yellow… Also, some chelate iron fertilizer brands get totally useless because the organic compounds that hold the iron molecules get burned. The same thing that UV widgets do. After 2 years of using it, the electrode was no longer cleanable by the cleaning residue they sell along with the widget, and I had to purchase new electrodes for 80 euros… Never bought one. Now I know how to fight algae.
By any chance did you have any traces of aquarium salt in your tank. You sometimes get API ones for increased health benefits etc as an additive ?
Why would you want to "sterilize" your tank?
👍👍👍😎😎😎
First baby! Spray on them pants!
😂😂😂
Looks like another snake oil product to me.
The submersed fan is just creating cavitation bubbles.
Essentially water vapor that is being cooled off by the surrounding water.
This looks cool, like it's actually doing something.
There may by a small amount of air coming from the breather tubes adding 78% Nitrogen, 21% oxygen.
The largest gas water transfer occurs on the surface of the water.
This is just a slightly more effective and expensive air stone.
It at best is adding atmospheric O2 to the water.
Is it better than a air stone?
Neither is a good choice for fish.
Waterflow across the surface is the most important interchange of gasses.
CO2 and O2 are not mutually exclusive in water.
My brother had one of these twinstar sterilizers in his tank. At some point he rearranged his tank and forgot to put it back in. For months everytime I visited him he was struggling with green hair algae and one day I remembered and asked him "hey where did your bubble-thingy go? is it broken?". He then also remembered he owned one and put it back in. Next time I visited him they were all gone so I guess it works really well on green hair algae?
But how can the fish take out all the oxygen out of water it wouldn't be h2o any more
use a good 50 watt uv lamp... let it run 24h and after u can drink ur aquarium water
Ik ben benieuwd ik wil er een kopen maar heb mijn twijfels.
I find this a very dangerous practice .. Imagine people with a lids on an aquarium that would collect enough H2 and O2 gas... waiting to pop ... Hydrogen gas with oxygen is not a thing you should toy with ( electrolysis in general).
u think we cant use lids on an aquarium with sterilizer ? (chihiros doctor)
@@csfilms2572 well there is the issue with the time it runs and how much gas it generates. I don't say you can't but I would not advice it if the lid is really inhibiting the flow of gases and the volume of air trapped between it and the water surface pretty low.
i have high tech planted tank without this thing and also without algea, all advanced plants grow perfect, so ...
Before watching I’m gonna guess no
yo that tank would be gassing off o2 and h2 consuming water and make the air a bomb.
Mayaca fluviatilis