Bio load question - Aquarium Advice

TheRealFF · 04-06-2006, 07:22 PM

Alright, so the general reef bioload rule for beginnners is 1 in. of fish per 6G right? Why do only fishes count toward the bioload? Surely, inverts such as snails, shrimps, tubeworms, anemones, etc. have waste products too. That means the bioload would increase if the amount of inverts in the tank increases. So y isn't inverts count toward bioload? y isn't there an invert bioload rule?

(This question came up to me wheni saw my astrae released a big pile of waste. The pile was way bigger than my clowns')

Thanks

john0087 · 04-06-2006, 07:57 PM

FYI....I AM NOT BIOLOGIST.....

I believe the answer lies somewhere in the difference between the metobolic rate of fish vs inverts. Fish exert and consume much more energy then inverts, which tend to be slower moving and in the case or corals, non-moving at all. This increased energy consumsion leads to greater waste in the water.

A second factor would be corals and annenome get a portion of their energy from photosysnthis, which I believe produced oxgen as waste. I don't think we are concerned about excess oxygen in our systems.

I am sure that you could pack a tank full of snails, shrimp, seastars crabs etc and "exceede" the bioload of their environment, but in the small populations that we are dealing with, I do not think that it is a problem.

Lastly, you have to look at your tank as a system, and not a tank. The 1" of fish per 6gal is a general giudeline. Constant monitoring of you Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are better indications of how your system is doing and if it is in balance or not.....

If I am full of BS and someone can offer a more scientific answer. then I appologize in advance and I wuol dlike to know what I got wrong........

HTH

John

John

Hara · 04-06-2006, 08:06 PM

inverts have a negative effect on the bioload as they consume the waste that the "higher" forms put out.

ryguy · 04-06-2006, 09:09 PM

Hara, can you elaborate on that? Not sure I follow.

Brenden · 04-06-2006, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Hara, can you elaborate on that? Not sure I follow.

She said they eat poop.

Melissamustang · 04-06-2006, 09:14 PM

Thats to funny!

ryguy · 04-06-2006, 09:29 PM

I was thinking that would be a positive effect on the bioload then. but now I get that the "negative" effect she was saying, is actually positive for the aquarist.

TheRealFF · 04-06-2006, 09:40 PM

Quote:

She said they eat poop. Laughing

That's mean!

Hara, so ur saying inverts consume those higher form waste then turn them into lower form waste that is easier to be processed by the tank/system? I kinda got what yall are saying.

Btw. i get more poops from snails than my 2 clowns haha

john0087 · 04-07-2006, 01:05 PM

so if they eat poop, what do inverts poop-fish food?

Ok so thats not that funny.........

Even if I am wrong..I like my answer....make me feel smarter then I am

Jermz79 · 04-07-2006, 01:23 PM

makes you sound real smart too!!! You had me going!!!

I think some of what you say may be true actually!

04-06-2006, 07:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
TheRealFF Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Houston, TX, U.S. Posts: 295	Bio load question Alright, so the general reef bioload rule for beginnners is 1 in. of fish per 6G right? Why do only fishes count toward the bioload? Surely, inverts such as snails, shrimps, tubeworms, anemones, etc. have waste products too. That means the bioload would increase if the amount of inverts in the tank increases. So y isn't inverts count toward bioload? y isn't there an invert bioload rule? (This question came up to me wheni saw my astrae released a big pile of waste. The pile was way bigger than my clowns') Thanks __________________ FF = Fish Freak I am one of those reefnuts that are actually nuts!

04-06-2006, 07:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
john0087 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: So California Posts: 207	FYI....I AM NOT BIOLOGIST..... I believe the answer lies somewhere in the difference between the metobolic rate of fish vs inverts. Fish exert and consume much more energy then inverts, which tend to be slower moving and in the case or corals, non-moving at all. This increased energy consumsion leads to greater waste in the water. A second factor would be corals and annenome get a portion of their energy from photosysnthis, which I believe produced oxgen as waste. I don't think we are concerned about excess oxygen in our systems. I am sure that you could pack a tank full of snails, shrimp, seastars crabs etc and "exceede" the bioload of their environment, but in the small populations that we are dealing with, I do not think that it is a problem. Lastly, you have to look at your tank as a system, and not a tank. The 1" of fish per 6gal is a general giudeline. Constant monitoring of you Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrate are better indications of how your system is doing and if it is in balance or not..... If I am full of BS and someone can offer a more scientific answer. then I appologize in advance and I wuol dlike to know what I got wrong........ HTH John John __________________ 60gal reef in progress 75lbs Live Rock 40lbs Live Rock AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer Marineland penguin HOB Filter 4x65w PCF FISH 1 - Percula, 1 - Blue-Yellowtail Damsel, 3 - Green reef Chromis Inverts Rose Annenome; Anchor Coral

04-06-2006, 08:06 PM	#3 (permalink)
Hara Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 6,878 Images: 33	inverts have a negative effect on the bioload as they consume the waste that the "higher" forms put out. __________________ ~~~~~Hara~~~~~~ View My Tanks Visit FantasyReef.com's Databases!

04-06-2006, 09:14 PM	#6 (permalink)
Melissamustang Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: North Carolina Posts: 928 Images: 24	Thats to funny! __________________ 525 Salt water "Zoo" Awesome! Tell someone how you feel….Make a sweet comment and it will always make you feel good as well!

04-07-2006, 01:05 PM	#9 (permalink)
john0087 Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: So California Posts: 207	so if they eat poop, what do inverts poop-fish food? Ok so thats not that funny......... Even if I am wrong..I like my answer....make me feel smarter then I am __________________ 60gal reef in progress 75lbs Live Rock 40lbs Live Rock AquaC Remora Protein Skimmer Marineland penguin HOB Filter 4x65w PCF FISH 1 - Percula, 1 - Blue-Yellowtail Damsel, 3 - Green reef Chromis Inverts Rose Annenome; Anchor Coral

04-06-2006, 09:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
ryguy Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: vancouver island Posts: 514	Hara, can you elaborate on that? Not sure I follow.

04-06-2006, 09:29 PM	#7 (permalink)
ryguy Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: vancouver island Posts: 514	I was thinking that would be a positive effect on the bioload then. but now I get that the "negative" effect she was saying, is actually positive for the aquarist.

04-07-2006, 01:23 PM	#10 (permalink)
Jermz79 Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Spring Hill, FL Posts: 1,159	makes you sound real smart too!!! You had me going!!! I think some of what you say may be true actually! __________________ God grant me the serenity to accept the thing's I can not change, the courage to change the thing's I can and the wisdom to know the difference! R.I.P Walena K. Cox 7/7/62 - 8/11/2002

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Another Bio Load Question	ryshark	Saltwater Fish Only & FOWLR	6	09-12-2007 07:15 PM
How much bio-load?	Becks	Saltwater Reef Aquaria	6	11-17-2006 10:51 AM
Betta Compatability/General Bio Load question	Hovoc	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	6	04-03-2006 03:10 PM
Question about fish bio load	Xzap	Freshwater & Brackish - General Discussion	6	09-18-2005 12:26 PM
Bio-load question...	chrism	Freshwater & Brackish - Archive	3	12-14-2004 11:23 AM