jarrod0987
Aquarium Advice FINatic
- Joined
- Jul 12, 2005
- Messages
- 512
I'm not understanding what you're doing here. Can you go into a bit more detail?
Basically, I wanted to find out why my soil was denitrfying and no one else's. I realized it might be the wood and not the soil so I separated them. I set up each one separate to see which one caused the effect. It was the wood.
I would love the nitty-gritty on this actually.
What would you like to know. Maybe phone call? lot to talk about
I'm still not buying it, but I'm not going to dismiss your observations so easily. I would offer the following thoughts.
Appreciate that very much. I have respect for this kind of criticism vs the usual kind I usually get.
1) Wood chips are acting to somehow sequester nitrates rather than a medium for nitrification.
I thought about this and I have not ruled it out. The effect does slow down after a year. Might be wood got full. Might be wood broke down. When I autopsy this tank I will know.
Also possible however...my plants showed signs of nitrogen deficiency until I started dosing it. This is not conclusive of course. Also...I can add nitrate at any level to that tank and then run a nitrate test. Either API or LaMotte and the result comes back about right after 1 hour of letting the water stir etc.2) The wood is releasing 'something' that's interfering with your tests.
3) The wood is somehow essential for a secondary process that's fueling consumption of nitrogen products.
Not sure exactly what you mean but I also suspect the carbon compounds int he wood might be important. The whole reason why nitrate gets consumed is for respiration when no O2 is around. The reason for respiration is carbon consumption. The would is breaking down after all.
Lot of hand waving, I know.
But I also would throw out the following thought: If adding woodchips causes denitrification inside the woodchips (as you suggest), why wouldn't hunks of driftwood be nitrate sucking machines?
I am wondering if it is a surface area issue. Perhaps also a rate of water soaking in and out/surface issue. I have been told by others that there tanks with a lot of drift wood has lower nitrates then other tanks but I have never kept a tank like this.
Surely it's anoxic inside them. Also, if it were truly anoxic, wouldn't you have sulfurous reactions taking place instead. I've certainly had that happen accidentally before.
When I disturb the soil I definitely smell the sulfur. Also....there are many possible electron carrier reactions for bacterial respiration. I think at least 8. They go in order...O2, then NO3,...something something... Sulfur is in there somewhere. Walstad talks about them in her book. Has them all ranked etc. The formulas are all there.
You have my respect for the way you are conducting yourself while we are debating. I will be happy to share with you what ever you wish. I have time off this next few days. If you wish we can talk about many things.
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