neilanh
Sliced Bread
I hear lots of you talk about "nitrate factories" when referring to the use of canister filters, wet/dry setups, bio-media in general. I don't understand this, can someone explain it? Don't get me wrong, I understand why it's important to maintain low levels of nitrates in a SW aquarium, that's not what I want to discuss.
I think I understand the concept. These types of setups allow for a great area for nitrifying bacteria to grow - high surface area, higher flow rates, lots of times highly oxygenated areas - which the bacteria thrive in. This is the concept we use in FW systems, and for those systems it's preferred.
Why the difference in SW setups? Essentially, saltwater tanks undergo the same nitrogen cycle as FW setups. You need these bacteria to convert waste (leftover food and fish waste, etc) through the cycle and to the end product of nitrAte anyway, whether FW or SW. Then you use other means to clean out the nitrAtes - plants, macro algaes, PWCs, etc.
If you create these "factories" in SW tanks, it's no different in my mind than allowing the bacteria to grow in the tank on the LR, BR, substrate, etc etc. Either way, the bacteria are going to grow in the tank and do their job of converting waste through the cycle. So why then, does it matter, if the bacteria live in a canister filter, wet/dry system, or on the LR and substrate in the tank. I can't figure out the difference. The size of the bacteria colony is going to be dependant on how much waste is being produced by the tank, why does it matter where they live?
Having these factories aren't going to produce more nitrAtes. The amount of nitrAtes produced is directly proportional to the amount of waste in the tank. The only thing I can figure is that these areas provide a place for gunk to build up and rot, creating more waste in a centralized location. But, that waste exists in the tanks whether or not it collects on a filter pad or not - so I'm still confused.
Someone teach me the ways of the "dark side" - as you like to call it.
I think I understand the concept. These types of setups allow for a great area for nitrifying bacteria to grow - high surface area, higher flow rates, lots of times highly oxygenated areas - which the bacteria thrive in. This is the concept we use in FW systems, and for those systems it's preferred.
Why the difference in SW setups? Essentially, saltwater tanks undergo the same nitrogen cycle as FW setups. You need these bacteria to convert waste (leftover food and fish waste, etc) through the cycle and to the end product of nitrAte anyway, whether FW or SW. Then you use other means to clean out the nitrAtes - plants, macro algaes, PWCs, etc.
If you create these "factories" in SW tanks, it's no different in my mind than allowing the bacteria to grow in the tank on the LR, BR, substrate, etc etc. Either way, the bacteria are going to grow in the tank and do their job of converting waste through the cycle. So why then, does it matter, if the bacteria live in a canister filter, wet/dry system, or on the LR and substrate in the tank. I can't figure out the difference. The size of the bacteria colony is going to be dependant on how much waste is being produced by the tank, why does it matter where they live?
Having these factories aren't going to produce more nitrAtes. The amount of nitrAtes produced is directly proportional to the amount of waste in the tank. The only thing I can figure is that these areas provide a place for gunk to build up and rot, creating more waste in a centralized location. But, that waste exists in the tanks whether or not it collects on a filter pad or not - so I'm still confused.
Someone teach me the ways of the "dark side" - as you like to call it.