What are the differences between areobic and anaerobic bacteria? I have had some aquarists state that anaerobic bacterias feed off of ammonia, nitrites, AND nitrates. Aerobic bacterias only feed off of ammonia and nitrite. This doesn't make sense to me because if that were the case, I would think majority of the filters out there would be of a wet/dry nature, kill two birds w/ one stone and what not. Does anyone have the TRUE answer? Possibly backed by facts would help. Thanks.
areobic vs. anaerobic bacteria
- Thread starter meanbestorque
- Start date
anearobic is the lack of oxygen. doubt its spelled right. you have any idea how hard getting oxygen out of water a 600 gallons an hour is. what im sayin is there are nitrate filters but pet stupid dont got em and they take a bit of work to get workin and keepin workin as the inclousion of o2 wrtecks it
The word Aerobic means in the presence of oxygen. The prefix an- means without. So aerobic bacteria live in the presence of oxygen, while anaerobic bacteria live without the presence of oxygen.
Aerobic bacteria, in aquariums, process ammonia and nitrites. Anaerobic bacteria convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.
The thing about anaerobic bacteria and why they are not made space for in all aquarium filters is that oxygen kills them. That is why denitrators require very slow flow, so that Aerobic (with o2) bacteria can use all the oxygen by the time it gets to the media so that the Anaerobic bacteria may live.
Aerobic bacteria (I do not have the numbers for cell division) can take 4-6 weeks to establish themselves, which is what is happening when you cycle the tank.
Anaerobic bacteria, however, can take months (3-4 on a good day) to establish themselves in a denitrator because they divide slower, much slower.
Anaerobic bacteria would be killed in a wet/dry, or any environment with oxygen present. In addition to making sure that they do not have any O2, you must provide them with a constant organic carbon source (not activated carbon! Sugar, vodka, and seachem excel have been used). Too much of this source and you get hydrogen sulfide gas, deadly to your fish and to you in high enough quantities. Too little organic carbon and you get incomplete denitrification and either end up with ammonia or nitrites.
Aerobic bacteria, in aquariums, process ammonia and nitrites. Anaerobic bacteria convert nitrate to nitrogen gas.
The thing about anaerobic bacteria and why they are not made space for in all aquarium filters is that oxygen kills them. That is why denitrators require very slow flow, so that Aerobic (with o2) bacteria can use all the oxygen by the time it gets to the media so that the Anaerobic bacteria may live.
Aerobic bacteria (I do not have the numbers for cell division) can take 4-6 weeks to establish themselves, which is what is happening when you cycle the tank.
Anaerobic bacteria, however, can take months (3-4 on a good day) to establish themselves in a denitrator because they divide slower, much slower.
Anaerobic bacteria would be killed in a wet/dry, or any environment with oxygen present. In addition to making sure that they do not have any O2, you must provide them with a constant organic carbon source (not activated carbon! Sugar, vodka, and seachem excel have been used). Too much of this source and you get hydrogen sulfide gas, deadly to your fish and to you in high enough quantities. Too little organic carbon and you get incomplete denitrification and either end up with ammonia or nitrites.
Very good explanation! So are there any differences between the bacteria in wet/dry media and submerged media?
If its in the same filter then NO. The only thing that makes it submerged or not is what you do with it.
O and the wet in wet/dry is submerged. Thats what a wet and dry filter is both wet and dry in the same filter.