Beneficial bacteria

[53special]

Exactly what does beneficial bacteria do, and how does it do it? We all know it is good, but why?

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

Exactly what does beneficial bacteria do, and how does it do it? We all know it is good, but why?

really?

It converts ammonia into nitrite and than nitrite into nitrate which is the least harmful of the three

AKA the harmful stuff is food to the bacteria and the less harmful stuff is the waste created.

and than if you can create area with no oxygen you can even have bacteria which further converts and consumes nitrate which some argue is the full cycle of the system.




This concept is the basis of fish keeping itself and one of the first things any fish keeper should learn.

 

[Bderick67]

really?

It converts ammonia into nitrite and than nitrite into nitrate which is the least harmful of the three

AKA the harmful stuff is food to the bacteria and the less harmful stuff is the waste created.

and than if you can create area with no oxygen you can even have bacteria which further converts and consumes nitrate which some argue is the full cycle of the system.




This concept is the basis of fish keeping itself and one of the first things any fish keeper should learn.

Agreed, understanding the nitrogen cycle is a must. You can get a little more explanation here; http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

 

[53special]

But will it dissolve poop?

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

But will it dissolve poop?

poop decomposes into mainly ammonia which is toxic to fish even in low concentrations

 

[2004exrider]

But will it dissolve poop?

To an extent, but what it can't eat is left as detrious material.

Jimmy

 

[53special]

Is there such a thing as to much beneficial bacteria?

 

[2004exrider]

Is there such a thing as to much beneficial bacteria?

Nope but you can only get so much bacteria to grow because of the size of the bio load.

Jimmy

 

[53special]

So if I went completely nuts with sponges, the bacteria would grow and die with the bio-load?

 

[Fish Eat Fish]

So if I went completely nuts with sponges, the bacteria would grow and die with the bio-load?

yup

its like if you were to have a 10,000 gallon tank full of convicts

if you fed alot they would just multiply until they hit the point that there was not enough food to sustain anymore. if you were to than feed less or more the size of the group would shrink or increase but always work towards equilibrium with the amount of food avaliable.