How fast should nitrate accumulate?

[predatorkeeper87]

Hello; Sugar in a tank is a new one to me. The sugar will be food/energy source for something. Maybe bacteria or yeast? Some yeast could likely generate Co2 and alcohol?

Whatever used the sugar could have a population bloom? Then, if bacteria, perhaps add to the ammonia levels from metabolism or as they die from decay by products?

Just guessing as I type.

I agree..simple sugars would be a bacterial banquet...and not the kind you want in your aquarium...that's why I was curious as to the point of it.

 

[markstrimaran]

I agree..simple sugars would be a bacterial banquet...and not the kind you want in your aquarium...that's why I was curious as to the point of it.

 

[markstrimaran]

I agree..simple sugars would be a bacterial banquet...and not the kind you want in your aquarium...that's why I was curious as to the point of it.

Oh absolutely. I do not recommend it. Unless you have a wastewater treatment operators license. Then the tank needs to include a method of mass filtration.
A robust population of micro predators. Good water chemistry parameters. With the process done in complete darkness.
Adding sugar on a regular basis to keep nitrates low. Without having met some basic prerequisites is asking for trouble.
In my case I had 30 gallons of recent water changes. Removing any more would have decimated my routifer, daphnia colony.

 

[markstrimaran]

The intentional use of rapidly decomposing wood plus sugar in a fish tank is not how most people keep their tanks, so I doubt that many people can tell you what to expect in your nitrate levels.

Probably, if you want to keep putting rotting wood in your tank, you should plan on doing 95-98% water changes every day or at worst every 2 days. From your posts, you are adding 30-40 ppm of nitrates a day, so that would be the WC schedule you'd want to follow to keep nitrates down to a tolerable level.

The stick was a complete absent mindedness on my part.... Basic I wanted to give the fish some place to hide. As the kitten was harassing them.

 

[markstrimaran]

I have been doing water tests daily. Feeding a set amount. So without any denitratification my nitrates should go up at. ? 2ppm per inch of fish per gallon? This is my question. A rough rule of thumb.
I guess if I get a one gallon goldfish bowl. With a 1 cubic inch fancy goldfish. Then feed him for 5 minutes once a day. In 30 days measure the nitrate. Assuming the tank is fully cycled.

 

[pops]

inch of fish to water ratio really does not work, its the mass of said fish, say a 12" oscar has a much larger mass than 12 1" tetras, most of your ammonia comes from a fishes respiration, un eaten food, and deification adds it part, but by enlarge if fed correctly and proper maintenance your nitrate creep is
going to be dictated by the mass of your fish and water volume with proper bio filtration.

 

[markstrimaran]

inch of fish to water ratio really does not work, its the mass of said fish, say a 12" oscar has a much larger mass than 12 1" tetras, most of your ammonia comes from a fishes
respiration, un eaten food, and deification adds it part, but by enlarge if fed correctly and proper maintenance your nitrate creep is
going to be dictated by the mass of your fish and water volume with proper bio filtration.[/QUOTE
Thank you for the input.

 

[skjl47]

A robust population of micro predators

Hello; I am trying to understand the function of the sugar. Is the sugar food for the robust population of micropredators?

Adding sugar on a regular basis to keep nitrates low

Again what does the sugar do?

Unless you have a wastewater treatment operators license. Then the tank needs to include a method of mass filtration.

Hello; The treatment of waste water was a small part of either a limnology or ecology class back in the 1970's. No more than the theory behind primary , secondary and tertiary stages. Sugar is a new one to me.

With the process done in complete darkness.

Hello; Can you add a bit more?

 

[skjl47]

hello; I did a search for sugar use in wastewater treatment. I found the links below. I did a quick read and gathered that the sugar can be a source of carbon for denitrification bacteria to utilize when the other carbon sources are exausted from the waste water. Another point that seemed important is that this apparently takes place under anerobic conditions.

http://sucrosolutions.com.au/index.php/carbon-dosing/
http://water.epa.gov/scitech/wastetech/upload/External-Carbon-Source-for-Nitrogen-Removal.pdf
http://www.environmental-expert.com/Files\5306\articles\11579\277.pdf

 

[markstrimaran]

Ethanol is what most municipal treatment plants would use, as sugar is more expensive. Aka Vodka. Most carbon/hydrogen compounds will work. The general application rate requires lab work to determine the biological oxygen demand, BOD, MLSS, and some other parameters.
I like the natural occurring carbon. I feel that sugar dosing is kind of like taking antibiotics. It has a purpose definitely, but constant use probably means you have something out of balance.
I am considering sugar dosing too lightly feed some daphnia in my sump. As it is kept too dark for any algae to grow.

As for the darkness question. Any algae growing will produce oxygen. Which the bacteria will metabolize before the nitrates.
Also cyan bacteria are present in the waters my tank was seeded from. Aka bluegreen endotoxin producer.