Thanks 12 V
I cant argue anything youve presented
Although previously it seemed we agreed on just about everything except the detail of the bacteria in the aquarium sustaining itself long term
Which it now seems we agree it will, pending details
If we are discussing a situation where an aquarium uses a single canister filter filled primarily with bio media and has ample other water movement (powerheads, air stones, etc)
and the canister filter were turned off or removed
We have agreed without opposition that there would be some level of ammonia/nitrite spike (degree based on stocking levels and many other details)
but in time the bacteria in the aquarium would increase to replace the bacteria lost when the canister was removed
I agree completely
The bacterial population size will have some limiting factor
be it food, oxygen, space (surface area), pollutants, etc
This is true for every situation
But in the situation noted above
prior to the canister filter being turned off the limiting factor was food supply and the bacterial population reach a level to maintain an ammonia/nitrite level of zero in the given environment
then the filter was turned off and the colony in the aquarium repopulated to the same overall quantity as before
Therefore the metabolic byproducts produced by the colony in the aquarium are no different than the metabolic byproducts produced by the system prior to turning off the canister filter
Naturally eventually these byproducts will build up to a crippling level, but this would take an extensive amount of time. As typically when an aquarium goes a long time without proper water changes metabolic byproducts within the system cause problems with fish stock, odor, water clarity, etc, etc long before they cripple the bacterial colonies.
I can fully accept that we, as hobbyists, have no scientific evidence to suggest any reference as to how many square inches of bacteria is needed per volume of ammonia or any other such reference
But based on my experience, I believe we, as hobbyists, on average believe we need far more than we truly do
It will be a month or so before my bare 10 gal experiment yields any notable results, as it needs to cycle first, then Ill need to build up bacterial levels at a moderate rate
but Ill be sure to share details in my approach as well as my result
and probably even invite additional experimental theories
