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Where would we be without bacteria??...

Probably a lot healthier if we could eradicate the bad guys.

But in a lot of trouble if all bacterium on earth was suddenly destroyed. Without the good guys to help us out, there's a good chance none of us could keep tropicals.

What's for dinner??

Well, let's see. On the menu tonight it looks like a cocktail of pure ammonia to start, followed by a well aged nitrate nutrient or two.

Why is it bacterium have a taste for ammonia?? I haven't the slightest idea. How do they show up in new water in an aquarium?? Again, I draw a blank.

I have a suspicion they're already in the new water, dormant, just waiting for a nice warm environment and a good supply of their favorite food.

Since we now realize that good bacteria require a food source, let's not overdo the feeding. There's only a certain amount of bacterium to go around in a new tank and they can't eat all the ammonia at once, but I'm sure they'd liked to.

The Newby just loves fish. The more the merrier. Sadly, it doesn't take long to realize something strange is happening to the tank. The water, once clear and beautiful, is taking on a new color...gray.

The Newby forgot one small item: Fish waste.

Within a few days the trops, once visable, are now somewhere in the tank, but where??

NEXT: Pure frustration.

--garyroland.

Very well written and informative, not to mention entertaining. Looking forward to part 3.