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I'm over my Part quota...

But, when it comes to bacterium, there's more to say.

If we were dealing with only one strain, it would be easy. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

Remember that I said good bacteria are a community that work together in what we call a colony. For reasons sometimes unknown, the colony changes.

I'll quote from an insert provided with the New Improved Cycle:

"Research shows that the size of bacterial populations, including those in the biological filter, vary depending on the quality of the water and time."

Read that again.

Note:..."depending on the quality of the water and time."

I love that statement.

If you could look down into your tank and actually see the bacteria in action, you'd notice they are not all the same.

The one particular strain, if you could have a favorite, would be the "heterotrophic" bacterium. This strain is a hobbyist's best friend. These are the guys that solubilize waste and reduce organic matter in the water.

The insert goes on to claim:

"Less beneficial micro-organisms do not replace the useful bacterial population in the aquarium." (When the product is dosed).

So, it stands to reason when the good guys are fading, the guys that do the majority of the work, other not-so-good greedy bacterium/micro-organisms begin to multiply.

Now you can see the bacterium in all their cloudy multitudes.

Don't get me wrong. The parameter levels, ammonia, nitrites, etc., may stay the same because some beneficial bacteria still remain and are working hard to maintain that balance.

In time, when the nitrifying/heterotrophic bacteria get back to their job of mass colonizing, the tank will clear. However, depending on the water quality in the tank, that clearing could take upwards of a month or two, perhaps longer.

The only way to speed up the process is to dose a bacteria starter. The starters we have on the market today are vastly improved and a lot faster because of the improved way the good bacteria are preserved in the solution.

Tanks always go cloudy for a reason. Be it bad water quality, sometimes overfeeding or meds (antibiotics) that have a way of killing the good bacteria with the bad.

In my opinion there's nothing worse than looking into a tank and trying to find your trops in the London fog.

END.

--garyroland.

--Vero Beach, Florida.

Last edited by garyroland at 21-Oct-2004 11:02

Thoughtful and interesting series of articles. I look forward to you next batch. Thanks!

-Beth

I always think of the phrase "next batch" as something a baker might say after burning cookies...

If I can find the right "mix" to write about then the next "batch" could be soon.

Thanks for your encouraging compliments.

--garyroland.