Re: [APD] RE: Fertilizing a new tank(when to start)

["S. Hieber" <shieber at yahoo_com>]

I think that in a brand new tank there is unlikely to be
enough stuff in the substrate to feed a significantly large
colony of anaereobic bacteria.

If there was a large mass of such bacteria, shouldn't they
then be turning nirates back to nitrites? Isn't that one of
the features of anaerobiec bacteria?

Scott H.


--- Jim Seidman <james at mail1_seidman.net> wrote:

> Tom,
> 
> A theory occurred to me as to why NO3 dosing on a new
> tank might cause
> problems. I have myself experienced a measurable NH4
> spike when I suddenly
> increased NO3 dosing. I assume that this was due to
> incomplete
> denitrification occurring in the substrate.
> 
> In a brand new tank, there are going to be areas of
> substrate that don't
> have healthy roots and are thus more prone to going
> anaerobic. Robust NO3
> dosing could then cause excessive NH4 formation. I think
> we all agree that
> too-high NH4 levels can promote an algae bloom.
> 
> Once a tank is established and the roots are pumping out
> oxygen, less NO3
> would be converted to NH4. Also, once the plants are
> growing well they would
> presumably be better able to soak up excess NH4.
> 
> So in this theory, limiting NO3 fertilization at tank
> startup would not be
> about starving the plants, but simply avoiding having it
> turn into NH4.
>  
> As I said, I've seen the NO3 -> NH4 conversion in my own
> tank, so I know it
> can happen.
> 
> - Jim Seidman
> 
> 
> 
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