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Re: Aquatic Plants Digest V4 #113
> Thanks for the input. Your comment brings-up another question...
> If the bacteria in my activated carbon is competing with my plants for
> nutrients, then how about my FOUR bio-wheels?
> I have a 75 gal tank with a moderate-to-heavy fish load. I have long been
a
> fan of bio-wheels, and thought that they would be a necessity in my plant
> tank (because I have no UG filter).
> Is my filtration system competing with my plants? (or will the bio-wheels
> expel all the CO2 that I am trying to inject?)
I have heard before about bacteria competing with plants for nuitrients, and
I am a little confused. As I have always understood it, fish waste (ammonia)
is broken down by bacteria to nitritres and then by another bacteria to
nitrates which are then used up by the plants. Now I know that the plants can
also use ammonia directly, but can they not use the nitrates equally well? Or
are the bacteria competing for nutrients other than nitrogen?
Craig