Joe Ferenchik wrote in message
...
On Wed, 21 May 2003 18:20:37 -0400, "NetMax"
wrote:


"SlimFlem" wrote ...
snip
Joe Ferenchik wrote ...
"SlimFlem" wrote:
snip It seems like the marbles would be too "slick"
and not provide enough surface area for the bacteria.

Bio-max or similar would provide a home for anaerobic bacteria which
would remove nitrates (something your bio-wheel cannot do).

Please pardon my ignorance. Wouldn't adding the ceramic rings inhibit
plant growth a bit, since it's my understanding nitrate is utilized by
the plants somewhat. Or would adding the rings or similar lengthen the
wc interval since the nitrate buildup would take longer. I'll suppose
here that the serious aquarists want nothing but the best for the
plants and our aquatic friends.

Only in situations where nitrate was the constraint to growth. Plants
will grow until they hit a constraining factor (usually light), or they
slow down when they hit a governing factor (CO2). Removing those
constraints, and providing all the minerals & nutrients, then when you
consider the nitrogen chain, their preference is ammonia, then nitrites
and then lastly, nitrates. You need to have a seriously planted, well
lit tank which is PMDD regularly before you would see that NO3 additions
made a significant difference IMHO. Even at this point, I'm not sure if
the plants would not win the contest between the anaerobic bacteria
anyways. An interesting question for people in r.a.f.plants.

For the typical hobbyist with measurable nitrates, diluted by w/c's, it's
not a concern.

My response is probably grossly oversimplified *sorry*, so I'll
cross-post back to the experts in r.a.f.plants for their comments on the
situation you outlined.

NetMax