Biopellet question

[Spare time]

Is it possible for bacteria not growing on the biopellets, such as cyanobacteria in a display, to access the output of the reactor and possible get a source of carbon from that?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Is it possible for bacteria not growing on the biopellets, such as cyanobacteria in a display, to access the output of the reactor and possible get a source of carbon from that?

Partly, perhaps.

Bacteria need special enzymes to break down biopellets, and most bacteria do not have them. That's likely why it takes a long time to colonize then and see effects.

But once broken down, the smaller molecules of hydroxybutyric acid are potentially going to escape from the pellet area and may get throughout the aquarium, and may be accessible to cyano.