Do high Nitrites hinder Nitrobacter growth?
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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I've not seen evidence that it does (nitrite is strongly detoxified in marine systems relative to freshwater due to competition for binding sites by chloride) and I would be leary of any "evidence" that was being extrapolated from fresh water.
I am also not sure that we know what species of nitrite oxidizing bacteria are even present in typical reef tanks. There are lots of them present in the ocean.
I am also not sure that we know what species of nitrite oxidizing bacteria are even present in typical reef tanks. There are lots of them present in the ocean.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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For example, folks are still studying this in 2017:
Major role of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in dark ocean carbon fixation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29170234
"Single-cell genomics and community metagenomics revealed that Nitrospinae are the most abundant and globally distributed nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in the ocean. "
Major role of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in dark ocean carbon fixation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29170234
"Single-cell genomics and community metagenomics revealed that Nitrospinae are the most abundant and globally distributed nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in the ocean. "
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Japtastic
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Thanks for the reply, Randy. Glad to hear you haven’t seen any evidence against high Nitrites being a problem. I know it’s the bacteria that takes longest to colonise so will just give it some time.
A couple of years ago - there was some scientific articles that claim that free NH3/NH4 could block the second stage of the nitrification process (NO2-> NO3). However - at least in one case that I work with - it do not seems to be like that. In spite of high NH4 levels - a high rate of full nitrification take place at the nitrification line.
High levels of NO2 will not hinder the growth of the bacteria in the second stage of nitrification - instead the second stage need NO2 in order to work. Its the differences in energy levels between NO2 and NO3 the bacteria use as energi source. Without NO2 - there is nothing to convert and gain energy from.
Sincerely Lasse
High levels of NO2 will not hinder the growth of the bacteria in the second stage of nitrification - instead the second stage need NO2 in order to work. Its the differences in energy levels between NO2 and NO3 the bacteria use as energi source. Without NO2 - there is nothing to convert and gain energy from.
Sincerely Lasse
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