Equal balance between Aerobic and Anaerobic bacteria

Electrobes · Mar 17, 2016

So, with all this talk I've been reading about using Matrix/Siporax (I currently have 4L of Matrix) something has occurred to me.

Should we be keeping an equal ratio of media for Aerobic bacteria and Anaerobic?

For instance, if I have 2L of Matrix in a basket in my sump, should I have 2L of Matrix in a very slow flow reactor (To keep Oxygen Levels low)? Or should the ratio be different?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 17, 2016

IMO, there's no reason to think one needs a particular "balance" in terms or surface area or anything else.

FWIW, most media designed to provide surface area for low O2 bacteria will also be providing surface area for aerobic bacteria (on the outer regions).

Electrobes · Mar 17, 2016

Randy, I'm thinking more of what is enough for a range amount of bio load in a tank.

I look at my 100G with four medium pieces of rock and think "Man, I need more surface area for the bacteria."

I add Matrix and then think.. Is it in deep enough water to host Anaerobic bacteria deep inside, but does it have enough oxygenated water to host Aerobic bacteria.

Then I think, do I have enough? Do I believe the claims made by the manufacturer?

brandon429 · Mar 17, 2016

How would we measure the anaerobic bacterial impact if we were willing to try for the balance

FranklinDattein · Mar 17, 2016

Electrobes said:
Then I think, do I have enough? Do I believe the claims made by the manufacturer?

You know if there is enough, by testing on a regular basis.

The manufacturer claim is a good starting point, you can corroborate it with other forum member's stories and double-check it with your own tests.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 18, 2016

fsamir said:
You know if there is enough, by testing on a regular basis.

The manufacturer claim is a good starting point, you can corroborate it with other forum member's stories and double-check it with your own tests.

Testing for what? Nitrate?

If you go this route for nitrate removal, then that's a fine thing to measure.

But I'm not sure the amount of denitrifying media is related somehow (e.g., balanced) to the nitrifying media surface area.

marke · Mar 18, 2016

What is Matrix? Im assuming it bacteria in a bottle? How do you know if it anaerobic or arobic in the bottle? Does the bottle require refrigeration? Whats the shelf life stated on the bottle? How long was it on the shelf before you used it? Can bacteria in a bottle become either aerobic or anaerobic based on location alone? Or is one the nitro brothers and the other the baccillus gang? Just trying to learn, before formulating an opinion.

Electrobes · Mar 18, 2016

marke said:
What is Matrix? Im assuming it bacteria in a bottle? How do you know if it anaerobic or arobic in the bottle? Does the bottle require refrigeration? Whats the shelf life stated on the bottle? How long was it on the shelf before you used it? Can bacteria in a bottle become either aerobic or anaerobic based on location alone? Or is one the nitro brothers and the other the baccillus gang? Just trying to learn, before formulating an opinion.

Mark, it's just rock with high surface area... Sold by Seachem.

Electrobes · Mar 18, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Testing for what? Nitrate?

If you go this route for nitrate removal, then that's a fine thing to measure.

But I'm not sure the amount of denitrifying media is related somehow (e.g., balanced) to the nitrifying media surface area.

Ack I've confused this up. I don't mean the media so much as the amount of media to do the job.

Instead let us ignore the media and go with just the bacteria. If Aerobic bacteria's end product is nitrate, and Anaerobic bacteria takes nitrate and gasses out nitrogen.. Is the ratio of both bacterias to complete that scenario 1:1?

This is probably too simple to actually be true...

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 18, 2016

Electrobes said:
Ack I've confused this up. I don't mean the media so much as the amount of media to do the job.

Instead let us ignore the media and go with just the bacteria. If Aerobic bacteria's end product is nitrate, and Anaerobic bacteria takes nitrate and gasses out nitrogen.. Is the ratio of both bacterias to complete that scenario 1:1?

This is probably too simple to actually be true...

No, the ratio is not 1:1. There are other sinks for nitrate in the tank (like corals, algae, etc.), an even if the ratio were 1:1 in terms of actual chemicals converted, that would not necessarily imply a need for the same surface area in aerobic and low O2 environments.

Electrobes · Mar 18, 2016

Randy, you've mentioned using GAC as a bacteria exporter (As more of a nice side effect). How long did you usually leave carbon in for, before replacing it?

I'm using the large particle lignite carbon from BRS, I really dislike using ROX. It always slips through the sponge filters, driving me nuts!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Mar 19, 2016

Electrobes said:
Randy, you've mentioned using GAC as a bacteria exporter (As more of a nice side effect). How long did you usually leave carbon in for, before replacing it?

I'm using the large particle lignite carbon from BRS, I really dislike using ROX. It always slips through the sponge filters, driving me nuts!

It varied since I did not have a specific schedule, but usually on the order of a month.

For a while I was replacing just part of it at that time, keeping some as a source of the bacteria for the next batch. I'm not doing that presently, however.