@gregkn73 Here its come
A normal saying is that there is not enough of organic carbon in a reef system or that organic carbon is limited in a reef system. This is not the whole truth. Its true if you with organic carbon mean dissolved organic carbon like simple sugars, alcohols or vinegar – they are limited in a normal reef. But organic carbon in the broad sense – including organic matter – there is lot of in a reef tank – dead animals, dead algae, pop and food residues and of cause bacteria film is rich in organic matter and organic carbon.
During normal circumstances aerobic heterotroph bacteria will breakdown this products with help of oxygen. End products will be inorganic substances like CO2, PO4 and NH3/NH4 and different minerals.
However - if it will be a depletion of oxygen – anaerobic condition – the breakdown of organic matter will continue but through other pathways. Two of them is hydrolyzation and acidogenesis – by-products of these processes are among other things simple sugars and alcohols.
The idea with my DSB is to pump in water in the small space below the DSB. The water content organic matter that will be break down in the plenum and in the first layers of the sand bed. With time – there will be more and more organic matter in this low level of the sand bed and anaerobic conditions will occur. Its important that not to have any mechanical filters – the POM (particulate organic matter) shall be collected in the lower part of the sand bed – that is the mechanical filter. This process will take a long time in order to be established – I´m not sure it´s true for me yet. One way of make the process happen earlier is to pump down skimate into the plenum. Skimate is a
useful product in this case. I did that in the beginning – but have not done it lately.
The goal is to establish the two first anaerobic digestion processes in the lower part of the DSB (hydrolyzation and acidogenesis) – the biproducts sugar and alcohols will be the DOC for the denitrification a little bit higher up in the sand bed.
Good theory – does it work. Yes, I know that the principles work – I have been working with a group in order to establish exactly this in recirculated fish farms and we have this to work – not only at experimental level – but also in direct production.
Does it work in my aquaria – not sure yet but give me some more years – and it will work. During time – I will have a stable aquarium with well-established bacterial fauna that will have its demand for DOC from release from algae, corals and later on – from my DSB
A backslash was that I had to dig up the DSB when I took away the Siporax. A surprise was that the sand and the siporax was clean - very clean. I want it dirty. Therefore - in time I will start to pump down my skimate again
Sincerely Lasse
DSC_0003 by sshipuk, on Flickr
