What sort of bacterial imbalance are you suggesting is caused by low nutrient levels, and what's the evidence for it?
Wow, that is a very short but very wide ranging question Randy ;-)
But I appreciate your interest on some of the backgrounds for my previous statements.
This goes now into the very very very complex world of Microbiology that is in my opinion more than highly important to the success on a Tank system. For the other readers and followers that are interested in this subject I keep this still reasonable generic.
As you guys know Randy/Hans Werner, bacteria strains in the tank are the most influencing part, and form the microbiology that is terrible complex and been affected by an endless amount of factors, in my opinion the reason for the statement that every tank is different which it is due to that.
An imbalance in the bacteria biology (decades ago called monoculture), is in theoretical measures being noticed when the nutrients in the tank are going out of whack when so far the normal methods of filtration have been applied and worked out in a way that the tank had nutrients in an acceptable range before.
This can be observed by example:
Nitrates increasing while no or very low phosphates are present (very often to see)
Increasing Phosphates while Nitrates are very low or non-detectable anymore
Alongside these two difficult to resolve situations, any situation where one of the two mayor nutrients is missing are leading down the road to bacterial imbalances.
Another side effect to the above is certain Nuisance algae and very often Cyano issues since these bacteria do benefit from the absence/reduction of the probiotic bacteria (good bacteria) strains.
As many people know, certain carbs are required to populate and overpopulate the good bacteria in the Nitrogen cycle. These bacteria are not just a few ones that do just consume nutrients. Each bacteria strain has a tendency to consume preferred certain wastes in our tanks.
Means different carbon additives do enhance bacteria, but in different efficiencies.
I personally have seen and experienced this very well by applying V,VV,VSV & VSV+A carbon dosing methods on my own tanks for years now.
A few notes:
Sugars, Coke, Honey, Malts for example intend to feed white bacteria more than others
Vodka pure or higher concentrations in VSV Carbon mixes seem to increase Nitrate reducing bacteria and Cyano as well some pathogens
Vinegar with less amount of Vodka seem to be more efficient when trying to reduce Po4, less effect on Pathogens and Cyano.
Ammonium seem to fuel the bacteria of the first part of the N2 cycle to Superboost Nitrate reduction when certain criteria are met on the bacteria of the second part of the cycle.
Aminos do actually support overpopulation and fuel bacteria of many strains of bacteria and fungi, careful while it feeds pathogens when probiotic bacteria is limited.
Long story short, depending of what you feed and important limiting your bacteria with, different strains will result in different waste and nutrient consumptions. To make it difficult, the supply chain of bacterial foods will decide which bacteria strains will compete out the others.
Now you may see where I’m heading to. A limited and reduced strain that is mostly consuming Phosphates will have issues to populate back to a healthy balanced bacterial count, while being outcompeted from other bacteria strains.
It all goes back to Liebig’s law of the minimum at the end which applies to almost everything on this planet ;-)
Evidence???? Well, this bacterial behavior is well known by companies that do produce today’s engineered bacterial cocktails that basically do one particular job and die slowly off until the next dose. You can imagine they won’t like to share their practices and secrets.
Most of my facts and experiences are based on years of education and trial due to published books, articles, study reports as well as many conversations with people in the waste management, biochem, saltwater related and medical industries. Not to forget many of my Reefer friends all over the globe, as well some experts in the hobby ;-)
Most interesting studies are to be found in the biochemistry and medical field, where the funding is provided for bacterial behavioral studies including the equipment needed for those.
I have received often from marine biologists and chemists (some of them are well known to you) basically sort of confirmation of the above assumptions.
I’m running out of time a bit and hope I covered my points so far.
-Andre
