Not really chemistry but got a question about bacteria

Dtackett · Jan 10, 2016

http://www.algone.com/nitrifying-bacteria-and-the-breakdown-of-organic-waste-in-the-aquarium

Came across this. Says nitrifiers are light sensitive and leads you to believe a tank with dark spots would not only have a better bacteria colony, but a tank cycled in a pure blackout will cycle faster.

What's your thoughts on this?

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jan 10, 2016

Nitrifying bacteria do appear to be photosensitive:

http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/141/m141p183.pdf

That said, it doesn't take much live rock or sand to block the penetration of light from lower levels, where such bacteria may grow well.

I've also seen it stated that the effect is less important once a bacterial colony is established than during cycling, but I've not seen the data to support it.

In general, reef tanks do not seem to suffer from inadequate nitrogen cycling once establish, so I'm not sure I'd worry about it.

One thing I am interested in is if the Mindstream folks get ammonia sensing devices in the hands of lots of reefers, whether there is anything useful to be learned about ammonia levels in established tanks, and what impacts it.

Dtackett · Jan 10, 2016

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
Nitrifying bacteria do appear to be photosensitive:

http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps/141/m141p183.pdf

That said, it doesn't take much live rock or sand to block the penetration of light from lower levels, where such bacteria may grow well.

I've also seen it stated that the effect is less important once a bacterial colony is established than during cycling, but I've not seen the data to support it.

In general, reef tanks do not seem to suffer from inadequate nitrogen cycling once establish, so I'm not sure I'd worry about it.

One thing I am interested in is if the Mindstream folks get ammonia sensing devices in the hands of lots of reefers, whether there is anything useful to be learned about ammonia levels in established tanks, and what impacts it.