Maybe the word "competition" maybe not the word to use. Those bacteria that
convert to nitrate IS much more effecient depending where they live. In
trickle sump type, they live in open air where water pass-through but in
submerge like in a gravel / crush coral it will not that effecient but
enough that ananerobic bacteria from DSB can not catch up. Maybe this
general idea will help.

CapFusion,...


"Phil" wrote in message
. ..
(Rod) wrote in
:

Bio-wheels, bio-balls, canisters, etc. are great at convertin the
Amonnia to nitrite and nitrites to nitrates, but due to the areobic
bacteria that is growing on the media. To convert the nitrates to a
harmless gas you need anoxic (low oxygen ) zones for anaerobic
bacteria to colonize. These bacteria (anaerobic) colonize in deep sand
beds and deep within the live rock.

I'm with you so far....

Running filrtermedia (bio-wheels)
and liverock/DSB just causes compitition within the 2
types of bacteria, and none of them get up to their full potential of
doing
what they are meant to do.

Here I'm lost again. I dont understand how they are in competition with
each other when they feed on different things. The aerobic bacteria feeds
on ammonia and nitrite,and the anaerobic bacteria fees on nitrates, so
wheres the competition? Or are there other components that they have in
common? And even if so, why would that competition not also be the case
with the different types of bacteria on LR alone?

According to Marc's post, LR is a more suitable medium for aerobic
bacteria than filtermedia, apparently due to nitrate production. This is
what I'm not clear on why.

Hope I dont appear argumentative (I've been mistaken as such before) I
just get frustrated when I dont understand :-)

Thanks for bearing with me.
Phil