Hi there, I'm new to your forum, had a specific question about filtration, but not the basic cycling stuff. To help with more info, you can assume I understand cycling a tank, have kept 3 healthy tanks for 5 years.

My question is about what I call the 'good' bacteria, that builds up in filtration systems, helps keeps the poo tolerable.

Q: Is there a difference in the 'good bacteria' that builds up in 'wet-dry' filtration vs. the "good bacteria" that build up in an underwater/undergravel filter, with only 'wet' filtration?


I ask because I recently started an very small, mostly decorative, 8g tank. It's one of those 'picture tanks', 30' long, but only 4' wide. It will only contain a few 1-2" max fish.

The smallest hang-on-the side filter is a real tight fit, I see easy spillage, so I went with a little fluval underwater filter, it's basically a power head with a cover on the sponge. I'm curious how important the 'dry' part actually is, since the big canisters don't turn over oxygen either.

If you made it that far, and if that makes any sense, thanks for any thoughts.

They're all nitrosomonas bacteria, and thus the same. 'Wet' and 'Dry' just refer to the biological filtration application of those bacteria. The 'dry' filters are not submersed in water constantly, but instead are covered with a thin film of water that creates an oxygen-rich environment (think a filter spool of a Penguin filter), whereas 'wet' just means it's submersed (your gravel, for instance). Ultimately in a freshwater tank there isn't much reason to worry about the differences between the two, so long as you're getting the filtration you need.

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+1

plus plant action helps as well by consuming ammonia even if no bacteria is present.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

@Scuff - +1, but aren't some nitrospira (sp?) bacteria as well?

I would say the only time you'd want a sump is if you're interested in a refugium and have a BIG tank. Also, the only time you WOULDN'T want an undergravel filter, in my opinion, is when you're using a sand substrate or are growing live plants.

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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!

I don't follow that a 'dry' filter is constantly subermerged, I always assumed a bio-wheel comes out of the water specifically to get some oxygen interaction for the bacteria.

You're saying there is no particluar advantage to the interaction with open air, as long as you turn over enough water. I thought the oxygen transfer helped, or made the bacteria more effective as opposed to always underwater.

It's not a biggie, something always been curious about, curious any opinions.

Does anyone know if oxygenated bacteria are different than underwater bacteria? More effective, less effective, the same?

Underwater there is aerobic bacteria which is baceria that thrive in an oxygen environment where the water has lotsa oxygen. the aerobic bacteria are the nitrogen cycle ammonia->nitrite->nitrate.

the is also anaerobic bacteria which grow in a low oxygen environment. (Such as the substrate). those convert nitrates to nitrite then to nitgoren gas.

there are additional bacterio which can create ammonia (from the nitrates) and various sulfer compounds. Obviouly these bacteria and the by products are not desirable. and responsible for the bad smell and environment of septic tanks and the like.

But in out tanks I personally thing the best is aerobic bacteria with live plants to consume the resulting nitrates and oxygenate the water.


my .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Sorry, I wrote my post wrong. I meant that it's not constantly submersed in water, but instead it's covered in a thin film of water that creates a high-oxygen environment.

Nitrosomonas bacteria take care of the ammonia, while nitrobacter take care of the nitrites.

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I think it's the same bacteria either way.

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

I'm reasonably sure that nitrosomonas and nitrobacter are different bacteria, but ultimately it doesn't matter as long as the water is kept clean.

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Woppsies

Sure the bacteria for the ammonia and the bacteria for the nitrIte are different.

What I meant is the either bacteria are aquatic and it doesn't make any difference if the water travels through a wet dry. What is important is the water is oxygenated. For instance, in my case I do that with live plants and no circulation yet thing thrive for years.

Still just .02

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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

Well put, Beaslbob. Wet or dry, the application doesn't really matter.

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