[reefkprZ]

I agree, I want to focus on the organic portion not nescesarily just bacteria, but as needs may demand we delve into other subjects to clarify or make a broader veiw of the subject. I have a pretty comprehensive list of what elements a skimmer is capable of removing in trace and large amounts, but it seems the organic side is still pretty vague even among experts. obviously individual tanks with their own developed systems will have different availabilities of various strains of organism.

I wonder if running a skimmer may actually dictate (in part) weather ceartain species of microfauna or bacteria dominate, if one species is very hardy but very prone to getting skimmed, its not going to fare very well in a heavily skimmed tank, and a maybe weaker strand may come out dominant by it resistance to skimming, or maybe it would take the "skimm prone" species longer to fully establish. (yes these are the weird little things that keep me up at night)

I have to admit my strengths lie mostly in coral propagation, not bacterial strains other than the occasional mention of the petri dish that our corals are with vibrio and pseudomonas and such on them to make others aware of the very real caution they should use when handeling corals. I really know very little solid about the bacteria that are in our tanks. I am familiar with the nitrogen cycle etc.