[ShaunW]

Quote: Originally Posted by reefkprZ honestly I think overall the dynamics of bacteria diminishes over time as well as biodiversity of microfauna, this is one reason I have always kept the habit of replacing one large rock every couple of months to keep introducing new populations of microfauna, bacteria etc, to keep my biodiversity higher even if only for a short time. As the strongest tend to survive, the strongest may not be the most efficient detritivors, but simply the hardiest.

I actually believe the opposite. Once the tank is established doesn't necessarily mean the the total bacterial population isn't changing dynamically over time.

Let talk about a reef tank that has a deep sand bed, live rock that isn't removed or added too, 2 years old, mixed reef with SPS, LPS, zoos and xenia. After two years the DSB will be established with Facultative anaerobes and strict anaerobic bacteria. Nitrate will start to be released to the system and the DSB is converting it to nitrogen gas. In terms of bacteria population, it will flux according to the available nutrients. The greatest restriction on this flux is surface area for bacteria to attach too. However, bacteria have relationships with corals. SPS corals have more bacteria per unit volume than that of the water column in the wild. Therefore the coral mass represents a HUGE source of bacterial activity and mass and can IMO substitute for even a DSB in nitrate recycling if enough SPS corals are present.

So as the aquarium grows in terms of corals, the bacterial population itself is also going to grow.

Quote: Originally Posted by reefkprZ thanks for providing those links. I tend to research the heck right out of any new information I find, unfortunatly a lot of the info I want is under lock and key at research institutes and constantly run into brick walls when i find the info I want is going to cost 14$ just to read an article that may or may not actually be what I am looking for.

My pleasure, .