Hi Patrick,
I agree with what seems reasonable to you. Nitrifying bacteria multiply at
an extremely slow rate when compared to other types of bacteria, and when
compared especially with pathogenic bacteria. It would though, seem just by
this factor that despite their very slow growth rate, that feeding them more
would speed their multiplication rate up at least somewhat, as might be
expected of any living organisms. However -- and as you point out -- this
"seems" not to be the case for them when considering their set growth rates, but
any larger amount of ammonia above what they can continue to consume will
ensure their maximum growth rate -- and yes, this would seem to only need to
be a level of only 0.25 ppm of ammonia, in theory.
In actual practice though, time and time again, through numerous
establishing cycles, it has been decisely and repeatedly shown, that using only this
token low level of ammonia as compared to using a much larger ammonia value
will actually impede the nitrobacter's multiplication rate -- or at the very
least, not enable it to advance nearly as fast as when a higher ammonia
level is present -- even though they can't consume it all at once. While I have
no explanation for this, I speak from experience and from the many
experiences of hobbyists who I guide and follow through their cycling stages; a 0.25
ppm level of ammonia has shown to actually extend the establishing of a
cycle by up to 2 additional weeks as opposed to maintaining a higher ammonia
level.
When the hobbyist chooses the fishless cycling method, it is universally
accepted (and recommended) that a concentration of between 4.0 ppm and 5.0 ppm
be used at the start of the cycle, and maintained at this level throughout
the procedure. While a typical bioload of fish, after they are added at the
end of this cycle, may not necessarily produce such a constant level of
ammonia for the cycled nitrobacters to consume -- and I'm sure the excess
nitrobacter populations will starve out as a result of the typical bioload's
lower ammonia production -- this appears to be the best and fastest way to
cycle a tank according to the experts. With already having a fish in the tank,
such a high ammonia level can't be maintained of course, but as high as is
still comfortable for the fish is encouraged to complete the cycle in as
short of time as possible
Ray
P.S,: On average, it generally takes about 24 hours for nitrifying
bacteria to double their populations, whereas most other bacteria will double their
populations in minutes in favorable conditions. That's the comparison of
one bacteria type to to the others. Nitrobacters grow at a comparatively
very slow rate.</HTML>
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