Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I got that Steve.. was puzzeled for a sec or 2, but then read back a bit and all was made clear.
Thanks for the info earthbound, will let you know as soon as I do

Does anybody know how the cold affects the all important bacteria in the systems??
Do they just keep on going or does the cold some of you are experiencing kill or slow them down?

A bloke I spoke to once that claimed to have massive experience in aquaculture suggested that bacteria can get to a point where they crash and all die at once. Does anybody know anything about this - it would have a devastating effect on ones aquaponics system.

He also mentionned that they used sugar to feed and breed up the bacteria - anybody know anything about that?

Steve has been good enough to provide all the answers that your after, in the post on 'nitrifying bacteria' in the information section. You'll find it here.

Thanks Steve....

The following is only my opinion, i've not been in the aquacultre trade........

Was he meaning that the colony crashed to to it reaching such high populations? I find this very hard to believe as they sort of self regulate. You would need to remove all fish (sources of ammonia) for teh whole population to vanish. Or the PH would have to swing down to 5 or up past 9 (roughly). Sub zero temps also kill them.

The only things you are going to grow if you feed with sugar are bacteria that feed on sugar, and ours certainly do NOT. Fungus likes sugar too.

I once poured half a glas of coke into one of my tanks. The next day the water was all milky coloured and smelled putrid, no doubt from a bacterial and/or fungus bloom.

Not knocking the guy, just doesn't make sense.

well, I kinda agree with Steve on this - I even checked with the high school biology teachers and they agree that the story of them just crashing sounded strange (for that sort of bacteria anyway.)
And Steve, thanks for the link above, it helped this nooby clear up a few thoughts, Ta!

No worries AM!

I cant take credit for compiling it, it was posted on the web, but it was so complete that i had to put it there. Problem with the web is that there is almost as much bad info as good

The document leaves nothing unexplained. It covers Temp, PH, growth rates and more.

Everyone should have a read. The bacteria are the third unseen partner in our systems. With out them nothing happens. Except possibly lots of dying