I'm of the opinion that it is not diversity in and of itself that is good. I think it is having all the needed organisms in place to maintain nutrients ad provide food. It is a pretty diverse group though. This can be difficult because Nature may fill any void we leave with organisms that throws everything out of balance.
What I think I know about bacteria:
1. Some Heterotrophic Bacteria that are potentially encouraged by carbon dosing are always present in the tank, but limited by low levels of available carbon in the water column;
2. Supplying a carbon source addresses that limitation, allows the bacteria to propagate, and impacts N and, to a lessor extent, P levels;
3. Some strains of heterotrophic bacteria attain their carbon, N, & P requirements via digestion of organic compounds and don't need available carbon in the water column;
4. Adding a carbon source does not affect the function of the Heterotrophic Bacteria that fulfills its needs via digestion;
5. All the above bacteria are pervasive. They propagate when conditions meet their needs; and
6. Once a certain strain of bacteria becomes established, it becomes hard for other strains requiring the same conditions to get established.
I have always assumed that different sources of carbon might encourage different strains of bacteria.
What I think I know about heterotrophic bacterial diversity:
1. Bacterial diversity becomes limited as certain strains become established;
2. While pervasive, some strains of bacteria, particularly the ones we don't want, can establish themselves faster than others that have the same requirements;
3. Bacteria that we don't want are likely to become established when we leave it up to nature to decide;
4. Adding bacteria from a bottle or seeding it with small amounts of live rock in hopes of replacing established undesirable bacteria is not likely to produce a good outcome;
5. The optimal method of establishing the heterotrophic bacterial population and density we desire is to establish it on substrates outside the tank, introduce the substrate to the tank, and ensure its needs are met going forward.
6. Where N & P are available, a carbon source can be added to: A) Reduce N & P if desired; and B) Provide a bacteria food source in the water column.
What I think about diversity in general:
1. Bacteria and more complex organisms play an important role in nutrient processing and also serve as part of the food web;
2. Coralline algae and other biofilms, and the more complex organisms that cover the substrate discourage pest microalgae and bacterial pests just by occupying the real estate; and
3. Diversity of more complex organisms can be discouraged if pest microalgae and undesirable bacteria get a foothold on the substrate first.
What I think I know about bacteria:
1. Some Heterotrophic Bacteria that are potentially encouraged by carbon dosing are always present in the tank, but limited by low levels of available carbon in the water column;
2. Supplying a carbon source addresses that limitation, allows the bacteria to propagate, and impacts N and, to a lessor extent, P levels;
3. Some strains of heterotrophic bacteria attain their carbon, N, & P requirements via digestion of organic compounds and don't need available carbon in the water column;
4. Adding a carbon source does not affect the function of the Heterotrophic Bacteria that fulfills its needs via digestion;
5. All the above bacteria are pervasive. They propagate when conditions meet their needs; and
6. Once a certain strain of bacteria becomes established, it becomes hard for other strains requiring the same conditions to get established.
I have always assumed that different sources of carbon might encourage different strains of bacteria.
What I think I know about heterotrophic bacterial diversity:
1. Bacterial diversity becomes limited as certain strains become established;
2. While pervasive, some strains of bacteria, particularly the ones we don't want, can establish themselves faster than others that have the same requirements;
3. Bacteria that we don't want are likely to become established when we leave it up to nature to decide;
4. Adding bacteria from a bottle or seeding it with small amounts of live rock in hopes of replacing established undesirable bacteria is not likely to produce a good outcome;
5. The optimal method of establishing the heterotrophic bacterial population and density we desire is to establish it on substrates outside the tank, introduce the substrate to the tank, and ensure its needs are met going forward.
6. Where N & P are available, a carbon source can be added to: A) Reduce N & P if desired; and B) Provide a bacteria food source in the water column.
What I think about diversity in general:
1. Bacteria and more complex organisms play an important role in nutrient processing and also serve as part of the food web;
2. Coralline algae and other biofilms, and the more complex organisms that cover the substrate discourage pest microalgae and bacterial pests just by occupying the real estate; and
3. Diversity of more complex organisms can be discouraged if pest microalgae and undesirable bacteria get a foothold on the substrate first.
