The Lowdown on WATER ETC.. or is it? Worth a read. Some good info.

[Skyace]

The is site may be of some use. I wouldn't take all of the info. as the gospel, but certainly may answer some lingering questions.

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/mikereport/

Some of the experienced members may have seen this report (sort of).

It is certainly good debate food for some of the pundits around the various Aqua. forum

http://www.angelfire.com/tx5/mikereport/

[OrionGirl]

Sorry, but I can't see that paper helping a newbie very much. Much of it is innaccurate (ie, "Nitrate is essential for the aquarium, so that the ammonia produced by fish is oxidized and absorbed through nitrification. Nitrate needs two things to live. These two things are oxygen and ammonia to feed on.") and it's very confusing. There's a mix of theory and fact, presented as all fact. Many assertations are made without any supporting evidence. Nitrite and nitrate are both referred to as bacteria--which they are not--and the specific bacteria which accomplish nitrification in the aquarium are not well known--pretty sure the 2 cited bacteria have been discredited.


I like to stock my tanks by nitrate levels. If nitrate levels are high, then the tank is overstocked. If nitrate levels are low (under 10 ppm) then it is relatively safe to add a few more fish.

The above is very misleading, since there are a variety of reasons why nitrates would be low or undetectable, none of which mean the tank will accomodate safely additional fish.


The ph of the ocean is consistent throughout it and never changes. Marine life is likely to die if the ph of the water in an aquarium is wrong or changes
False. The ocean is very stable, but the pH varies from one location to another, and fish will not die from a slight variation from 8.5--my marine tanks are usually at 8.4.

There are also repeated statements that salt will help with oxygen levels and respiration...Huh?

Sorry, just really don't think this article will be a good reference.

[gbolton]

My only initial problem is in lowering the temp and adding salt to increase dissolved oxygen. Seems to me the addition of the salt would cause the max disolved oxygen to be lower as well as promote the release of the disolved oxygen. Please correct me if I am wrong.

[gbolton]

Sorry OrionGirl looks like you posted while I was typing. You mentioned the same thing I did plus the others that I wasnt 100% on.

[OrionGirl]

I think it's a confusion on how salt provides relief for high nitrite conditions. Salt competes with nitrite for the binding receptor in blood without impairing oxygen transport. Nitrite poisoned fish actually suffocate, and adding salt prevents that, to some degree.

I think this was corrupted into somehow adding oxygen to the water, rather than enabling fish to utilize existing levels in the presence of nitrites.

[RTR]

Is there any way to put this politely?

I only made it through the first few paragraphs, but line for line that has as much confusion and mis-information as I have ever seen, even on the most casually typed thread.

Do not take anything you read there seriously - the bad far outweighs the good.

[Grassguy]

Hmmmmm, interesting, I thought nitrite was a chemical compound. I didn't know it was a type of bacteria...same for nitrate. I believe I would stay away from there and stick to the advice of the people on this site.

PS Wonder what kinda grade he/she made on this paper.