IS ALL POOP CREATED EQUAL?

happypoet said:
Fishorama and I are having a discussion about shrimp poop.
I contend that even though the amount can be substantial, I suspect it has a limited effect on the water quality because the poop is probably primarily fiber due to their diet. Fishorama says "Fiber or protein it's all bioload."
What do you all think? I'm interested in opinions, but I'm more interested in facts. Anyone got any on this particular topic?
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fishorama said:
Geez, the things I find when I go to bed early! I was pooped out :D

I think it depends on your definition of "bioload". Are we talking ammonia only? Nitrate? Crap I have to vacuum out or remove from my filter? Places for bacteria & fungi to grow & break down? Oxygen consumption?

I think plant eaters need to eat more in terms of volume to get the nutrients they need leading to increased poo volume. I'd think 2 fish of the same weight would need similar amounts of calories, nutrients etc. They'd also have a similar amount of waste byproducts, except for the fiber. So say if a neon = 10 shrimp in terms of weight & needed nutrient intake it seems like 1 neon poo= the waste of 10 shrimp in terms of bioload but maybe 100x the volume. It might take the neon 2 bites of fisf food but the shrimp need to graze all day to get equal amounts of nutrients.

That also isn't taking into account the ammonia expelled by fish gills or that oxygen needs may be different. There's also "animal products" in the tank microfauna shrimp & vegetarian fish graze on so they're not vegans & do produce ammonia even if they aren't fed "meat".

Whew! All that on half a cup of coffee :coffee2:
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Well, I worked all night, went to bed at 8:30 am, got up at 3:30 pm, and it's taken me this long to get my first cup of coffee. So I'm really confused. :nilly:

I think when most of us say "bioload" we technically mean the total amount of ammonia-creating material in the tank — but we're also using it as short-hand to refer to the stock. Perhaps it should be a given that, in our hypothetical poo-bioload testing tanks, all maintenance is equal and the only variables are the numbers of fish versus inverts, and what they eat. Or I suppose I should say, fish versus shrimp. That was the original question — and goodness knows what will happen to your math, fishorama, if you start calculating for snails, too. Would 100 pond snails be equal to 10 apple snails? Do MTS count even when you never see them? And what about crustaceans?? Oh, the humanity! ;)

Oxygen requirements? Next we'll be taking plants and O2/CO2 off-gassing or whatever it's called. That's just too much for my brain right now.
 
audifeesh said:
this is really OT - but slappy, have you ever seen the weird al move - UHF?

everytime i read your name or see your avatar i think of the wheel of fish. YOU SO STUPID!!!! bahahahahaha :D
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Heh heh...:evil_lol:

[YT]KezvwARhBIc[/YT]
 
i'm starting to think this thread is getting out of hand... so i'll wish in the other one and see what i come up with.

btw, how do we quantify this measure? is it weight, mass, volume, stench? i mean "see which one fills up first" isn't exactly specific...
 
happypoet said:
Might I humbly suggest that with: Interesting scientific information, a multitude of poo puns, and a wheel of fish video, this is an awesome thread?
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You are, officially, my hero for having asked the question, HappyPoet. AND IN ALL CAPS, NO LESS!

I just had to let that out.
 
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