Ammonia Nitrite Nitrate

[john stanley]

I am looking for some good descriptions of the ammonia breakdown in the nitrogen cycle. I am a fisherman and we are discussng in another forum how overstocking of almost still tidal rivers could damage fish and plant life. I am trying to make a comparrison to a coldwater pond/Tank.

We are seeing brown algae accumulation on plants that I am assuming are denitrifying bacteria. This seems to be killing plant life. So we need to have a chemical change diagram in the water as ammonia builds up. I have this information in my head somewere but seem to be spitting it out slightly incorrect. Please help us to get this right.

Also I could do with the reccemoended gallon per inch of fish ratio for coldwater ponds.

 

[RTR]

Brown algae is diatoms, not nitrificaton bacteria. It is just another algae which happens to be able to do well in lower light than many green alage. It also has an absolute requirement for silicate in the water, so the prominence and durability of this alga depends on the levels of light and the presence of silicates in the water supply.

For background on nitrification, see:

http://www.thepufferforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=856

 

[john stanley]

Brown algae is diatoms, not nitrificaton bacteria. It is just another algae which happens to be able to do well in lower light than many green alage. It also has an absolute requirement for silicate in the water, so the prominence and durability of this alga depends on the levels of light and the presence of silicates in the water supply.

For background on nitrification, see:

http://www.thepufferforum.org/viewtopic.php?t=856

What form do the silicates normally take ie were is the source? These algae's are found with high light levels

 

[RTR]

Silicates are highest in geologically old water from sand aquifers. The solubility of most naturally occuring silicates is quite low, it takes a long time to dissolve significant amounts.

Diatoms can do quite well in strong light, that is not the issue. The issue is that in captive systems they are generally out-competed by green algae, and do not get sufficient replacement of the silicates in the water to hold their own. The silicates used in their "shell" do not recycle, so require fresh material already dissolved in the water. So in strong light in captivity the green usually wins, with the diatoms hanging on only in the dimmer areas where the green is not so competitive, even with high-silicate water. Your utility should be able to tell you at least low, moderate, or high silicate concentrations in local water supplies.