Organic carbon can be
bad as well as
good, what counts is how much and is it maintained, heating cables can do neither.
Just like a drug, too much kills the patient, too little has no effect.
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0012-9658(198610)67:5<1328:SMOGLI>2.0.CO;2-P
As you can see, Dupla and the various proponents of heating cables are quite clueless as they do not address such complex mechanisms (not hard to understand, rather a lot more to it than their marketing depts might suggest), nor have ever shown a single study to support even an iota of even correlative evidence, let alone cause.
If someone makes some claims, does not bother to delve into the real issues surrounding the topic, it really shows they have not done their homework.
Show me/us/anyone a study for support.
I've done far more homework than any of these companies have concerning sediments, flow rates and growth of aquatic macrophytes. I know I have because I've talked to these folks.
If they or others feel otherwise, they are more than welcomed to discuss the various experiments they have done that address such things as accumulation(the cables will increase the rates of organic matter, not dissipate it, fine at the start, bad later), flow rates, I've yet to hear a single study from a single proponent as to what a rate of optimality is for a single plant species, I've yet to here or see any studies or examples of growth rate differences between a non cable and heat cable treatment.
I have several studies that show even without the roots, (they cut them off), 4 species of submersed plants had the exact same relative growth rates when grown under non limiting conditions in the water column. This was done both in the field and in a lab aquarium set up.
When addressing sediments,
you must address the water column at the same time. Otherwise the assessments are not fair and may confound your conclusions and data a great deal.
I really think given the observations folks have had, (a few folks will always think they saw better growth, same deal with adding sugar pills-placebo effects), the burden of proof is upon those that make the claim, those that are passionate about showing that it does work, those that sell them.
When I question folks about this, many suggest I'm a bad guy, being too hard etc. After 10 years of using them, at least that much testing, good professional background on this specific topic, several 1000$ spent on the infernal gadgets, I think I can speak fairly and definitely.
You do not need to be a professional etc, you do not need that many years of testing, but you'd better had addressed the issues, and shown definitely that they do work, because no one has done so yet to date.
One tank, "I think it does better" etc is not going to do it.
You need (a lot) more support than that.
You need a test, details and show it works that way you claim.
Other folks need to be able to verify and repeat it as well.
Other folks have verified what I claim, many times for decades now.
How much organic matter is good?
How much is bad?
I addressed those issues and provided some research support from Barko.
Cables supporters never once have ever offered a single references since 1989 when I first questioned their usage.
Math...........2007-1989= 18 years I've been waiting.
None of my own test ever showed any correlation or cause.
I've had far stronger affects on growth and health from merely changing the surface flow on the top of my tank, or doing a few more water changes, or cleaning the gravel once in awhile, watching the CO2 bit more, adding PO4, adding K+, being more consistent with my routines etc etc
Regards,
Tom Barr
