the reason some tanks work and some just don't

[chucelli]

I've always found it interesting why some tanks, despite doing "all the right things" seem to never thrive and experience endless issues, while others have success with what seems to be "minimal" intervention. I thought for the longest time, that bacterial strains probably play a larger than expected invisible role in the health and long term success in our tanks. It may be complete nonsense, but I think this NY times article highlights how unknowingly dependent our bodies are on having the "right" combination of microbes.

 

-Robert

[chucelli]

oh, and the part about "fecal transplants" is not unlike us transferring some "live" (poop filled) sand from a mature system to seed a new system.

[jaddc]

I agree with your thinking. And bacteria flora in our tanks is something that we have the least knowledge about and control over. We also do a transplant when we add livestock to our tanks. A new strain of bacteria can easily come into our tanks.

 

Hmmmm... I will shortly be in possession of genome sequencer at work...side project??

 

 

[wogga]

Hmmmm... I will shortly be in possession of genome sequencer at work...side project??

 

 

 

Let me please be the first to point out that this is a no brainer. If you have the capacity to sequence the genome of your tank, please please please do it. We could all submit water/ substrate samples for sequencing

[Sharkey18]

I'm a geneticist. I wouldn't mind a side project.

[paul b]

I thought for the longest time, that bacterial strains probably play a larger than expected invisible role in the health and long term success in our tanks

 

I have been telling this to people for decades and I have also been adding bacteria from the sea since the first day the tank was started in 1971. No problems so far and the tank is very stable. I get the bacteria from mud in the Long Island Sound.

[chucelli]

The problems is that we don't know the ideal microbe combinations needed for a healthy tank. Perhaps companies such as Zeovit have it partly (or maybe all) figured out. I know some with very successful tanks dose microbial products weekly to keep the "correct" combination in their tank, since diversity seems to decrease over time for multiple reasons. Perhaps this is part of the "old tank syndrome" many experience? Paulb has not run into this issue probably due in part to regular additions from the Sound. Most of us do not have that kind of access however...

 

I just don't like the thought of being dependent on a certain product and not knowing exactly what is in it...

 

-Robert

[taiscici]

I had Fiji mud in my sump when I set up my tank. My tank been really staple but i"m not 100% sure if Fiji mudd is the reason.

[sen5241b]

Recent article in Scientific American said there are almost 10 bacteria for every cell in our bodies!