- Your shopping cart is empty!
How Can You Add More Beneficial Bacteria to an Aquarium?
Fish keeping is a hobby immersed in practical biochemistry and microbiology. As a young student during the 1820s, respected naturalist Charles Darwin kept saltwater creatures in tanks and ponds equipped with rudimentary aeration systems and very frequent water changes. Darwin and his peers knew plankton and bacteria were crucial to keep their captured species alive for more than a few days, but this was no easy task.
The obstacles Darwin faced as a young zoology student have been surmounted through advances in the aquarium hobby. Similar to the primordial soup theory, the water kept in aquarium tanks is far from pristine. It needs to be a mix of organic compounds that are crucial in keeping a healthy ecosystem for aquatic species. Beneficial bacteria is a very important factor with regard to fish keeping. Here’s what you need to know about these microorganisms and how to make them thrive in freshwater tanks.
The Nitrogen Cycle
Life happens in cycles that take place within ecosystems. When we talk about the need to establish aquariums, we refer to biochemistry preparations that culminate in a nitrogen cycle. In natural aquatic habitats, the nitrogen cycle happens because all the elements and processes are in place. In an aquarium tank, fish keepers provide the elements and activate the processes. Basically, the nitrogen cycle is related to the food chain. As fish and other species feed on nutrients, they produce waste that turns into nitrogen compounds that happen to be toxic. A cycled tank won’t have this toxicity as long as beneficial bacteria are present.
Types of Beneficial Bacteria for Aquariums
Nitrifying bacteria are the kind you want in your tank. These microorganisms need to grow in aquatic ecosystems because they feed on the toxic byproducts released by species through their breathing and excretion processes. Nitrozoma and Nitrobacter spp are the bacteria species you need in a freshwater aquarium. They will colonize in the biological filter media but will also be found floating, attached to the substrate, or clinging to plants.
Bacterial Bloom
Tap water has been treated to eliminate bacteria, so it’s up to aquarists to stimulate bacterial bloom. There are various ways to activate this process. One of the best is to add strong, viable liquid bacteria like Night-Out:
Add the Night-Out every day for two weeks along with something the bacteria can grow with, like plants or livestock. The first fish you introduce to stock the tank should be of a hardy variety in small amounts to set off a strong bacterial bloom, and the water will turn cloudy for a few days.
Establishing a New Tank and Growing Bacteria
Aquarium purists will patiently wait weeks and even a couple of months waiting for a perfect nitrogen cycle achieved with plants. You don’t have to wait as long if you add bottled bacteria to the water before introducing a few species, which should preferably be resilient fish. Bacterial bloom will take place in just a few days, and Nitrobacter will happily move into the biological filter.
If you need beneficial bacteria for your fish tank, reach out to Aquatic Warehouse, a trusted provider of saltwater and freshwater aquarium supplies. In addition to bacteria, you can acquire everything else you need to keep your tank running smoothly by ordering from our website or stopping by our store in Kearny Mesa. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call at 858-467-9297.