I just looked this up in my Biology of Seedplants textbook and unless you have some information specific to Aquatic plants, this book generalizes that nitrofying bacterium is responsible for the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite ions. Another genus of bacteria then oxidizes the nitrite to form nitrate...

I always thought that the amonia was an intermediate stage of the process and that the nitrifying bacteria in our filters did in fact break the amonia down into the nitrate that the plants used up. Does anyone have a biology book handy? It has been awhile since I looked any of this stuff up.

Thanks for the detailed report. I did not know that plants could not use the end product of the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium. I guess that I am just lucky that my tank volume is so high and my fish population so low. I will have to buy a test kit and see what it says. I guess that my water changes...

You can Dis me all you want. My fish are happy, eating growing and breeding. The adults have thrived this way for over 2 years. :? Of course the fact that There are only 15 fish in a 70 gallon planted overfiltered tank could be beneficial. I have always been a strong believer in letting nature do it...

I change the water in my breeding tank 30% once every 4 to 6 months when I clean the sponge filters. In the interim I simply top the water levels up when they get too low. In my fry tank I change the water about 10% every 2 -3 months. I know this is allot less than most people like to do, but if it ...

Very Nice!!

I currently have 2 new spawns, I guess you were right. Just wait and they will breed when they are ready.

Here are some pics of my fry, approx. 2 months old.

I have a terrible alergy to bloodworms. (Almost died ) Throat closed up could not breath and eyes swollen shut, so....

I feed Hikari catfish pellets, raw shrimp, and Mysis shrimp to the adults.


I raise fry on the catfish pellets, and mysis shrimp.

No bloodworms for my fish

I live in Canada. The next question I have is based on setting up a breeding arrangement of fish. I have 14 fish and they seem to have bred come and go in the caves I use. When I had one male out with his babies I would place a new cave in the exact same place. (The only place in the 70 gallon they ...

Hey Rob,

You never did send me those caves you promissed.



Robert Hadath