-
'
.
The NaturalSystem
'
:.33
this is that even though every inorganic surface in the environment
eventually acquires a population of
_
autotrophic nitrifying bacteria,
the area is simply not large enough to provide sufficient bacteria for
unusually large rates of nitrification; and so the =nitrifying potential
of the environment as a whole is low. However, it is»able to.cope With
reasonably constant medium loading. The acquisition of nitrifying
bacteria takes some time and initially a new environment will have
virtually no nitrifyingpotential-. Thus the basic objective is not to
introduceor leavein the environment
of organic waste,
and to install functional inhabitants, plant or animal, whose activities
help in the control of this Waste and so reduce the work—load on the '
'
nitrifying bacteria.
3
In freshWater aquaria, lush plant growth is used to absorb mineral
salts and is usually set in a deepish gravelbed which contains enough
plant food to establish the plants initially. If the plant growth is good
and aerobic, conditions
in the bed this will provide extra
inorganic surfaces for population by autotrophic bacteria,“ with a
consequentinCre‘asé in the nitrifying potential. The'fusual recommendation that gravels Should be waS‘hèd band even
safety
in case any chemical pollution is
Ideally, when
graVel is first used it should be biologically mature With, at least a
partial population of bacæria.ÏMulm, debrisfand soon should also
be present to provide immediate plant food… If absolutely clean
gravel must —be used“; it should be ‘dirtied’ by rubbingwith good
garden soil (insecticide
by leaving it exposed tothé weather.
_,
If these precautions;are‘taken, plants can
grow quickly, and
subsequently
inseCts can—be introduced. Snails help the process of mineralisation‘ by eating large
pieces of organic debris, some of… which-they digest, and-some of
exerete‘r in: , a……
:form-bacteria… .to
ab
_
{
may, not ._be' particularly gb
to the
system— but
can be includedÏfor
In —maririeaaquaria (see Figure 6)1t not usual in the present state
‘
of _.knowledge to establish and propagatea heavy -_plarit groWth.
”
note,. however, that-in the sea
and
'
organisms are…found Which effectively substitut—e;
the
=
plants.depended on
freshwater aquariag:Live
worms, Ësponges and Vari0us
-creatures, all
,
circulate the water through-their bodie9and
‘
A
lsmseffect1vely ;remgoves organic substanCesi-Ïfrom… the wwater-and …
reduces
This is
in
'
.
The NaturalSystem
'
:.33
this is that even though every inorganic surface in the environment
eventually acquires a population of
_
autotrophic nitrifying bacteria,
the area is simply not large enough to provide sufficient bacteria for
unusually large rates of nitrification; and so the =nitrifying potential
of the environment as a whole is low. However, it is»able to.cope With
reasonably constant medium loading. The acquisition of nitrifying
bacteria takes some time and initially a new environment will have
virtually no nitrifyingpotential-. Thus the basic objective is not to
introduceor leavein the environment
of organic waste,
and to install functional inhabitants, plant or animal, whose activities
help in the control of this Waste and so reduce the work—load on the '
'
nitrifying bacteria.
3
In freshWater aquaria, lush plant growth is used to absorb mineral
salts and is usually set in a deepish gravelbed which contains enough
plant food to establish the plants initially. If the plant growth is good
and aerobic, conditions
in the bed this will provide extra
inorganic surfaces for population by autotrophic bacteria,“ with a
consequentinCre‘asé in the nitrifying potential. The'fusual recommendation that gravels Should be waS‘hèd band even
safety
in case any chemical pollution is
Ideally, when
graVel is first used it should be biologically mature With, at least a
partial population of bacæria.ÏMulm, debrisfand soon should also
be present to provide immediate plant food… If absolutely clean
gravel must —be used“; it should be ‘dirtied’ by rubbingwith good
garden soil (insecticide
by leaving it exposed tothé weather.
_,
If these precautions;are‘taken, plants can
grow quickly, and
subsequently
inseCts can—be introduced. Snails help the process of mineralisation‘ by eating large
pieces of organic debris, some of… which-they digest, and-some of
exerete‘r in: , a……
:form-bacteria… .to
ab
_
{
may, not ._be' particularly gb
to the
system— but
can be includedÏfor
In —maririeaaquaria (see Figure 6)1t not usual in the present state
‘
of _.knowledge to establish and propagatea heavy -_plarit groWth.
”
note,. however, that-in the sea
and
'
organisms are…found Which effectively substitut—e;
the
=
plants.depended on
freshwater aquariag:Live
worms, Ësponges and Vari0us
-creatures, all
,
circulate the water through-their bodie9and
‘
A
lsmseffect1vely ;remgoves organic substanCesi-Ïfrom… the wwater-and …
reduces
This is
in