_
’
The Natural Systefn
.
f ‘
35
'
It takes some time to build up a suitable population ofmtr1fy1ng
bacteria in both freshwater and marine environments since
_
trophic bacteria develop only after sufficient mineralisation has taken
place to ensure enough food for them. Thus, there are two
,
methods of populating the available surface area., Either a “Small—_
animal population can be kept initially While the
bacteria is allowed to build up slowly, or a single large animal or
a large population of smaller animals which are tolerant
ing temporary build-up of toxic materials can be installed immediate}
ly, while the nitrifying bacteria develop. This latter method encodr—
ages the speedy development of the bacteria due to the resulting
high rate of mineralisation, but great care must be taken during the
intermediate toxic stage. On balance, the first method—, whichjis
_slower, is more suitable for use in a natural system, especially“ a
marine one in which the filter feeders would have» to be installed
after the toxic stage in-the second method. Any large, hardy animal, Ÿ…j>Î
for instance a turtle, can be used in this method, and would normally j
be removed afterwards rather than becoming a permanent partoffhe
natural system since its copious wastes would probably overldad even
the final bacterial population.
'
-
_
“ _
A good, easily understood example of a natural system is a success‘—
ful goldfish pond, where all the points given above are satisfied
the only regular involvement on the part of the aquarist is to
food._ A thorough study of such a situation will“ be of bene‘fittoÎ .,ÏÏ
aquarists involved in
of fishkeeping.
‘
-
;
Ç_
It should be pointed outhere that fish parasites
;
isms can
as easily in a natural systefn as in their home
Ï: :
care
«must be taken to exelude them completely. Ad1veisehvmg
population makes medication extremely “difficult, since a
often poisons another. Itis better to
cases
of infection or sufferihg for treatment?elsewhere, .andfallneW_ _ eÏ,Ê
additions must be thoroughly
quarantined
inclusion. Where contagioùs epidein‘ics are encounterèd, which—_lije‘c"-_
—essitate treatment of the whole volume of Water,“-'plants;o’rfilter
feeders are probably best removed before treatment Qastheÿare sus—_
'
_ceptible to many of the medicines used. Often an
Wlll
a “particular environment and the only cure will*be—tŒ scrap
everything and start again after
container hasbeenmad6
medically clean.
‘
—
—
.
“Algae in one form or—f‘another are inevitablè inhabitantsuof
all“
natural systems.'Brown algae, which grow
in
particularly beneficial and are usually
’
The Natural Systefn
.
f ‘
35
'
It takes some time to build up a suitable population ofmtr1fy1ng
bacteria in both freshwater and marine environments since
_
trophic bacteria develop only after sufficient mineralisation has taken
place to ensure enough food for them. Thus, there are two
,
methods of populating the available surface area., Either a “Small—_
animal population can be kept initially While the
bacteria is allowed to build up slowly, or a single large animal or
a large population of smaller animals which are tolerant
ing temporary build-up of toxic materials can be installed immediate}
ly, while the nitrifying bacteria develop. This latter method encodr—
ages the speedy development of the bacteria due to the resulting
high rate of mineralisation, but great care must be taken during the
intermediate toxic stage. On balance, the first method—, whichjis
_slower, is more suitable for use in a natural system, especially“ a
marine one in which the filter feeders would have» to be installed
after the toxic stage in-the second method. Any large, hardy animal, Ÿ…j>Î
for instance a turtle, can be used in this method, and would normally j
be removed afterwards rather than becoming a permanent partoffhe
natural system since its copious wastes would probably overldad even
the final bacterial population.
'
-
_
“ _
A good, easily understood example of a natural system is a success‘—
ful goldfish pond, where all the points given above are satisfied
the only regular involvement on the part of the aquarist is to
food._ A thorough study of such a situation will“ be of bene‘fittoÎ .,ÏÏ
aquarists involved in
of fishkeeping.
‘
-
;
Ç_
It should be pointed outhere that fish parasites
;
isms can
as easily in a natural systefn as in their home
Ï: :
care
«must be taken to exelude them completely. Ad1veisehvmg
population makes medication extremely “difficult, since a
often poisons another. Itis better to
cases
of infection or sufferihg for treatment?elsewhere, .andfallneW_ _ eÏ,Ê
additions must be thoroughly
quarantined
inclusion. Where contagioùs epidein‘ics are encounterèd, which—_lije‘c"-_
—essitate treatment of the whole volume of Water,“-'plants;o’rfilter
feeders are probably best removed before treatment Qastheÿare sus—_
'
_ceptible to many of the medicines used. Often an
Wlll
a “particular environment and the only cure will*be—tŒ scrap
everything and start again after
container hasbeenmad6
medically clean.
‘
—
—
.
“Algae in one form or—f‘another are inevitablè inhabitantsuof
all“
natural systems.'Brown algae, which grow
in
particularly beneficial and are usually