Recent content by James S. Baker

There’s a lot of debate in the hobby regarding the value of the plenum used in the Jaubert system, but with or without a plenum, sandbed nitrification/denitrification will work just as well in a freshwater tank as in a marine one.

I just wanted to say goodbye to all involved in the Reef Microbiology course (although I’m sure I’ll be “seeing” some of you on the forums or in future courses). I have definitely learned some new things and gained a clearer understanding of some concepts, and I plan to continue to refer to the...

I missed the entire chat due to a computer issue (my apologies to all for that), so I’m also eagerly awaiting the transcript.

That did, indeed, help. It seems simple enough in hindsight, but I wasn’t taking into account the processing of organic matter into ammonia (even though we’ve touched on that previously in this course). I was basically just starting with the ammonia, as if it was all being produced directly by...

Jason, Please elaborate on a point from the week 5 PowerPoint lecture, slide 6, discussing filter substrates. You note, and I’ve read similar comments by Bob Goemans and others, that excessive nitrification should be avoided, as a buildup of nitrate can result. I understand the need for...

I’m getting a bit off of our microbiological topic here, but I’d be interested to know if anyone has any opinions on the relative merits, or lack thereof, of various test kits and meters. What is a “really good test kit”? Which types work best? Which brands are most accurate?

So I guess a basic sand bed, with the right mix of meio/macrofauna stirring it, could come fairly close to that ideal.

Exactly. Give the sand bed nutrients and time to cycle and establish microbial colonies before the display part of the system is set up. When the live rock is added, there will still be an adjustment to the nutrient levels and microbial communities, basically a second cycling of the system...

I really find the soft cycle concept appealing, far preferable to conventional live rock curing, which kills off so much life. One idea for cycling a larger system which has occurred to me, but which I have not tried, is to use fishless cycling to establish a remote sand bed (in a...

Jason, I’ve seen references in the hobby literature to biofilms getting “old” and not processing nutrients as efficiently as they did previously. I’ve seen this used as an argument in favor of fluidized bed filtration, the idea being that the constant mechanical abrasion keeps the microbial...

There is a good chance that I'll also miss the chat on the 26th, but I will review the transcript when it's posted.

Greetings to my fellow students and to our instructor! As my shockingly imaginative user name would suggest, my name is James. I have no formal background or education in the sciences beyond a high school level. I have, however, had a life-long interest in science in general, and the...