TedsTank

Things are progressing well with making a stable softwater slight acid tank for SA Chiclids. Now the question has arised:
With an acidic tank setup, I have heard or read that there is less bacteria so a Biofillter is much less effective, and charcoal works better

Ok you all...what are your thoughts and experiences on this matter I have given myself a target date of April to have all things setup and good to go.

lew2000

i am curoiuos what answers you are going to get to your question. As i understand it, nitrification actually stop at 5.50pH, though most articles that state 6.0pH. I keep my discus tank at 6.7. I can't find my old article on %ammonium (NH4+)/ammonia NH3 scale of pH below 7.0. Ammonia and ammonium are obviusly present in acidic water, and the scale is shifted more to ammonium the lower the pH below 7. I run my filters with 6.7 and my number are still fine - i use low range ammonia test for this tank.

TedsTank

if there is food at all....wouldn't the biofilter generate enough bacteria to feed on whatever is available??....or is an acid softwater tank devoid of
"edible" bacteria...from a biofilters point of view of course...lol

lew2000

Again, the acidity of the water below pH7.0 such as 6.6pH, as i have read, the nitrification process (meaning nitrifying bacteria) are still present - to what degree i don't know - some varying opinions on this. So bacteria are still preset in whatever filter media to consume breakdown ammonia - etc. And with a pH below 7 ammonium is present which is less toxic (some articles say ammonium is non-toxic) than ammonia.

So essentially, the incredible edible bacteria are present in a slightly acidic tank and it doesn't matter what substrate they are on - bio-wheel, gravel, inside a cannister filter, etc,) The bacteria "feed" on Ammonia and then Nitrites.