Belgian Anthias
New member
Your references are interesting, but they do not tell us anything about the risks in our systems.
You obviously did not take up much from this threat.
I try again
It is a proven fact that a situation is created which will shift the carrying capacity of the system from autotropic ammonia reduction to heterotrophic ammonia reduction. This is proven by hundreds or thousands of different labtests and practical experience using biofilters,aquaculture and aquaria systems all over the world. This shift may result in 0% nitrification capacity depending of the maintained C:N ratio. This is a fact! There is no reason to doubt about that.
As one has no control over the C:N ratio by dosing based on the nitrate level one has no idea how many nitrifying capacity is left over. This may create a dangerous situation when dosing is interrupted as the carrying capacity of the system relays on the carbo doses and may fall at once to 50% or even 0 % for a period of time. Aquarium science is not different from other basic science.
Some one who is aware of this shift knows he has to stop feeding when dosing is interrupted . Feeding must be cut back or stopped when carbo doses are cut back by half from one day to an other to avoid possible problems with the carrying capacity.
Instead of having doubts about this one should put the energy in finding a better way for dosing which prevents a high C:N ratio
There are ways to remove nitrate without bringin in danger the carrying capacity of the system.