ok, well i just got off the phone with a brackish expert. My hypothesis was wrong, still cool to know however> As i now understand it, there are slight differences in the bacteria between marine and fresh tanks, but not that much of a difference. I have undergravel plates in my tank, i was planning on getting uptake tubes later on, well, yesterday i had really stird the substrate up and tested water after i did that, the ammonia and nitrites were through the roof, sooo i have a dead water in the tank. simply all the waste seeps to the bottom, and rests underneath the ugf plate. So if i increase filtration and get that water moving underneath the filter plate, it should continute its cycle pattern. the guy i spoke to thought my salinity might be too high as well, but he said that salt didnt interfier with bacterial growth, thats something still undecided with me however, i've heard otherwise. I think now my salinity is lower and ill see how that works but i wont remove it to the point of zero salt. Hippoz - do you have ugf plates in your tank at all? i didnt think you did, in that case i was suggested to increase filtration and possibly have two hob filters and only change one at a time to keep a healthy large bacteria culture going. Considering the size of your tank, you might have some dead water as well. Considering we have the same problem, it just might work... Ill be getting my uptake tubes asap, and ill let you know how it works out... laterz
