| MikeM you're quite righ about what JR said (I trust him too :-): a 20°F difference will trigger the hormonal cycle. And yes, it is better to try to have show quality female resorb their eggs over "winter" than to have them spawn.
Bob, I do not recall the 14°C figure, maybe you can elaborate. The fact is that autotroph bacteria best thrive at around 85°F, our koi do best at around 78°F (at which level bateria may do something like 80% of their best). The lower the temperature, the lower the multiplication rate, and the lower bacteria count (assuming the same feeding level, which is not true: lower temperatures, lower feeding). So to a certain low point the bacteria level will follow the feeding level (available bacteria food).
Below 65°F bacteria activity/multiplication really slows down; this is why the recommendation is to feed only once a day under such circumstances.
I have read reliable reports of bacteria activity as low as 47°F. Bacteria are much better at survival than evolved animals. For example, bacteria survived on the Moon for several years in extreme conditions of cold and heat, and were revived by NASA as soon as put in a favorable environment for just a few days.
Bacteria in filters will enter a survival mode as soon as food and/or temperatures drops below a certain level. In such mode, inactive bacteria will be generated whose sole role in to carry the species into the future. They will start a new bacteria active colony as soon as conditions are favorable. That is why an establish filter starts up faster in spring than a new filter would.
I hope this helps,
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Arthur
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03-21-2005
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