Peggie, Figured I'd draw on your expertise here. I am moored in a location with fairly cool Pacific Northwest waters & with the holding tank being below/near the waterline, stays fairly cool, say a constant 55 - 60 degrees.how does this affect our little bacteria friends and should I do anything different from my (distant) neighbors in Florida?
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Cool temps...count your blessings!
Bacteria multiply much more slowly in cool temps than in hot...that's why holding tanks stink more in the summer than in the winter. In fact, all bacterial action comes to a complete halt at 40F. They don't die...they just quit doing anything till the temperature goes up again. The rate at which they multiply goes up linearly till somewhere around 80F (I've forgotten the exact temperature)...then it starts squaring with every increased degree...till the termperature reaches 120F, which kills 'em (120F is pasteurizing temperature). So there's nothing special you need to do any differerently that those of us who are living where it's 100 in the shade...just enjoy it.
Bacteria multiply much more slowly in cool temps than in hot...that's why holding tanks stink more in the summer than in the winter. In fact, all bacterial action comes to a complete halt at 40F. They don't die...they just quit doing anything till the temperature goes up again. The rate at which they multiply goes up linearly till somewhere around 80F (I've forgotten the exact temperature)...then it starts squaring with every increased degree...till the termperature reaches 120F, which kills 'em (120F is pasteurizing temperature). So there's nothing special you need to do any differerently that those of us who are living where it's 100 in the shade...just enjoy it.
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