Quote:
Originally Posted by Timfish
Just to clarify a couple points:
For starters chaeto produces far less DOC than what we call nuisance algae. Keeping it in a system does not carry the risk having a lot of nuisance algae has. I would much rather do a cryptic sump/refugium than a lighted sump/refugium though.
There are huge differences in the DOC (this includes sugars) released by algae and the DOC released by corals. Looking at Haas, et al, the DOC released by algae is promoting heterotrophic microbial activity that includes pathogeinc to corals, DOC released by corals promotes autotrophic microbial processes. Klunts & Kline have research showing DOC released by algae have a far worse effect on corals than inorganic nitrogen and inorganic PO4
Links for Haas, et all
https://www.sciencedaily.com/release...0425141821.htm
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3719129/
http://www.nature.com/ismej/journal/...tcallback=true
Links for Klunts & Kline:
http://scrippsscholars.ucsd.edu/dkli...hree-caribbean
http://www.int-res.com/articles/meps...4/m314p119.pdf
Feldman, et al, (links are in post #18 my skimmerless thread) looked at skimmers and it's anybodies guess how much a skimmer is pulling out an any given time. Best case scenario is about 30% but often a skimmer might only be pulling out 10% or 15%. More importantly in my view is skimmers are really skewing the microbial population and we have no clue if it's beneficial or harmful long term. In light of the overwhelming evidence from all the life sciences on the importance of a healthy microbial balance it doesn't make sense to me to use one.
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Hi Timfish. Thinking about the selective removal of bacteria from the water column by skimming, & the pathogens supplemented to varying degrees by algae, what is your opinion on the use of UV sterilizers?