Quote:
Originally Posted by Dan_P
Where I think we missed an important point in this discussion is that the ratio of heterotrophic:autotrophic may be predictive of a system’s propensity to grow nuisance photoautotrophs such as diatoms, dinoflagellates, cyanobacteria and algae. The notion that nitrate and phosphate are predictive or are the cause of nuisance organism growth needs to be revisited. It might be more useful to think in terms of inadequate heterotrophic activity or a low C:N ratio as the cause of nuisance organism growth.
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Does the redfield ratio or C:N ratio or N:P ratio in the water column has any effect on nuisance growth? Probably as most organisms are triggered by there environment.
But as each organism has its own way to respond on this environment they will take what they need from the total available building materials and battle only for what is left.
Can we remove bentic algae with C:N:P 550:30:1, by maintaining the N:P ratio at 16:1 in the water column. I do not think so.
http://www.baharini.eu/baharini/doku...hemie:redfield
One needs to look at the specific needs of the specimen.
Normally most processes concerning the nitrogen cycle are surface related and take place in a biofilm and not in the water column. The situation in the biofilm is completely different and exchange of the building materials only takes place at the surface of the film.
When ammonia and other building materials are removed fast out of the water column and a lot of oxygen is used due to a high heterotropic activity in the water column this ammonia and building materials are not available for building up and maintaining the biofilm; Is a biofilm a nuisance?
The same for bentic algae as most of the total available ammonia will be used up by heterotrops and phytoplankton in the water column. The effect of algae growth in combination with carbon dosing has been a subject of a lot of research. A high C:N ratio will influence the growth of bentic and other algae, can even prevent it. But is it better, as algae can easily be harvested? What is a nuisance?
Adding carbohydrates will suppress bentic growth which is dependable of the supply from the water column.
Doses must be made correctly in function of the result
The effect on a mixed reef aquarium, the bacterial balance between specific bacteria and corals?