[APD] Re: Aquatic-Plants Digest, Vol 18, Issue 53

[Thomas Barr <tcbiii at earthlink_net>]

"Message: 6
Date: Thu, 24 Feb 2005 15:38:34 -0500
From: "Robert A. Davidoff" <radavidoff at bellsouth_net>
Subject: [APD] Redfield ratio
To: <Aquatic-plants at actwin_com>

What precisely is the Redfield ratio?  How does it apply (or does it
apply) to the optimal concentrations of macronutrients in a planted
tank?
RA Davidoff
Miami, FL"

Robert:

It's the phytoplankton elemental ratio of Marine algae.
It's not the same as FW algae. 
The habitat's are radically different as are the mechanisms.

16:1 for N:P ratios Redfield
14:1 for FW algae, Prescott
10:1 for most FW macrophytes.

These are generalized ratios, individual plants/algae vary, sometimes widely.
Plants generally grow in the upper 1-2 meters of aquatic systems.

The algae notions on the link I cannot say make much sense to me, I know what and why algae are induced in most cases in FW planted tanks. 
A ratio alone will not solve most of them if any.

Regards, 
Tom Barr



  










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