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RE: Aquatic Plants Digest V3 #128
> Date: Sun, 8 Mar 1998 23:27:26 EST
> From: IDMiamiBob <IDMiamiBob at aol_com>
>
> Roger Miller writes:
>
> << In fact, I fail (miserably) to understand the logic of adding nitrate
> fertilizer to limit algae growth. >>
>
> I'm not sure, Roger, but I think the idea is that if your tank is heavily
> planted, and you drive the nitrate up so that the phosphate is the
> limiter, the "Macro" plants will consume enough phosphate to starve out
the
> "Micro" plants (algae) Of course my tanks at this point are not that
heavily
> planted, so I have tried it yet.
Last summer I had a problem with a bunch of E. Tenellus that was almost
completely obscured by a black algae. One of the list members wised me up
that despite "Nitrate is a toxin" feeling one gets from reading most
aquarium keeping books, zero nitrates is also not a good situation. My
tank was N-limited.
I added enough KNO3 to reach about 5ppm and kept it there. A week or so
later I had to clean my filters almost daily because of the die off of this
black algae.
It worked for me.
Frank.
-----
The very act of seeking sets something in motion to meet us;
something in the universe, or in the unconscious responds as if
to an invitation. - Jean Shinoda Bolen
http://home.istar.ca/~fir