Re: Algea bloom + killi-related comment

[Wright Huntley <jwwiii at pacbell_net>]

Tish KB wrote:
> i think the main thing you need right now is patience.
> Sometimes algae can be a long time going. If you
> haven't already, i highly suggest reading this
> http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/sears-conlin.htmlarticle,
> more usefully the "Conclusions" portion. it will help
> you choose the right action to take. Good luck!!
> 

Hi Tish,

Is "patience" a micro-nutrient or macro? ;-)

The article is a genuine classic, and is held in reverence by the bulk of 
aquatic gardeners. A better URL is:

http://www.thekrib.com/Plants/Fertilizer/sears-conlin.html

The concept of a "limiting nutrient" was still in vogue at the time of the 
original posting. Newer evidence places more emphasis on rate equations, 
as there apparently is no such thing as a real "limiting nutrient" for 
either algae or higher plants. [There have been some articles from Tropica 
and others on this, recently.]

As shown by later studies, by Tom Barr, the conclusions were a bit too 
simplistic, and algae-free tanks can often have significant amounts of 
phosphates right in the water column. Tanks with excellent plant growth 
often have rather high phosphate levels (and little algae), as from Tom's 
tap water when he lived in Marin County. Many planted tanks benefit from 
deliberate addition of phosphates.

Balanced nutrition, combined with a good daily light cycle, will let the 
plants outdo the algae and suppress it to acceptable (i.e., near 
invisible) levels. Algae needs no dark period to respire and grow, while 
most vascular plants seem to need that regular dark time. Give them a 
break (and a night).

My experience is that overdoing the light intensity (particularly with 
inadequate CO2) is a very quick way to unbalance a tank. Getting it back 
from the unsightly results can be rather tedious.

Ob. killy content:

My near distilled tap water (34ppm tds) was killing my Java moss, 
particularly when I added any salt to raise tds. I corrected this by 
adding "Equilibrium" in tiny amounts (< 1/4tsp/G), and my Java moss and 
Java ferns are both growing nicely, now, with or without salt.

The astonishing thing is that some fish that were giving me no eggs are 
suddenly pouring them out. I never found more than 4 or 5 eggs in my *Scr. 
cauveti* Kindia tank. Last time I picked up their mop, I put it in a bowl 
and found my hand was covered with eggs. I have no idea how many there 
were. There were a lot more in the mop, but those just on my hand were 
many more than I used to get total. The male has returned to his gorgeous 
scarlet and black markings, too.

Not only are K, Ca and Na vital to cell metabolism in plants, I see that 
they have a profound impact on the fish, too. Getting the ratios right may 
improve many "difficult" breeding situations. Maybe those fish with "0" 
ppm tds in nature get the essentials through their food. (?)

Wright

-- 
Wright Huntley -- 209 521-0557 -- 731 Loletta Ave, Modesto CA 95351

       "The problem with the French is that they don't
              have a word for entrepreneur."
      -- George W. Bush, discussing the decline of the
    French economy with British Prime Minister Tony Blair

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