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Re: Water and algae questions (was Re: [Killietalk] Golden Killies ID)

Tucker,

"Robert Tucker" <tucker at covad_net> wrote:


Exactly. I was being a little rhetorical there. Mark was told the "plants
don't need carbon" and I think what was meant was 'plants don't need carbon
in the filtration system'.

Exactly. The activated charcoal is not available to the plants, may sequester useful minerals the plants need, and can release adsorbed poisons at the most inopportune times. Not a good isea, IMHO.

Plants prefer dissolved CO2 which is often in the form of carbonate or bicarbonate ions, rather than just as carbonic acid, but I think all are used by some plants, if not all. Some Vals even get a crusty coating of CaO or CaOH (both fairly insoluble) when the plants have stripped off CO2 from the carbonate/bicarbonate ions and allowed the insoluble forms (aka boiler scale) to appear.

Wright

PS. Ever notice how KH can drop in a healthy planted tank? It's probably the plants eating the carbonates and bicarbonates.

--
Wright Huntley - Rt. 001 Box K36, Bishop CA 93514 - whuntley at verizon_net
                    760 872-3995

        "WAR, n.  A by-product of the arts of peace."
                   Ambrose Bierce, _The Devil's Dictionary_




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