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Originally Posted by cheeks69 Wouldn't skimming or using Macro-algea do the same thing ? I know there was an article either in advancedaquarist or reefkeeping which mentioned that because mangroves are very slow in growth there not as effective as caulerpa or other macros in nutrient export. Also isn't the buildup of nutrients what could be toxic ? |
I suppose I should have clarified. I think the issue of PO4 and nitrogenous wastes are the continual focus of the hobbiest. Why? Because they are tangable and we see causitive effects almost immediatly. We have various means to control nitrogen input, either through skimming, water changes, macro, etc... To me, controlling these is relatively easy and I tihnk we have developed many efficient mechanisms to control it.
As for PO4, well, it is a bit more tricky. However, I still think (and again, this is based more on gut feeling than anything else) that we place too much emphasis on its importance in our aquariums. From an aesthetics standpoint, it is a miserable little molecule that can make algae problems seem insermountable. However, is it really the cause of OTS. Perhaps, but I am not sold (although I am always up for a good sales pitch).
So my thought remains the more "hidden" elementals and chemicals that we find in trace (and not so trace) amounts in our synthetic salt water mixes. Again, I am basing this on absolutly nothing but a hunch. I think these things accumulate in our tanks and over time, might wreak havoc and cause OTS. I would love to see a comparison between tanks using only synthetic salt and tanks using natural sea water and correlate it to age. Of course, there are so many variables in this hobby, it is difficult to pinpoint 1 magic contributor to OTS.
So, back to the mangroves, I was more thinking along the lines of these elements (Cu, Cl, etc...) and was wondering if something in their environment acted as a sink for them, or if the mangroves themselves could bind them and make them "biologically inactive."
If that makes any sense...
Take er easy
Scott T.