when one harvests turf algae from an ATS the screen is removed and the algae scraped off in the sink, if one then dipped in tank water in a bucket before re installing the screen, would that be sufficient to avoid "seeding" the DT?
also, if spores were released into the water of the DT wouldn't they then grow on the ATS anyway? I can understand a potential problem of running an ATS for a while, then discontinuing and allowing the turf to grow elsewhere, is that the scenario you had in mind?
It is at times like this that I remember what my microbial ecology professor would say often. It's called Bradford's law of tolerance and it goes like this: "Everything is everywhere, the environment selects".
If you've got the hair or turf algae on your ATS it got there because your system produced spores that landed and grew on the screen. If you've got spores that will grow on the screen then you already have spores that will grow in the rest of your tank, if the right conditions come to pass. Since those spores aren't growing in the rest of your tank it's safe to assume that the conditions aren't right, so you do not need to worry about seeding from the ATS.
I was not aware of significant portions of tannins being produced by hair and turf algaes of the sort seen on an ATS, mangroves have a bit of a reputation for water yellowing themselves as I understand it. Having read your excellent posts on cryptic zones and duplex sumps I find myself wondering if perhaps a cryptic zone filter could be used to pull those DOCs back out of the water column.
If your neighbour has dandelions you are a lot more likely to have them too Once you introduce a nuisance species of algae, you always run the risk of nature not understanding where you want it to grow.
Rinsing can't hurt, but I don't think you would benefit by any kind of oxidizer such as iodine or potassium permanganate in the dip. Time is the best healer, as the saying goes. Throwing the tray or screen in a secondary tank would be the prudent method.
I'm tempted to switch our refugium from Chaetomorpha to caulerpa for faster production/reduction but I don't like the potential threat of a milky tank if the algae crashes. On the other hand, it is a very small refugium and it wouldn't create too much of a problem. Hmmm?
have you guys checked out the ai led fixtures, i have been looking into them and am considering giving them a try myself. with all the different fixtures having been tested on this system i am curious about your thoughts on them?
I'm interested in the cryptic results. I unknowingly ended up with a cryptic filter when I discovered that one of my 55 gallon drums that I use as a sump for no other purpose but to add water volume to the system needed cleaning out. The water at the bottom had that ole sulfur smell. (the water entered at the top and exited the oposite top) I freaked out and drained the whole thing and then put in an air stone to circulate the water better. Since the addition of the airstone I have been fighting nitrates. I have it under control with pellets now but I am always thinking of pulling the airstone and letting it go back. I could keep my nitrates much lower when it was cryptic.
I'm still wondering where the Bryopsis comes from in the first place. Are there spores in every tank that grow if the conditions are right? So an ATS could actually introduce Bryopsis in that manner? If I remember correctly Joe at Atlantis Aquarium (20,000g reef tank) believes every tank has Bryopsis. However my daughter's 9g biocube was severely neglected and looked like a scientific experiment in the end with algae and you name it growing in there, however no Bryopsis :uhoh3:
Amazing pics! That sohal is gorgeous. Maybe I missed it earlier in the thread, but what happened to the Blue Face Angel?
Amazing pics! That sohal is gorgeous. Maybe I missed it earlier in the thread, but what happened to the Blue Face Angel?
Absolutely stunning!
Peter,
When you first started on this journey, someone on our Club's forum posted a link to your thread and made a comment to the effect that you'll never make it.
Well, I'd have to say that he was dead wrong. YOU HAVE MADE IT!
Congrats!