How much nutrients does chaeto really export?

[jenjen]

Wow, thanks for the excellent information everyone, and in particular Randy Holmes-Farley for the very detailed answer.

I think based on this info, in my 55gal I will just remove the chaeto. It's not dead, so I'll pop it into the fuge under my 180gal where I seem to have more than enough nutrients to grow and harvest chaeto forests.

Thanks!

 

[andrewk529]

Is there a paper on this I could read? Some sort of study? Because this makes no sense. I have had quite a bit of Biology and this is hard for me to grasp. The plant is taking in something and then unable to expel through gas exchange or another method? (Obv gas exchange in this case)

So what happens when it reaches max capacity? If it is not exchanging the material, rather storing it, then I would assume that it is not using it as energy for growth. Am I wrong?

Thanks

phosphates among other nutrients are used by the plants to create new tissues. when you remove the plant tissue (taking out portions of cheato from the refugium or tank) your "exporting" nutrients.. think about a farmer fertilizing a field, he has do do this a few times per growing season...why? because the plants are using the fertilizer ( N P K) . when the crops are harvested and sent to your grocery store the nutrients are removed from the field. if the farmer left the plants in the field to decay, he wouldn't have to fertilize his field... i don't think i can explain things any clearer with analogies

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You're welcome, jenjen.

Happy Reefing.

 

[Jared J]

same principal as 'ashes to ashes, dust to dust'........sort of.