Nutrient export numbers by Chaeto
- Thread starter plankton
- Start date
I don't that it can be tested to that degree. Since there are variable factors like
watts of light used
bulb kelvin (sp)
how far the bulb(s) from water
how clear the water is
how much nutrients is being added
different strains of chaeto
flow..... always, whys it always flow.
I know chaeto is an excelent means of nutrient export. With is it not going sexual as easly. And its fast growth.
watts of light used
bulb kelvin (sp)
how far the bulb(s) from water
how clear the water is
how much nutrients is being added
different strains of chaeto
flow..... always, whys it always flow.
I know chaeto is an excelent means of nutrient export. With is it not going sexual as easly. And its fast growth.
I discuss how much nitrogen and phosphorus is in macroalgae here:
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
specifically here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php#12
Phosphate Export by Organisms: Macroalgae
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Growing and harvesting macroalgae can be a very effective way to reduce phosphate levels (along with other nutrients) in reef aquaria. In my reef system, where I have large, lit refugia to grow the macroalgae Caulerpa racemosa and Chaetomorpha sp., these algae are clearly the largest phosphate export mechanisms. Aquaria with large amounts of thriving macroalgae can avoid microalgae problems or excessive phosphate levels that might inhibit coral calcification. Whether the reduction in phosphate is the cause of the microalgae reduction is not obvious; other nutrients can also become limiting. But to reef aquarists with a severe microalgae problem, the exact mechanism may make no difference. If rapidly growing macroalgae absorb enough phosphorus to keep the orthophosphate concentrations in the water column acceptably low, and at the same time keep microalgae under control, most reefkeepers will be satisfied.
For those interested in knowing how much phosphorus is being exported by macroalgae, this free PDF article in the journal Marine Biology has some important information. It gives the phosphorus and nitrogen content for nine different species of macroalgae, including many that reefkeepers typically maintain. For example, Caulerpa racemosa collected off Hawaii contains about 0.08 % phosphorus by dry weight and 5.6% nitrogen. Harvesting 10 grams (dry weight) of this macroalgae from an aquarium would be the equivalent of removing 24 mg of phosphate from the water column. That amount is the equivalent of reducing the phosphate concentration from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm in a 67-gallon aquarium. All of the other species tested gave similar results (plus or minus a factor of two). Interestingly, using the same paper's nitrogen data, this would also be equivalent to reducing the nitrate content by 2.5 grams, or 10 ppm in that same 67-gallon aquarium.
Phosphate and the Reef Aquarium
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php
specifically here:
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-09/rhf/index.php#12
Phosphate Export by Organisms: Macroalgae
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Growing and harvesting macroalgae can be a very effective way to reduce phosphate levels (along with other nutrients) in reef aquaria. In my reef system, where I have large, lit refugia to grow the macroalgae Caulerpa racemosa and Chaetomorpha sp., these algae are clearly the largest phosphate export mechanisms. Aquaria with large amounts of thriving macroalgae can avoid microalgae problems or excessive phosphate levels that might inhibit coral calcification. Whether the reduction in phosphate is the cause of the microalgae reduction is not obvious; other nutrients can also become limiting. But to reef aquarists with a severe microalgae problem, the exact mechanism may make no difference. If rapidly growing macroalgae absorb enough phosphorus to keep the orthophosphate concentrations in the water column acceptably low, and at the same time keep microalgae under control, most reefkeepers will be satisfied.
For those interested in knowing how much phosphorus is being exported by macroalgae, this free PDF article in the journal Marine Biology has some important information. It gives the phosphorus and nitrogen content for nine different species of macroalgae, including many that reefkeepers typically maintain. For example, Caulerpa racemosa collected off Hawaii contains about 0.08 % phosphorus by dry weight and 5.6% nitrogen. Harvesting 10 grams (dry weight) of this macroalgae from an aquarium would be the equivalent of removing 24 mg of phosphate from the water column. That amount is the equivalent of reducing the phosphate concentration from 0.2 ppm to 0.1 ppm in a 67-gallon aquarium. All of the other species tested gave similar results (plus or minus a factor of two). Interestingly, using the same paper's nitrogen data, this would also be equivalent to reducing the nitrate content by 2.5 grams, or 10 ppm in that same 67-gallon aquarium.
:thumbsup:
Unfortunately, there is no actual Chaeto data, but I expect on a dry basis it is similar to all of the other macroalgae in the study.
Happy Reefing!
Unfortunately, there is no actual Chaeto data, but I expect on a dry basis it is similar to all of the other macroalgae in the study.
Happy Reefing!
It is best to grow the mass as big as possible while still growing strongly, allowing it more effective growing and light gathering area, but then harvest it before it starts to shade itself too much and die off in places. The analogy would be a big SPS coral compared to a frag. The big coral will effectively be adding mass faster as it has more growing tips, at least until something goes wrong.
