Salt Mixes and Algae

[JRR]

I was reading thru an older article about different salt brands:

http://saltaquarium.about.com/gi/dy...om/fish2/aqfm/1999/mar/features/1/default.asp


I noticed that different brands of salt seem to very in the amount of Ammonia and Nitrogen that they have. Could this be a potential factor in algae growth? Wouldn't the Ammonia convert to Nitrite thus into Nitrate? And isn't Nitrogen like a fetilizer for the algae? Not really sure that is why I'm asking the question. Maybe the levels are so low it wouldn't matter but it seems like it could add up?

I've used one brand of salt for many years and have always fought Brown and Green algae. Seems the more water changes the more algae growth. I can reduce my nitrate from 50 to less than 10ppm's with many water changes but still develop algae even running brand new Rowaphos. This is an established tank setup for many years. At one point I pulled the sand bed out and replaced with new Caribsea in an attempt to rule out poor sand quality. I'm also using a 4 position DI behind an RO system with multiple meters. Cartridges are changed regularly each cartridge has its own meter. If the meter reads higher than 0 its time to change.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

The levels of nutrients in quality salt mixes are inconsequential considering the large amounts of nutrients added each day in fish foods.

 

[ffc3]

I was thinking that couldn't the same thing be said about tap water.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

No. Foods are typically larger sources of nutrients than is tap water (and that is not the main reason to avoid tap water, things like copper are), but no salt mix adds nearly as much nutrients as might be in some tap water.

In 2002, for example, NYC had up to 5+ ppm of phosphate in the water. That same year, Miami had up to 35 ppm nitrate in tap water.

I discuss it here:

Tap Water in Reef Aquaria
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/jan2004/chem.htm