Could phytoplankton replace a refugium?

[sixty_reefer]

As title says could a phytoplankton culture replace a refugium?

phytoplankton seems to be around in the hobby for years now but for some reason not fully understood at hobby level

phytoplankton seems to consume nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon dioxide all this are a beneficial for reef aquaria.

Phytoplankton: Small Organisms with a Massive Impact – Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) | University of Miami

sharkresearch.rsmas.miami.edu

phytoplankton and microbes

A plankton-eat-plankton world

Tiny ecosystem may shed light on key ocean microbes and their role in influencing climate

news.mit.edu

Phytoplankton and zooplankton

Aquatic food webs

Food webs describe who eats whom in an ecological community. Made of interconnected food chains, food webs help us understand how changes to ecosystems — say, removing a top predator or adding nutrients — affect many different species, both directly and indirectly. Phytoplankton and algae form...

www.noaa.gov

What’s your thought could with some work see changes in the hobby?

 

[Auto-pilot]

I dose alot of phyto and to be honest I don't think it does much in helping me keep my nutrients low. My cheato on the other hand grows and does a great job at reducing my nitrates/phosphates
Edit:I dose phyto for my sea apple/ cucumbers and Christmas tree worms

 

[sixty_reefer]

I dose alot of phyto and to be honest I don't think it does much in helping me keep my untrue ts low. My cheato on the other hand grows and does a great job at reducing my nitrates/phosphates
Edit:I dose phyto for my sea apple/ cucumbers and Christmas tree worms

Could I ask you what fertiliser you using? Also do you know the po4 in your phytoplankton culture? I believe most of us haven’t seen any impact on nutrients because most fertilisers are to high in po4.

 

[Auto-pilot]

Not sure what I currently have as in a brand name but I usually buy a f/2 compound for phyto. My culture is so dark I can't test it properly.

 

[naterealbig]

As title says could a phytoplankton culture replace a refugium?

phytoplankton seems to be around in the hobby for years now but for some reason not fully understood at hobby level

phytoplankton seems to consume nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon dioxide all this are a beneficial for reef aquaria.

Phytoplankton: Small Organisms with a Massive Impact – Shark Research & Conservation Program (SRC) | University of Miami

sharkresearch.rsmas.miami.edu

phytoplankton and microbes

A plankton-eat-plankton world

Tiny ecosystem may shed light on key ocean microbes and their role in influencing climate

news.mit.edu

Phytoplankton and zooplankton

Aquatic food webs

Food webs describe who eats whom in an ecological community. Made of interconnected food chains, food webs help us understand how changes to ecosystems — say, removing a top predator or adding nutrients — affect many different species, both directly and indirectly. Phytoplankton and algae form...

www.noaa.gov

What’s your thought could with some work see changes in the hobby?

The key to a refugium or scrubber, is being able to completely remove the algae once it has absorbed nitrate and phosphate.

How would you remove the phytoplankton once it has absorbed these nutrients?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Not sure what I currently have as in a brand name but I usually buy a f/2 compound for phyto. My culture is so dark I can't test it properly.

The best way to test it is to fill a small reservoir with some of your culture and let it settle, then just use the clear water at the top for testing

 

[sixty_reefer]

The key to a refugium or scrubber, is being able to completely remove the algae once it has absorbed nitrate and phosphate.

How would you remove the phytoplankton once it has absorbed these nutrients?

In the sea phytoplankton is removed from an ecosystem by feeding zooplankton and microbes, the same could be happening in home aquaria. There is no need to harvest. It would also take less space to cultivate phytoplankton in a sump.

 

[Auto-pilot]

The best way to test it is to fill a small reservoir with some of your culture and let it settle, then just use the clear water at the top for testing

I'll do that today and post my results

 

[sixty_reefer]

I'll do that today and post my results

If you could I’d like to compare it with my fertiliser, there’s 0 po4 in this culture but on my previous one using miracle grow was 3plus po4.
The sample was taken from the bottle next to the test kit, I’ve let it settle before i removed water for the test, just shake again for pic.

 

[Auto-pilot]

Ok it took 2 days for my culture to settle, not sure if this creates a unreliable test as it had to sit so long. I got a reading of 1.75 ppm for phosphates!

 

[Afterburner]

If you could I’d like to compare it with my fertiliser, there’s 0 po4 in this culture but on my previous one using miracle grow was 3plus po4.
The sample was taken from the bottle next to the test kit, I’ve let it settle before i removed water for the test, just shake again for pic.

Sixty, what fertilizer did you use where you had the 0 po4 results?

 

[sixty_reefer]

Sixty, what fertilizer did you use where you had the 0 po4 results?

Late reply, only just noticed this. Playing around with co2 and iron.

 

[ScottR]

I believe Dana Riddle had a thread about using phyto to control PO4 and NO3. Seems mostly anecdotal at this point. I’ve added live phyto many times. I honestly can say I’ve seen no difference. No change in nutrients. I’m sure I fed a lot of things in my tank but I believe a refugium would reign king.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

In the sea phytoplankton is removed from an ecosystem by feeding zooplankton and microbes, the same could be happening in home aquaria. There is no need to harvest. It would also take less space to cultivate phytoplankton in a sump.

For phyto to replace a scrubber or fuge as an inorganic nutrient filter the photo would have to be discarded rather than fed to the system.

 

[ScottR]

For phyto to replace a scrubber or fuge as an inorganic nutrient filter the photo would have to be discarded rather than fed to the system.

I thought this too but what if corals, filter feeders and zooplankton ate the phyto? I have no idea. But just a thought.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I thought this too but what if corals, filter feeders and zooplankton ate the phyto? I have no idea. But just a thought.

Then the nutrients that the phyto have assimilated are released back into the system .

 

[ScottR]

Then the nutrients that the phyto have assimilated are released back into the system .

I’ve always wondered this. One thing I’ve always wondered is, why does macro consume PO4 and NO3 as energy but if it dies, it goes back into the system? If it uses those nutrients, why aren’t they completely dissolved? I’m no scientist. Just a simple man.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

I’ve always wondered this. One thing I’ve always wondered is, why does macro consume PO4 and NO3 as energy but if it dies, it goes back into the system? If it uses those nutrients, why aren’t they completely dissolved? I’m no scientist. Just a simple man.

Once the nutrients are assimilated they exist in the tissue of the organism, possibly in an organic form ? I'm not sure.
If the macro dies it breaks down & releases the nutrients.

 

[ScottR]

Once the nutrients are assimilated they exist in the tissue of the organism, possibly in an organic form ? I'm not sure.
If the macro dies it breaks down & releases the nutrients.

So the algae actually consumes but doesn’t use the nutrients? Seems counter to their purpose.

 

[Scrubber_steve]

So the algae actually consumes but doesn’t use the nutrients? Seems counter to their purpose.

Yes they are utilised & needed. But the nutrients cannot be destroyed. They can change form, like from inorganic to organic, but they cannot be destroyed & just disappear forever.