Diatoms

[Belgian Anthias]

I dosed about 200 ug Si/L once a week (= 0.43 ppm SiO2). It depleted substantially within a few days.

Basing the daily dose ( included in the phytoplankton feeding rate) on a safe level will make it possible to avoid depletion and install a silicon cycle. This way also removed silica by a skimmer will be taken into account. ( if used)

 

[Belgian Anthias]

Stimulating diatom growth by silica dosing for promoting and controlling planktonic growth and to install a food chain must be reconsidered as it does not work as I first suspected.
In de 90's a big research project concerning the importance of diatomic growth was launched, a project on which 15 research centres from all over the world have participated. The classic pelagic food web refers to the widely held concept of a trophic linkage between outbursts of diatom-rich phytoplankton, copepod production and fish. The conclusions, published in 1997, show that this concept must be reviewed. The consumption of pelagic diatoms does inhibit the growth rate of the copepods feeding on it.
Research made for the cultivation of sea-urchins showed that the reproduction of sea-urchins is inhibited by the consumption of bentic diatoms they are feeding on.

It is proven that diatoms influence the growth rate of its grazers, probably to protect them selves against overgrazing,

 

[Belgian Anthias]

Basing the daily dose ( included in the phytoplankton feeding rate) on a safe level will make it possible to avoid depletion and install a silicon cycle. This way also removed silica by a skimmer will be taken into account. ( if used)

Once the daily dose of silica is known maintaining a minimal measurable silica level may be suitable to be able to follow the increasing silica consumption by growing sponges, mollusks, etc;
The diatom grazers ( copepods) may be cultivated in a refuge to maintain a controllable population.