Few questions (toadstool, alk testing, Po4)

[Stephen8169301]

Toadstool question: nubs on bottom stem I’m sure it’s normal just curious why it grows like that

Alk test question: I use red sea test kit not the big set I have basic I can never judge when I get titration and when to start counting I usually end up overdosing I tried doing 5ml water should I just use 10mls instead?

Po4: added dry rock to my established tank im starting to get a little outbreak as expected as the bacteria colonize the rock is that when Po4 will leach from rock? I tested Im at or just under 0.25

 

[Timfish]

#1 Yup, those nubs are begining attempts to attach to rocks ot have stronger base. Don't need to do anything and I'd just leave it alone.

#2 I like API myslef but with any aquarist titration test kit you can double or triple the test volume then divide by the same number to get your results.

#3 The whole issue of rock and sand leaching PO4 seems pretty moot when endoliths (stuff that burrow into rocks, sand and coral skeletons) and biofilms* are considered. Dry rock and sand may suck up some PO4 initially but once biofilms and endoliths get involved the picture gets a lot more complicated and trying to guess if PO4 is coming from rock or biofilms is beyond our ability to determine. Sufice it to say if stuff is growing there's phosphorus in the system. Based on research I've read I'd suggest keeping measurable PO4 between .03 mg/l and .5 mg/l

I'm guessing you set up you're system with just dry rock and sand. If so I'd suggest reading AquaBiomics article



*From the introduction to this paper "Sorbtion Properties of Biofilms"
"It is well known that data, gained with those mineralogical clean surfaces, cannot be simply applied and compared to natural conditions. Organic matter is masking the original mineral surfaces and
thus, these surfaces change their sorption behaviour drastically"

 

[Stephen8169301]

#1 Yup, those nubs are begining attempts to attach to rocks ot have stronger base. Don't need to do anything and I'd just leave it alone.

#2 I like API myslef but with any aquarist titration test kit you can double or triple the test volume then divide by the same number to get your results.

#3 The whole issue of rock and sand leaching PO4 seems pretty moot when endoliths (stuff that burrow into rocks, sand and coral skeletons) and biofilms* are considered. Dry rock and sand may suck up some PO4 initially but once biofilms and endoliths get involved the picture gets a lot more complicated and trying to guess if PO4 is coming from rock or biofilms is beyond our ability to determine. Sufice it to say if stuff is growing there's phosphorus in the system. Based on research I've read I'd suggest keeping measurable PO4 between .03 mg/l and .5 mg/l

I'm guessing you set up you're system with just dry rock and sand. If so I'd suggest reading AquaBiomics article



*From the introduction to this paper "Sorbtion Properties of Biofilms"
"It is well known that data, gained with those mineralogical clean surfaces, cannot be simply applied and compared to natural conditions. Organic matter is masking the original mineral surfaces and
thus, these surfaces change their sorption behaviour drastically"

Great info thank you! I’ll look at the api and try that