Phosphate levels NSW
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Randy Holmes-Farley
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Phosphate In The Reef Aquarium
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184
from it:
The orthophosphate concentration in the ocean varies greatly from place to place and also with depth and time of day. Surface waters are greatly depleted in phosphate relative to deeper waters, due to biological activities that sequester phosphate in organisms. Typical ocean surface phosphate concentrations are very low by reefkeeping standards, sometimes as low as 0.005 ppm.1
At concentrations below about 0.03 ppm, the growth rate of many phytoplankton species depends on the phosphate concentration (assuming that something else, such as nitrogen or iron, is not limiting their growth). Above this level, many organisms’ growth rate is independent of phosphate concentration.1 Consequently, to deter algal growth by controlling phosphate, aquarists need to keep the phosphate levels quite low.
https://www.reef2reef.com/blog/?p=3184
from it:
The orthophosphate concentration in the ocean varies greatly from place to place and also with depth and time of day. Surface waters are greatly depleted in phosphate relative to deeper waters, due to biological activities that sequester phosphate in organisms. Typical ocean surface phosphate concentrations are very low by reefkeeping standards, sometimes as low as 0.005 ppm.1
At concentrations below about 0.03 ppm, the growth rate of many phytoplankton species depends on the phosphate concentration (assuming that something else, such as nitrogen or iron, is not limiting their growth). Above this level, many organisms’ growth rate is independent of phosphate concentration.1 Consequently, to deter algal growth by controlling phosphate, aquarists need to keep the phosphate levels quite low.
(Mike drop)
OP
OP
Bugger
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So under no circumstance do you see adding phosphate to a reef tank necassary.
In the Bulkreefsupply video I believe triton complained that phosphate was to low during their test in the 160 gallon tank they have.
In the Bulkreefsupply video I believe triton complained that phosphate was to low during their test in the 160 gallon tank they have.
Randy Holmes-Farley
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That's a different question.
Many organisms in the ocean (e.g., corals) get phosphate and a source of N from eating little creatures and other particulate foods. Our tanks seem to be lacking in such foods much of the time, and you may need more soluble inorganic N and P than the ocean has to make up for that deficiency.
jsker
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Answered above, thank you Randy
Randy Holmes-Farley
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I would add that if you boost alkalinity to spur coral growth, some SPS may need substantially higher nitrate and phosphate than the ocean or else you may risk burnt tips, which may come from the skeleton growing faster than the tissue can keep up (since it is the skeleton growth that is limited by alkalinity, but the tissue is the big user of N and P.
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Bugger
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So that why zeovit recommends keeping dkh at 6.5 to 7.5.
0.005 at surface level how do SPS survive without stomachs or capturing appendages if there is still a 15% requirment from other sources other then sunlight
0.005 at surface level how do SPS survive without stomachs or capturing appendages if there is still a 15% requirment from other sources other then sunlight
Randy Holmes-Farley
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SPS corals feed just fine:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00338-003-0312-7
Laboratory experiments were designed to estimate the ingestion rates of the scleractinian coralStylophora pistillata under varying prey concentrations and feeding regimes and to assess the effect of feeding on the tissue and skeletal growth. Six sets of corals were incubated under two light (80 and 300 µmol photons m−2 s−1) and three feeding levels (none, fed twice, and fed six times per week) using freshly collected zooplankton. Results showed that the number of prey ingested was proportional to prey density, and no saturation of feeding capability was reached. Capture rates varied between 0.5 and 8 prey items 200 polyp−1 h−1. Corals starved for several days ingested more plankton than did fed corals. Fed colonies exhibited significantly higher levels of protein, chlorophyll a, and chlorophyll c2 per unit surface area than starved colonies. Feeding had a strong effect on tissue growth, increasing it by two to eight times. Calcification rates were also 30% higher in fed than in starved corals. Even moderate levels of feeding enhanced both tissue and skeletal growth, although the processes involved in this enhancement remain to be determine
