In the the statement I keep asking about.
"Corals will grow on the phosphate and trace elements and will outcomplete green algae at nitrogen."
Is this your opinion? It is stated like an actionable solution to combat problem algae both in form and context, so I am have been trying to find out if you have evidence of it happening in a aquarium. When you finally answered, you seemed to say that no one has tried it, but then you went on to talk about how you don't like opinions but that your opinions are ok.
Is this your opnion or have do you have support for coral growing by being feed phosphate and trace elements while algae is being out competed because of low N in an aquariums?
No, it is not opinion, it is the result of three decades of experimentation, I mean really by adding something in a controlled way, watching the results and repeating the experiment in the same or other tank or varying the ratios or concentrations.
And it is the logic conclusion of scientific findings:
According to scientific findings there are three elements that most likely limit growth in reefs:
- Nitrogen as available nitrogen compounds
- Phosphorus as phosphate
- Iron
- I have linked scientific articles that show nitrogen is the limiting nutrient for algae.
- Other articles show that phosphate is a limiting nutrient for corals under the same conditions or in other experiments.
- Other scientific articles show coral reef decline with increasing nitrogen runoff in Florida reefs.
It is pure logic that you can't phosphate limit algal growth without harming the corals just because under the same conditions corals are phosphate limited while algae are nitrogen limited. This is just as mandatory as the result of a mathematical equation. I know that many reefers seem to think different but this is opinion. Show me that someone has made successful experiments that show the opposite including the numbers.
On the numbers: Of course there is also scientific research on the nutrient uptake dynamics of corals and algae with half saturation constants and saturating concentrations that clearly show that the nitrate concentrations usually discussed have nothing to do with limiting nutrients or nutrients at all. This also is not opinion, it is based on scientific research and biochemical data.
The same findings that show that under the same conditions corals are phosphate limited while turf algae are nitrogen limited say it is possible to nitrogen limit algal growth without doing severe damage to corals. This is also mandatory.
In my own experiments I see and it is a widespread experience that iron (or "trace element supply" frequently dominated by iron supply) will support algal growth and cyanbacterial growth more than coral growth. This means of course you have to supply the trace elements in certain proportions that do not support algal and cyanobacterial growth more than coral growth.
Where is there opinion?
And I am not obligated to spend excess time looking for the articles for you or always wait for your questions. I don't get payed by the forum or by you. Maybe you don't, but I have other obligations also. Make your own experiments and prove me wrong, then we will discuss. Or show me your numbers and tell me your experience. Just asking questions and doing unbashed claims seems rude to me.
www.reef2reef.com
). Other publications are published in talks, in the German "Koralle" magazine etc.. A few ones have been translated for the US "Coral" magazine.
