[Wet Thumb Forum]-algae growth - low tech solution?

[dwalstad]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Josh Simonson:
The argument for doing the full AB treatment is that partial treatments, over time, may selectively breed AB resistant bacteria. I don't think that the comparison of algae to human diseases is very good. The diseases occur mainly in people, so a goodly part of the total population is regularly introduced to antibiotics, wheras algae (and other bacteria in the aquarium) grows the world over and only the tinyest fraction ever meets it's LD50 of antibiotics. This means that any slightly AB resistant genes would be quashed by the wild genes and not further develop into 'superbugs'. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Good point. It reminds me to stay "on topic".

[Maurici]

Diana posted:The plants (fortified by substrate iron) can simultaneously drain nutrients from the water and deprive algae.
I agree, of course, but I would like your opinion about the result of a possible disiquilibrium by increase of light. I will like more light to my tank and I'am engaged in a slow increase (to avoid photoinhibition in the plants), but my doubt is if it can be exploited by algae. Your comment, Diana, goes pointing out no problem coming because the algae can be still deprived on the other nutrients, but one paradigm says that an increase of light imply higher demands of CO2 and nutrients that if are not supplied conduct to a sink of the plant community.
Maurici

[dwalstad]

Dear Maurici,

You are doing the right thing- finding out how much light gives you the best results for your tank. No one else can do this for you.

I wouldn't worry about light causing an increase in plant demand for CO2 or other nutrients.

You want to provide enough light for good plant growth but not enough to stimulate algae. Remember that submerged aquatic plants are basically shade plants; they can only use so much light.

[Maurici]

Thank you Diana for your comments .
Kind Regards.
Maurici.