Phosphates/Cheleted Iron Issue

[plantbrain]

Well that's the problem with them darn plants, they grow _everywhere_, even at 4x SW salinity.

Many things are applicable from FW. There are some differences. My academic background is weighted towards SW anyway and I use keep many SW tanks in the past, I'm a little outdated but this was good, the marine plant is a very key player in most reef tanks for the utility these days even since Leng's mud filters. Plants can clean up FW and SW equally well.

I add PO4 and NO3 to my all my tanks.

But perhaps some will take it a step further and use marine plants for aquascaping as their main tank rather than merely a filter. Marine plants grow much faster than corals and are cheaper/easier etc.

Regards,
Tom Barr

 

[BrianH]

Tom,

Do you have any SW tanks up and running now? I remember when I used to post in the plant forum(had a planted tank) you used to mention your SW tanks sometimes.

Brian

 

[plantbrain]

Yes, I collect everything live myself, well not the damsels.
I have a 25 gal Marine planted tank, w 110w lighting, 4-5" DSB, mud from where the plants are from/native to.
Bunches of hitchikers, fish etc. I didn't like the fish so they got culled.
I might get some fish but will need a permit for that(PITA) but need nothing for macro's/plants.

I must have 20 species or so.
My favorite at the moment is Cymopolia barbata.
I like calcareous reds also. Daysa and Heterosiphonia are also very nice.

No pics, no longer have a Digital. Still take slides though. I need to tend the tank and get things in good shape. Been lazy and away from town for 2weeks.

I plan on a CA cold water marine planted tank next year when I move back to the SF bay area. I'll get a decent sized marine set up for tropicals and have a separate smaller cold water system that will be linkedand a similar set up for FW. I'll also have a decent job then also to pay for it all

But plants/macro's will filter everything in all the tanks and the filters will be nice tank's in their own rights. Something many skimmerless folks are now realizing.

But at least there are a large number of skimmerless folks these days. Ah, they have discovered the path to plant enlightenment. It works in all water types pretty much.

Regards,
Tom Barr