Refugium on steroids?

Just a little out of the box idea for a refugium.  I was wondering if it is possible to fertalize a refugium in an effort to beef up macrolage so that it will possibly increase its max ability (apitite) to uptake nutrients.

This would be dependant on a few factors.

1.Disconecting the refugium from the main tank for a period of time so that the firtalizer is not introduced into the main system causing stress or worse.

2.How long would it take for the refugium macro to process 100% of the fertalizer at wich point the refugium could be reconected to the main system.

I'm thinking if the macro can take care of a dose of firtalizer in say less than 24-48 hours this idea could work, mabey giving the refugium a performance enhansing boost once a month or so?  I'm more interested in how this could be made to work rather than just sticking with the old ways, but hey, have at it.

Have you tested for nitrates and phophates? I've found that macros use
up these elements in differing ratios than they are produced, and both are
neccessary for macro growth. We have very efficient ways to remove
nitrate, but not phophate. Iron is also an essential element for macro
growth. I tested my system when I had slow macro growth (I have it in my
display tank) and found I have zero nitrate and zero iron! Replacing the
iron has been simple enough but adding nitrate is proving to be a little
harder! Every body I've asked about it thinks I'm crazy!

I am going to find a source of just nitrate! The places in town that sell
potassium nitrate (that I have found) only sell it by the 55 gallon drum!

Anybody wanna go halfers on a drum o" nitrate?

Adam, have i told you lately how incredibly cute you are? And, how
wonderfully brillant your responses are?
Can I have some nitrate?
Wanna go in on a drum full?

If you have nutrients (ammonia or nitrate (nitrogen), phosphate, CO2 or bicarbonate, and a little dab of iron), algaes will grow.  In the ocean, either nitrogen or phosphorous is almost always the limiting compound.  Although iron can also be limiting, even more so in small closed systems such as ours.  Nitrate can be exported from an aquarium via denitrification by bacteria.  There is no similar path for phosphate.  So unless you're using lots of phosphate adsorbents it's not very likely that phosphates will be limiting in your aquarium.  And given the fact that almost everyone can grow macro algaes, I'd say that plants are more efficient at nitrogen uptake then denitrifiying bacteria, but there might be cases such as Suzy's where that doesn't appear to be so.

I don't dose anything for my refugium, but I don't really think Suzy's crazy for wanting to add a little nitrate to see what happens and iron is likely a very good additive.  But, I don't think I'd ever suggest adding any phosphate.  There's no reason I can see to take your refugium "offline" to do this either.  You want that growth spurt to consume the other needed nutrients from your tank water.

I have heard that "Green Light" brand stump remover (distributed by Ace Hardware) is 100% KNO3.  It might be worth checking out...

I think those trace elements are likely too high.  For example the copper added will be 0.0005/0.15 = 3 ppb for every 1 ppm of nitrogen added.  That amount of copper will likely cycle up into problematic levels.  The zinc is even more of a problem.

Have you tried calling The Chem Shop in Centerville?  They likely stock calcium nitrate, sodium nitrate and/or potassium nitrate.  Give 'em a call tomorrow.

Thanks!

jfinch wrote: Oh, if they don't have calcium nitrate you could always make it yourself by mixing nitric acid (I'm sure they carry this) with pickling lime: 2 HNO3 + Ca(OH)2 = Ca(NO3)2 + 2 H2O

 

...amount of KNO3.  If you don't ask what I have it for

Saltpeter.  You're either making explosives or seaching for the anti-viagra

Smoke bombs and toy rocket motors. The anit-viagra really doesn't appeal to me.  I use to just buy the stuff off the shelf in pharmacies, but since 9/11 it's much harder to find.  I got two 55g drums from thiokal surplus (only $5 ), but didn't need that much so my Uncle is using it as fertilizer.

How much do you need Suzy? I've only got about a pound left however think one of the drums is still mostly full.