Add activated carbon, purigen etc.
No algae.
In adding the activated carbon have the plants been removed at the same time? No? Then there will still be 'leachates / chemicals' (produced by the plants) in the water, all be it only less levels now....
But you asked a different question, you suggested that alleopathy or chemicals from the plants inhibit algae.
In this case we can test it because there are plants, without plants, there's no alleopathy or chemicals leachates.
You cannot argue this one both ways
The focus is still what is the difference and how might we test them w/wo plants.
The test rules out the chemical plant reason.
Also, you can use Zeolite in anew tank and one in not so new tank.
What are some common differences between a fish only tank and planted tank?
Light, plant tanks often have 2-10X more.
Light + NH4 and you get algae.
I do not think NH4 is the end of the story here.... I had algae in a well cycled tank once.... but again, I had fish in there, and hence NH4.
Same with planted tanks, if there are fish in there, there will be NH4, possibly enough for algae?
No,
light
temp
CO2
PO4 or other limiting issues(which can be done in a non planted tank BTW)
, not just NH4.
But NH4 is the crux of it.
The rest can control the rate and cycling of NH4.
It makes for a good detection signal.
And you can test for it and compare the algae growth on glass slides at high light with/without Zeolite, with/out well established bacterial colonies etc.
In EI tanks we know: There is an abundance of 'everything' that plants need within the bounds of the EI range.... that abundance is also there for algae, an abundance that algae can take better advantage of relatively speaking (it needs less levels of everything in comparison to plants)..... So why no algae? Is it really down to NH4?
More to the life history of algae vs plants.
They occupy different niches ecologically, they are much much smaller and need far less carbon.
They reproduce via many stages sexually and differing ploidies.
Plant? Virtually 100% clonal vegetative reproduction, asexual.
Fair enough, but what about low light non-CO2 tanks? No algae there?
Planted tanks or non planted fish only tanks?
Low light = less algae and less plant growth, same with less CO2 for both algae and plants.
Same reasons apply, just at different rates(10-20X slower for low CO2/light etc)
With non planted tanks, less light = less algae.
You only need the light to see the fish in those cases.
Algae is generally not much of an issue for them.
If it is purely down to NH4, then brilliant. Light at the end of the tunnel for ridding tanks of poxy algae.... So any tank with any algae problem suggest increased bacterial filtration / remove the fish / add (more) plants to get that NH4 down perhaps?
I am of course playing devil's advocate here.
Andy
Good idea to play that
I think there are certainly other factors that do influence NH4 cycling in the tank.
CO2, amount of light, reasonable fish loading, good feeding, herbivores, sediment disturbances, plant biomass, use of zeolite etc etc
Look at the advice I give for planted tanks over time:
Zeolite
Good stable CO2/non CO2 stability via no water changes
Moderate fish loads
Large water changes(just like Discus breeders who have a higher rate of loading and NH4 build up)
Toxicity between NO3 and NH4 differences for the fish waste pollutants
High starting plant biomass(CO2 or non CO2)
Good nutrient dosing for each of the plant nutrients
Lower, rather than higher Light suggestions.
Herbivores
Water changes immediately after sediment upheveal
No wonder..................
Regards,
Tom Barr
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