any Thoughts on REcycling salt water?

[natureAddict]

just some thoughts going thru my mind - REcycling salt water.

If i can take away the Nitrate n Phosphate from used (discarded after WC) by using ats or chaeto or refugium technique,

then add sodium bicarbonate, calcium n magnesium, wont we be able to reuse the salt water?

To enhance the salt water further, perhaps can add iodide, trace elements etc. I'm sure many have done it successfully :)

Your thoughts on recycling salt water?

[SantaMonica]

Yes, this is the same as not doing water changes.

[natureAddict]

So why r people still doing wc

[SantaMonica]

Because unfortunately they don't understand how the biology of algae removes nutrients from, and adds trace elements to, the water. In other words, they don't understand how lakes and oceans are naturally filtered.

Algae has no advertising budget, so it cannot promote itself to you.

[natureAddict]

Lol

What trace elements / additives would u recommend. I'm currently using only Lugols iodine.

Thanks so much

[SantaMonica]

I don't recommend trace. Instead I recommend adding coral food particles.

[natureAddict]

Q1 Why wont u recommend trace?

Q2 Whats coral food particles? n why?

Q3 How about sodium bicarbonate, magnesium n calcium?

Thanks bro, u r a marine genius :))

[SantaMonica]

Traces are in the food you feed.

Food particles are any small organic particles, like waste from fish, detritus, copepods, bacteria, etc. Anything larger than 0.5 micron, but small enough to feed corals (and small fish, and anemones, etc). Just like in lakes, rivers, reefs and oceans.

Alk and mag and cal are not traces; they are macro minerals.

Glad you like the info :)

[natureAddict]

How would u re-cycle water from vacuum sand bed?

[SantaMonica]

By not vacuuming at all :)

If your CUC is good (like a diamond back (sand-sifting) goby), your sand will be white with no effort. But if you really want to vacuum, just filter it with a cloth and pour the water back in.

[natureAddict]

so... how to use ats and maintain tank water as though its newly mixed salt water. i guess, this is for keeping

more sensitive sps and fishes.

[SantaMonica]

Simple... just use enough scrubbers to keep your nutrients low. Is better than new salt water though, because you don't remove food particles, and the scrubber algae puts carbohydrates, vitamin c, and amino acids into the water. New salt does not.

[natureAddict]

Does different algae eg chaeto , caulerpa, sea lettuce,
release different trace elements into the water?

Can this be tested?

[SantaMonica]

Probably, but trace orgranics are very hard to test. Besides, they would be the same as they put into reefs and lakes.