Question about nutrients in the water

[Pyramid_Party]

Hi,

In another thread I wrote about a brown algae issue. I scrubbed alot of it out and I purchased some media that removes phosphates, silicates and some other stuff. With this approach it starves the algae. But my concern is, would this have any impact on a planted tank? Do your plants need phosphates and silicates too? Or are these nutrients only algae utilizes?

 

[cassharper]

you do not need phosphates or silicates. If your tank is hardcore planted, however, you need to make sure that this resin doesn't remove nitrates.

I run a phosphate resin in my planted all the time; it's called phoslock by Pura, way better than any other I have ever run... one of the cheapest too!

 

[Pyramid_Party]

No its not heavy duty planted. Just a few plants. Something else has been brought up that concerns me. Someone told me that carbon is harmful. That since it removes trace minerals, it causes hole in the head disease and stunts plants too.

 

[cassharper]

all of those=old wives tales. Some may be true, some aren't.

I know carbon can absorb chelating agents, so I simply dose extra iron. It's a price I'm willing to pay. I do not have stunted plant growth, and none of my fish have HITH... when I heard those the first time I couldn't help but laugh.

Dose carbon if you want, it shouldn't really be necessary. I only run a smaller amount just in case something gets in the tank, plus it makes the water nice and sparkling (eh I have a lot of driftwood).