something freaky?!

[amphipod]

So as you are probably somewhat familiar with, I grow aiptasia for fun. But a couple weeks ago disaster struck, a plant pot with fresh fertilized soil and some wierd plant I grew from a fruit that i ate several months ago fell in my aquarium while I was gone, I came to seeing that and promptly removed the live rock and put it in a spare aquarium to preserve my specimens from the potential toxic effects of the high nitrogen fertilizer. I couldn't get the real small aiptasia to leave the gravel so I basically said "sucks for you little guys" then I noticed they have been growing faster than all the other aiptasia, could by any chance the fertilizer have accelerated their growth in any way?

[CronicReefer]

Possibly. It is hard to say because I doubt anyone has done this as an experiment. I know aiptasia grows better in dirty water than clean.

[amphipod]

I've noticed faster growth in dirty water, but at a point they wander and leave dozens of young, same thing if you hurt them

[CronicReefer]

Yes I'm trying to get a berghia nudi for this reason. Aiptasia X works but is no cure.

[amphipod]

TRy letting them get bigger and then you shouldn't have any small ones unless they are continually disturbed and therefore reproducing

[amphipod]

Since the fertilizer assumably affected aiptasia growth positively, could it affect other more prized corals with a similar affect?

[frankdr]

I'm not sure about what else is in the fertilizer, but the nitrate in it might have helped. Some people who grow macro algae will dose Potassium Nitrate, which can cause major growth.

[amphipod]

It was a mix of miracle grow all purpose and lawn fertilizer

 

So yes lots of nitrates in the grass fertilizer

[amphipod]

In that case I've discovered a good tactic for growing actually profitable corals faster than normal

 

Just wondering now has anyone done a similar experiment?

[frankdr]

I've seen it done for Macro Algae, but not others. Set up an experiment and let us know the results

[bob115]

Well... considering most say high nitrates will brown sps out, I doubt this would be a profitable tactic, even if it did increase growth. That said, I've heard soft corals prefer 'dirtier' water than sps brown out at, so I guess it might be a valid tactic to grow zoanthids or stuff along those lines.

[amphipod]

But the browning can be reversed under certain circumstances can it not? what about lps corals? I've realized that my aiptasia experimenting has some relevance to other corals so I'll keep telling of new experiments and how they work out.

 

I've seen it done for Macro Algae, but not others. Set up an experiment and let us know the results

I'll keep up with aiptasia experiments

[GHill762]

there was a thread a while back started by member "subsea" that was about using fertilizer to fuel macros..

[afyounie]

Macros are just another photosynthetic life form. I'm sure you could add ferts to a macro tank and see the growth explode, just like in planted aquaria. I don't add ferts to my planted tanks anymore because the growth is so explosive, its hard to keep up with the trimming back. Also you have to start CO2 injection to keep up with the amount of growth or else you limit the plants and they die. Just another balancing act like keeping coral.

[amphipod]

What is used for co2 injections? Chemical

[GHill762]

anything from cheap and easy diy co2 reactors to the more expensive tanks and regulators.. but that won't do anything for your aiptasia..

[amphipod]

How much fertilizer per gallon is used for macro algaes

[paulrw]

How much fertilizer per gallon is used for macro algaes

 

google " estimative index aquarium dosing " for fertilizer calculators. they're for freshwater planted aquariums but might be accurate for heavily planted macro algae marine tanks.

 

here you go. http://www.aquaticplantcentral.com/forumapc/fertilizing/15225-estimative-index-dosing-guide.html

[amphipod]

Thank you, so who owns stony coral which they would like to experiment fertilizer with?