G
GaryP
Guest
Randy,
A question has arisen on my local club's (MAAST) website concerning accumulation of sulfate as a result of using Epsom Salt as a Mag supplement. I know you have written about this recently. I had a couple of questions I wanted to bounce off of you about this.
1. Doesn't sulfate get cycled in much the same way that nitrogen does? I realize it is never going to be a limiting nutrient like phosphate but there would seem to be at least partial removal of sulfate from the bulk water by bacteria and macroalgaes. In particular I am thinking of anaerobic and facultative bacteria such as Thiobacillus and Desulfovibrio in DSBs.
2. If #1 is true, my assumption is that adding sulfate is potentially a better alternative then adding more chloride, on top of all the other chloride salts added as supplements, and thus only further contributing to ionic imbalance. Of course this is based on the assumption that you in fact are using a DSB or similar anoxic bio-media for denitrification and are not running BB. My thinking on this is that since there is no "chlorine cycle" such as there is with sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphurus, then the potential for accumulation is greater for chlorides.
3. Is there any actual data out there that shows accumulation of sulfates or is this simply a "it could happen" scenario?
4. Has anyone ever demonstrated any negative impacts from the accumulation of sulfates?
5. While there is a fairly good understanding of the nitrogen and phosphurus cycle in aquaria, has anyone ever looked at sulfur?
6. I understand that your new mag sulfate/chloride DIY formula adresses the chloride:sulfate issue, but doesn't it still impact the cation:anion imbalance since cations are being removed and but anions tend to accumulate.
Because I do use a DIY 3 part system in my tanks I am aware of the potential for ionic imbalance. In order to overcome this, I do a series of large water changes every 2-3 water months to get my system "back in balance."
Thank you for your time and I will be looking forward to your response.
A question has arisen on my local club's (MAAST) website concerning accumulation of sulfate as a result of using Epsom Salt as a Mag supplement. I know you have written about this recently. I had a couple of questions I wanted to bounce off of you about this.
1. Doesn't sulfate get cycled in much the same way that nitrogen does? I realize it is never going to be a limiting nutrient like phosphate but there would seem to be at least partial removal of sulfate from the bulk water by bacteria and macroalgaes. In particular I am thinking of anaerobic and facultative bacteria such as Thiobacillus and Desulfovibrio in DSBs.
2. If #1 is true, my assumption is that adding sulfate is potentially a better alternative then adding more chloride, on top of all the other chloride salts added as supplements, and thus only further contributing to ionic imbalance. Of course this is based on the assumption that you in fact are using a DSB or similar anoxic bio-media for denitrification and are not running BB. My thinking on this is that since there is no "chlorine cycle" such as there is with sulfur, nitrogen, and phosphurus, then the potential for accumulation is greater for chlorides.
3. Is there any actual data out there that shows accumulation of sulfates or is this simply a "it could happen" scenario?
4. Has anyone ever demonstrated any negative impacts from the accumulation of sulfates?
5. While there is a fairly good understanding of the nitrogen and phosphurus cycle in aquaria, has anyone ever looked at sulfur?
6. I understand that your new mag sulfate/chloride DIY formula adresses the chloride:sulfate issue, but doesn't it still impact the cation:anion imbalance since cations are being removed and but anions tend to accumulate.
Because I do use a DIY 3 part system in my tanks I am aware of the potential for ionic imbalance. In order to overcome this, I do a series of large water changes every 2-3 water months to get my system "back in balance."
Thank you for your time and I will be looking forward to your response.
