Planted refugeums are a fine addition to a marine system, many of us including myself use them. We understand they are a tool, useful but not necessary. Your arguments supporting their use however are flawed, ignorant, sometimes just plain deceiving. Furthermore your empirical data so far on these matters can fit in a thimble. One reaches a certain point after a time in this hobby where he or she is qualified to answer questions, give advice, and speak with a certain level of authority. This person has hard earned knowledge gained over years of experience. This thread is filled with them. Righty for instance has been very patient with you. Then there are those that lack experience, AND multi dimensional knowledge of how these things work, AND useful empirical data and need to be asking questions, NOT answering them. You are VERY confused as to which group you belong in.
Most of us learned very fast that tap water causes problems in a system very quickly. I look at your tank, and it LOOKS like you've been adding tap water. It's a mess. Get rid of the tap water and the associated phoshates, and you don't need as many plants - has that even occured to you? :?
This is getting silly.
Jim
