Diatoms growing in 2ppm copper?

[Jason K]

Anyone else grow diatoms while running copper? I’m assuming this is not an algae. 2ppm copper qt tank, started seeing this stuff a week in. Strange thing is also don’t know where the silica would be coming from. Only got seachem matrix and pvc pipe in there. The tank and all other equipment all used previously.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Technically diatoms are an microalgae.

diatoms in Qt - Reef Central Online Community

diatoms in Qt New to the Hobby

www.reefcentral.com

 

[Jason K]

Technically diatoms are an microalgae.

diatoms in Qt - Reef Central Online Community

diatoms in Qt New to the Hobby

www.reefcentral.com

Thanks. Doesn’t say if they were running copper tho.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Thanks. Doesn’t say if they were running copper tho.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0166445X9400071W

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Copper deficiency in marine microalgae may be more severe in low Fe environments, such as the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions, because the high-affinity Fe uptake system contains a Cu-dependent ferroxidase and its up-regulation requires more Cu.

 

[Jason K]

Uhhh…thanks?

 

[PharmrJohn]

Copper deficiency in marine microalgae may be more severe in low Fe environments, such as the high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions, because the high-affinity Fe uptake system contains a Cu-dependent ferroxidase and its up-regulation requires more Cu.

Ooooo! I followed that! Except Low Chlorophyll regions. As Chlorophyll is dependent on a genetic code, how would that be a part of the environment rather than an an intrinsic property of the lifeform itself?

 

[Jason K]

Ooooo! I followed that! Except Low Chlorophyll regions. As Chlorophyll is dependent on a genetic code, how would that be a part of the environment rather than an an intrinsic property of the lifeform itself?

If you followed it can you explain how I have diatoms growing at 2ppm? What I read (probably incorrectly) is that at 1ppm there show be no microalgae.

And I’m pretty sure I’m at 2ppm since I’m dosing to that value and verifying with the Hanna checker.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Marine microalgae need copper (Cu) to absorb iron (Fe) efficiently. In areas of the ocean where there’s plenty of nutrients but not much iron (called high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions), the algae use a special system to get iron. This system depends on a copper-based enzyme (ferroxidase) to work. When there’s less iron available, the algae need to produce more of this system to survive, which means they need even more copper. If copper is also scarce, it becomes a bigger problem because they can’t get enough iron to grow properly.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Marine microalgae need copper (Cu) to absorb iron (Fe) efficiently. In areas of the ocean where there’s plenty of nutrients but not much iron (called high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll regions), the algae use a special system to get iron. This system depends on a copper-based enzyme (ferroxidase) to work. When there’s less iron available, the algae need to produce more of this system to survive, which means they need even more copper. If copper is also scarce, it becomes a bigger problem because they can’t get enough iron to grow properly.

LOL, Dude beat me to it!

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Diatoms (Bacillariophyceae): While most diatoms are sensitive to high copper, a few species in polluted environments have adapted to tolerate elevated copper levels. However, in a tank with 2 ppm copper and low iron, even these might struggle.






While these microalgae may have some tolerance, 2 ppm copper is still at the upper limit of what most can handle, so survival would depend on additional factors like water chemistry, nutrient availability, and time of exposure.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

To identify exactly what you have a microscope is needed

 

[Jason K]

To identify exactly what you have a microscope is needed

I do in fact have a microscope. To be continued….

 

[PharmrJohn]

To identify exactly what you have a microscope is needed

How many differing types of diatoms do we generally deal with? I'm familiar with the types of dinos, but I didn't consider diatoms.......

 

[Jason K]

My microscope isn’t great, my phone camera is worse. But here’s what approx 400x looks

 

[Reefing_addiction]

a reef tank can potentially harbor hundreds of different types of diatoms depending on the water source, tank conditions, and the specific diatom species present in the local environment; however, most noticeable diatom blooms in reef tanks are typically dominated by a few common species. (Scientists estimate that there are millions of diatom species worldwide) While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact number, several types of diatoms are commonly found in reef tanks. These can include: Navicula, nitzschia, cocconeis, amphora, pinnularia, cylindrotheca, fragilariopsis

 

[Reefing_addiction]

Images of freshwater and marine diatom species identified from the HG01 core. a Gomphonema clavatum. b Cymbella inaequalis. c Cymatopleura elliptica. d Nitzschia sinuata var. delongnei. e Stephanodiscus medius. f Cymatopleura solea. g Cymbella schimanski. h Epithemia adnata. i Stauroneis nobilis. j Caloneis ventricosa. k Neidium iridis. l Gyrosigma acuminatum. m Eunotia implicata. n Pinnularia maior. o Surirella bohemica. p Gomphonema hebridense. q Triceratium favus. r Coscinodiscus radiatus. Scale: black bar ¼ 40 mm; white bar ¼ 20 mm.

​

 

[Jason K]

I don’t know what it is…looks to be a mix of a few different things.

 

[Reefing_addiction]

I don’t know what it is…looks to be a mix of a few different things.

It likely is a few different types

 

[Jason K]

I’m now starting to get a green colored dust forming as well. Fun stuff