Nori / Seaweed

[Poseidons Reef]

I have a regal tang and fox face. I do have some green film algae on the rocks so I supplement their diet with a small folded piece of seaweed daily to keep them healthy and ick free. Can seaweed increase the levels of nitrate & phosphate in the tank? Thanks for your advice.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

As long as you don't have leftover nori that your fish aren't eating, I don't see it raising your nitrates or phosphates. Could be wrong though!

 

[TX_REEF]

it can, same as any other food we feed our fish. As long as none is left over that decays, it's no different from regular feeding. Supplementing with nori or live macroalgae is a great way to keep your herbivores at their healthiest.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Any natural food will add some N and P to the water. :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

As long as you don't have leftover nori that your fish aren't eating, I don't see it raising your nitrates or phosphates. Could be wrong though!

Like people and the foods they eat, any organism that gets energy from foods will find that there must be excess N and P in those foods that later get excreted.

The simplistic reason is that one cannot convert the N and P in foods into new tissues (thus not excreting them) without some source of energy. Thst source of energy must be more food, which means more N and P, in an endless cycle.

Additionally, organisms need energy for a lot of other processes, such as movement, maintaining osmotic balance, producing eggs, etc. All that additional energy comes from metabolism of organics in more foods, and does not consume N and P. Thus, the excess N and P must be excreted.

 

[MegabiteOG]

Like people and the foods they eat, any organism that gets energy from foods will find that there must be excess N and P in those foods that later get excreted.

The simplistic reason is that one cannot convert the N and P in foods into new tissues (thus not excreting them) without some source of energy. Thst source of energy must be more food, which means more N and P, in an endless cycle.

Additionally, organisms need energy for a lot of other processes, such as movement, maintaining osmotic balance, producing eggs, etc. All that additional energy comes from metabolism of organics in more foods, and does not consume N and P. Thus, the excess N and P must be excreted.

What a great and concise way to explain it. Thanks Randy!