Hi all,
So CO2 ceramic diffusers are not working in general because they will be covered with green algae first on its plate after 2 weeks and grow brush on them if you lazy with maintenances? External filters not working because if you do not maintenace them periodically they will clog or may will do dirty looking water?
I can see your point, but added CO2 isn't claiming to deter algae, and there is a good scientific rationale for why adding CO2 works. Aquatic and terrestrial plant growth is often CO2 limited, and there is a huge amount of scientific evidence for this, including for the green algae. I think this should be available to every-one "High-CO2 Response Mechanisms in Microalgae": <
http://cdn.intechweb.org/pdfs/28380.pdf> .
Filters again are a different argument, we are talking about a system which only works because of its microbial content, if the system was clean, and stayed clean, you wouldn't have any microbial filtration.
This stuff only provide one thing. Helps with the initial algae breakout WITH the help of the regular cleaning crew.
This is really my problem, you have to have an algae free tank (that is heavily planted), then you add the TwinStar unit, Amano Shrimps and SAE. This scenario leads to lower levels of a limited range of algae, but doesn't effect BBA (Rhodophyta), higher plants, or your filter bacteria. The company doesn't tell you what it is, but there are definitely hints that it is micro-bubble ozone generator.
If it works why do you need the shrimps & SAE?
Why does it only effect attached filamentous green algae, but not "green water" when both algae types belong to the Chlorophyta, and have identical physiology and photo-systems?
Even if it worked, is a green algae free aquarium a desirable out-come? I don't think it is. I'd struggle to find much obvious green algae in my tanks, but if I looked closely enough with a low powered microscope all the older leaves and permanent structures will have a very short "stubble" of cropped off biofilm of green algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, rotifers etc.
cheers Darrel