Sometimes life in paradise, isn't always paradisiacal.
Our water plant broke down about a month ago (finally to return this weekend.
This meant no water changes for month (except for some rain 3 weeks ago).
Evaporation took the tank and sump down by almost 1/3 of their volume, and filtration had to be shut off (the pump in the sump was beginning to suck air)
Th mangroves were dangling at the water line, so I added a little sea water to make up a part..
It takes at least 18 gallons of sea water to bring the salinity up to 3.5 ppt, and I only added a couple gallons.
And a study on Vallisneria showed a salinity of up to 15ppt is tolerated, and in fact some of the nutrients in sea water could be beneficial
I was amazed that even after the filtration being off for a couple weeks , nitrate went from non-detectable to around 5ppm.
I have a wave type pump in each tank to maintain water movement.
But I believe the plethora of plants, made the difference.
Terrestrials in the main tank above.
Valisneria and Mangrove in the sump below.
The Vallisneria study ink below
The effects of light and salinity onVallisneria americana (wild celery) were studied in outdoor mesocosms for an entire growing season. Morphology, production, photosynthesis, and reproductive output were monitored from sprouting of winter buds to plant senescence and subsequent winter bud...
link.springer.com