Diatom bloom

[FuEl]

Heard from a guy that diatom bloom might be due to insufficient iron content in the water.

However, checked the internet and came up with the information that excess iron content in the water will lead to diatom bloom.

http://www.rsnz.govt.nz/education/alpha/al...6/alpha-106.htm

Also...

'Researchers have found that how much iron present in diatoms can significantly alter silicon uptake. (Seawater iron concentration varies around the world, and how much iron incorporated by diatoms also varies.) One such study found that when diatoms were grown under iron-deficient conditions, the silicon/carbon ratio increased when compared to noniron-deprived diatoms'

From http://www.ne.doe.gov/isotopes/research.asp

Anyone like to share his/her understanding on this? I'm kinda brain dead now...

[FuEl]

"Lack of iron appears to limit the growth of a particular group of phytoplankton known as the diatoms which are large with a shell made of silicate material.

So lack of iron limits the total amount of phytoplankton which grow in the oceans and therefore means that less than expected amounts of carbon dioxide are removed from the atmosphere. It also prevents the growth of diatoms, in particular, and therefore reduces biological removal and storage of carbon in the deep ocean."

http://www.atmosphere.mpg.de/enid/os.html

So...could diatom blooms be caused by excessive iron content in local tapwater?

[FuEl]

Suddenly thought of it..I've been using phosphate absorbing stuff that are iron based. Could this have aided diatom bloom after i changed 50% of my water and introduced more silicates?

Someone shed some light?