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takemybomb t1_jaabvkh wrote

Reply to comment by Spiritual_Jaguar4685 in ELI5: Why is it that when fertilizers make their way into waterways, all the oxygen disappears, killing the fish? by Psychological-Dog994

Algae isn't creating oxygen as a process though? or there many type of algae.

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Revenge_of_the_User t1_jaafa0m wrote

Its misworded; the issue is that when the agae dies, the decomposition process eats up the oxygen....and as stated somewhere above, causes more stuff to die, causing more decomposition, causing less oxygen and more death......its pretty concerning honestly. There are pockets of no oxygen moving around in the ocean that just suffocate things.

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pleasegivemealife t1_jaalivb wrote

Just add bubbles maker like those aquariums! Problem solved. Jk

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thesquirrelhorde t1_jabtjte wrote

Nope, that just encourages more algal growth. It’s the high nutrient levels that are the problem.

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pleasegivemealife t1_jac0ns8 wrote

It's just a joke, but yes I believe the solution is more complicated than that

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thesquirrelhorde t1_jac18h9 wrote

No worries, I mentioned it as adding bubblers/fountains tends to be the go to solution for the well meaning but uniformed. I get why people do it, it seems logical. But it’s another example of why common sense is not always the right answer.

A much better solution (after reducing the nutrient input that is) is to increase the number of large aquatic plants (macrophytes). These take up the nutrients which suppresses the algae growth.

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