[Coral-List] Aquarium reef maintenance

Craig Bingman cbingman at panix.com
Fri May 7 17:21:55 EDT 2004


Calcium carbonate is precipitated.

As far as whether or not any of those components would be considered a
"nutrient" depends on one's definition of a nutrient.

>From an oceanographic perspective, calcium and carbonate alkalinity
concentrations in seawater are measurably perturbed by biological
processes by reef organisms.  So one might call them nutrients from that
perspective.

>From a biological perspective (and perhaps regulatory perspective,) it
seems that the main purpose of calcification by photosynthetic organisms
on reefs is to mobilize carbon dioxide.  So, is carbon dioxide considered
a regulated nutrient?

"trace elements" are a different game entirely.  Some of them are
honest-to-god micronutrients.  Are there regulatory concentration
thresholds?  What are the rules with respect to synthetic seawater?

Craig Bingman

-- 
cbingman at panix.com


On Fri, 7 May 2004, Hoestenbach, Roger, Jr wrote:

>
> I am new to this list and apologize in advance for this intrusion of an
> aquarium question, but I need some expertise in coral physiology and
> biochemistry. Would "calcium ions, hydrogencarbonate, and trace minerals",
> when used as aquarium additives, be considered nutrientsfor either the coral
> or their symbiotic algae? Are the minerals only extracted/precipitated for
> use by the corals or is the a biochemical metabolic process involved that
> could cause these additives to be considered nutrients? I am trying to
> determine the status of commercially available additives in order to fairly
> apply reqirements under feed/food statutes regulating pet products in the
> USA. Thank you for any assistance and if this forum is inappropriate, a
> little help redirecting my inquirry would be appreciated,
> rogerh
>
> Roger D. Hoestenbach, Jr, Head
> Feed and Fertilizer Control Service, Office of the Texas State Chemist
> Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, Texas A & M University System
> PHONE:  (979)845-1121 EXT 110  FAX:  (979)845-1389
> E-MAIL:  r-hoestenbach at tamu.edu
> OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN! ;)
> "Somos pocos, pero estamos locos,..." Texas Jack Carmine
>
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