Funlad3
Well-known member
For the phosphates to reach a level that would actually inhibit skeletal development, they'd first have to reach toxic levels. Phosphate combines with calcium in a 2:3 ratio. This means with a calcium reading at, ideally, 450 ppm, the phosphate would have to be at 300 ppm to prevent all chemical calcification. Even if the phosphate was at, say, 3 ppm, it still allow exactly 99% of possible chemical calcification to occur, assuming an excess of carbonate ions. Obviously, biological calcification is much less effective than ideal chemical calcification, but the point still remains. Phosphates won't measurably inhibit the skeletal calcification of corals. Actually, phosphate is a biological compound that is needed to create the tissues of coral, so a total lack of it would prevent coral growth. The same thing happens with nitrates, although it's calcification prevention point is at 900 with a calcium reading of 450 ppm. Once again, nitrates are even needed by SPS corals for the living tissue, and a lack of nitrate would result in all corals dieing. Obviously, the coral would die from either nitrate or phosphate poisoning before either theoretical zero-calcification point could be reached, however.
Keep in mind that this is thought out by a very tired high school student who has only taken one year of chemistry classes. All the same, the principle is true: although the phosphate released by the BRS Pukani Rock is enough to fuel cyanobacterial and algal growth, it is not at a high enough level to prevent calcification in any measurable way.
Keep in mind that this is thought out by a very tired high school student who has only taken one year of chemistry classes. All the same, the principle is true: although the phosphate released by the BRS Pukani Rock is enough to fuel cyanobacterial and algal growth, it is not at a high enough level to prevent calcification in any measurable way.
