Crushed Coral

[jegel]

I remember one good thing about crushed coral as a substrate was that it helps maintain a balanced PH. To what extent (if any) is the crushed coral effective?

Any other benefits of having crushed coral mixed with a DSB?

[Doug1]

Crushed coral and aragonite both dissolve at a much lower pH than hopefully found in out tanks, more like 6.5-7ish, thats the principal behind a calcium reactor, its a chamber with coral based media that has water recirculating thru it. Carbon Dioxide is introduced in controlled amounts lowering the pH causing the media to dissolve, which elevates the pH and calcium levels(also other trace elements in it) Best way to supply a LOT of calcium to an SPS tank without throwing the ionic balance out of whack.

[cwa46]

Here is a thread from another board that pretty well covers the supposed buffering effect of aragonite.
http://www.reefcentral.com/vbulletin...threadid=18227

[ 04-13-2001: Message edited by: cwa46 ]