Corals with lanthanum carbonate skeletons

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Apparently, scientists have discovered that some corals actually have lanthanum carbonate skeletons instead of calcium carbonate. Seems nobody bothered to actually test these deep sea corals, and everyone just assumed they were calcium carbonate. Weird! Maybe lanthanum phosphate binders are perfect for tanks with these corals!

Here's a link to the article:

Coral Skeletal Chemistry: Physiological and Environmental Regulation of Stable Isotopes and Trace Metals in Montastrea annularis | Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences

 

[GreatWhiteTang]

Looks like a good lunchtime read, thanks