dissolved coral as supplement w/o co2

[erky]

Randy,

Let's say I take some HCL (or other acid) and some old dead coral (yeah some of my SPS die!) lol. Then I combine the two to form a solution of dead coral and acid. Could you neutralize that solution to a more reef friendly PH and dose that as a supplement much like a c02 reactor but without that whole process? Is this how a 1 part solution is most likely produced? What is a good way to get that ph up without having the minerals fall out of solution?

Is this a bad idea?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

You will be making calcium chloride, and it will lack any alkalinity.

One part systems are organic calcium complexes, such as calcium acetate or calcium formate.

if you use acetic acid or formic acid, you will get a dissolved one part. IT is not trivial to do, however.

 

[erky]

You will be making calcium chloride, and it will lack any alkalinity.

trace elements?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

trace elements?

Some, yes, like a reactor. Calcium chloride already has many of these as well, since it is made largely this way from limestone. Skeletons, however, do not supply any of the trace elements used in coral tissues, soft corals, macroalgae, etc, so such a use, or a reactor, does not necessarily eliminate the need to dose things like iron and manganese.

I discuss a variety of ways of using calcium carbonate/skeletons here:

Chemistry And The Aquarium: Calcium Carbonate As A Supplement

Randy discusses the importance of calcium supplementation using a variety of techniques .

reefs.com