Randy Holmes-Farley
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My Tank Thread
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A lot of folks comment on whether processes of various sorts that we use in reef tanks are natural or unnatural. I thought it would be interesting to start a discussion of the topic, ignoring the obvious issue of whether natural or unnatural is “better”.
Folks may find some of the answers surprising (e.g., lanthanum for phosphate binding being natural).
For purposes of this thread, I’m defining a method as natural if it happens in the ocean, regardless of whether the extent that it happens is the same, whereas an unnatural process is not something that happens in the ocean.
There are some borderline cases that we can also discuss, such as GAC.
I’ll keep adding to this post as we go forward with an expanding summary. It is too much too add all at once.
Feel free to chime in with ideas and methods to discuss!
Processes with natural equivalents
CaCO3/CO2 reactors (low pH dissolution of calcium carbonate)
Dosing of calcium solutions (rivers, underwater vents, runoff)
Dosing of inorganic alkalinity solutions (rivers, vents, runoff)
Metabolism of organic anions to release alkalinity such as acetate and formate (natural metabolism)
Processes with similar but chemically different natural processes
Polymeric binders such as polyfilter, Purigen or metasorb. Natural organics perform similar functions, but these materials do not exist in the natural ocean.
Folks may find some of the answers surprising (e.g., lanthanum for phosphate binding being natural).
For purposes of this thread, I’m defining a method as natural if it happens in the ocean, regardless of whether the extent that it happens is the same, whereas an unnatural process is not something that happens in the ocean.
There are some borderline cases that we can also discuss, such as GAC.
I’ll keep adding to this post as we go forward with an expanding summary. It is too much too add all at once.
Feel free to chime in with ideas and methods to discuss!
Processes with natural equivalents
CaCO3/CO2 reactors (low pH dissolution of calcium carbonate)
Dosing of calcium solutions (rivers, underwater vents, runoff)
Dosing of inorganic alkalinity solutions (rivers, vents, runoff)
Metabolism of organic anions to release alkalinity such as acetate and formate (natural metabolism)
Processes with similar but chemically different natural processes
Polymeric binders such as polyfilter, Purigen or metasorb. Natural organics perform similar functions, but these materials do not exist in the natural ocean.