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[Jakey_cakey1]

Hi guys I just have a query about corals, do they change general water chemistry or parameters?

 

[commod0re]

they do consume nutrients and produce waste if that’s what you mean

 

[Jakey_cakey1]

they do consume nutrients and produce waste if that’s what you mean

Reply that’s exactly what I mean! So would they increase let’s say amonia nitrates nitrites and what not?

 

[56longroof]

Yes. They can deplete alk,calcium,and magnesium pretty steadily. Plus consume nitrate and some phosphate.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Yes corals can change the water chemistry/parameters. These changes vary by type of coral, size of coral, lighting conditions etc.

Some coral can release toxins in the water. Some don't. All living organisms release ammonia as it decays. Breaking it down into other forms.

 

[Dburr1014]

Reply that’s exactly what I mean! So would they increase let’s say amonia nitrates nitrites and what not?

Most test alkalinity, calcium, magnesium, phosphate, nitrate and specific gravity.

 

[56longroof]

Reply that’s exactly what I mean! So would they increase let’s say amonia nitrates nitrites and what not?

I have never heard of them doing this. But I could be wrong too.

 

[commod0re]

Corals consume nitrate and phosphate and others and they release wastes like CO2 and ammonium

 

[Dburr1014]

Corals consume nitrate and phosphate and others and they release wastes like CO2 and ammonium

Huh? I don't think that's right.
They prefer ammonium over nitrate. Un-used ammonium turns into nitrate.

 

[commod0re]

Huh? I don't think that's right.
They prefer ammonium over nitrate. Un-used ammonium turns into nitrate.

Corals do consume ammonium, though not solely

Cycling bacteria also converts ammonium to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate and the corals consume some of the nitrate (especially if it couldn’t consume enough ammonium) as well as some of the phosphate that comes from organic matter breaking down

Ammonium, nitrate, phosphate, calcium, magnesium, and several other things

The point was that they do change water parameters via both consumption and waste, I never actually said they prefer nitrate over ammonium, those were just examples of nutrients they consume, hence the “and others”

 

[commod0re]

If you mean the part about releasing ammonium, I have read that they both release it and consume it - the coral animal excretes it and the zooxanthellae consumes it, and potentially additional ammonium from the water if it didn’t get enough from itself