A successful coral reef aquarium is dependent upon maintaining the
appropriate water parameters that in turn provide the stable environment
required by the corals. Although all the elements found in natural
seawater have an important role in providing the optimal water
parameters, a few of them have a more significant role in the overall
stability.
These elements are the foundation of the reef environment and they
include the three major elements, Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and
Bi-Carbonates (HCO3). These 3 elements have a major effect on the water
chemistry (pH stability, Alkalinity, sea water ionic strength) and on
many of the coral’s biological processes (skeleton formation, ions
exchange, photosynthesis).
Skeletogenesis
Skeletogenesis is the process by which special cells within the
corals soft tissue, combine the foundation elements together with
Strontium and Barium from the surrounding water to form the building
blocks of coral skeletons.
Corals build approximately 90% of their skeleton by combining Ca and
CO3 ions from the water to form Aragonite (CaCO3). The rest of the
skeleton is made up from Magnesite (MgCO3), Strontianite (SrCO3),
Calcite (a more brittle crystal structure of CaCO3), Fluorite (CaF2) and
other minor and trace minerals.
In unbalanced conditions such as low levels of Mg and/or Sr the
skeleton will develop with a higher proportion of Calcite making it more
brittle and more susceptible to damage.
The foundation elements complement each other in the formation of
coral skeleton and if not available in the correct ratios one of them
will quickly become the limiting factor of healthy coral growth.
Coral Growth
Corals need to invest energy in transporting the foundation and other
elements necessary for skeletogenisis from the surrounding water
through their soft tissue. Elevated levels of the foundation elements
create a more positive ionic pressure enabling passive diffusion of the
elements through the soft tissue making this process much more efficient
(less energy required per gram of skeleton). Therefore balanced
elevated levels of the foundation elements will result in accelerated
coral growth rates.
In mature systems where accelerated growth is not desired or when
aiming to enhance coral coloration by reducing the levels of algae
nutrients, lower balanced levels of the foundation elements should be
maintained.
Optimal levels of the Foundation Elements
Unlike the natural reef environment, where there is an immense
reservoir of the foundation elements, the reef aquarium is an artificial
environment that is constantly affected by chemical changes and
therefore the foundation elements must be monitored and replenished
constantly. Furthermore, research has shown that the optimal levels of
these elements should be maintained according to the variety and
maturity of the specific coral population.
Red Sea’s Reef Care Program
The complete Reef Care program is the result of years of research
into the physiological demands of SPS, LPS & Soft Corals in the reef
aquarium. The program has been divided into 4 distinct but
complimentary sub-programs according to the various biological processes
that take place.
In addition to the Reef Foundation program, which is fully described
below, the complete Reef Care program also includes the following:
Algae Management Program – Controlled nitrate & phosphate
reduction that prevents nuisance algae and provides the fine control of
Zooxanthellae populations that significantly affect coral growth rates
and coloration.
Reef Colors – Provide the essential minor and trace elements that are
part of the coral skeleton and soft tissue and are specifically
important for SPS corals to display their natural pigments.
Reef Energy – Provides the carbohydrates, vitamins and amino acids that fuel all metabolic processes of corals.
For optimal results you should implement the complete program.