Calcium and Bicarbonate - Does help some stop algae growth??? Or help promote it???

[chrisbenavides]

Quite simply: Does Calcium and Bicarbonate help decrease algae growth in the aquarium?

Besides being good for corals, what other benefits does Calcium and Bicarbonate have in the tank?

:rollface: :rollface: :eek1: :rollface: :rollface:

 

[Amphiprion]

Neither. If anything, the corals and beneficial coralline algae help stop algae growth (along with protein skimming, WCs, etc.). The calcium and carbonate allow corals and corallines to outcompete nuisance algae for nutrients, as long as nutrients are already relatively low. Adding calcium and bicarb provides for reduction in pH shifts, availability to snails, worms, etc for use (and to a much, much smaller extent, fish, who get most of their calcium from foods). Lastly, it brings the water to the proper hardness and ratio of salts as found in the ocean--the more natural the better. I am sure I left something off somewhere since there are many benefits to adding them.

 

[Paintbug]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6585524#post6585524 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Amphiprion
Neither. If anything, the corals and beneficial coralline algae help stop algae growth (along with protein skimming, WCs, etc.). The calcium and carbonate allow corals and corallines to outcompete nuisance algae for nutrients, as long as nutrients are already relatively low. Adding calcium and bicarb provides for reduction in pH shifts, availability to snails, worms, etc for use (and to a much, much smaller extent, fish, who get most of their calcium from foods). Lastly, it brings the water to the proper hardness and ratio of salts as found in the ocean--the more natural the better. I am sure I left something off somewhere since there are many benefits to adding them.

that pretty much covers it

now Calcium Hydroxide (kalkwasser) is reported to precipitate phosphates from the water. this reduces the food for the algae if its feeding on the phosphates. in turn starving the algae. i have not tried dripping kalk so i have no hands on experience with it.

 

[chrisbenavides]

bump . . .

 

[szwab]

if you are adding calcium by using kalkwasser it can help precipitate phosphates out of the water. other wises just helps promote coral and corraline growth which will make it easier for those to out compete the algea.

 

[TekCat]

Adding kalk also reduces amount of dissolved CO2 (I think)

 

[bertoni]

Yes, kalk can temporarily reduce dissolved CO2 in the water, thus raising pH. If used in a continuous drip, the tank's pH will usually run a bit higher all the time.

Technical, one hyroxide ion combines with one CO2 module to form a bicarbonate ion:

OH- + CO2 -> HCO3-

The reaction continues to produce carbonate ions.

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-01/rhf/index.php

 

[bertoni]

Oops, meant to add that the bicarbonate and carbonate ions provide pH buffering as well as coral skeleton material.

Also, the nitrogen cycle can produce H+ ions and later produce a bicarbonate ion. They're basically "borrowing" alkalinity from the water:

http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-12/rhf/index.php

The net result is no change in alkalinity (as long as nitrate concentration) stays the same, but there's a flux through the metabolic pathways.