Coral saturation?

[rogergolf66]

Ok so I have been thinking a lot about this. Ph increases from corals absorbing co2 and giving out oxygen correct? In turn this raises the ph in out tanks? So if u have a heavy stocked coral tank and monitor ph with say apex.

So could u say the ph rises and a rate of say .05 per hour for first 5 hours of lighting then slows to say .03 for next 2 hours then .01 for next 2 hours. Should u be able to use this info to calculate when saturation has been reached?

So simple question can I use ph to calculat saturation for corals?

Roger

 

[rogergolf66]

Bump

 

[elegance coral]

"saturation" of what???? What is the coral being "saturated" with?

 

[rogergolf66]

Light. They can only take in so much before photo inhibition starts (saturation) so if Ph rises as the light turns on in am and through the day. Then maybe as day goes on and corals reach photo inhibition them maybe Ph stops rising or slows up. Maybe Ph can help us understand when photo inhibition starts.

 

[potterjon]

Interesting thought, tagging along!

 

[power boat jim]

Light. They can only take in so much before photo inhibition starts (saturation) so if Ph rises as the light turns on in am and through the day. Then maybe as day goes on and corals reach photo inhibition them maybe Ph stops rising or slows up. Maybe Ph can help us understand when photo inhibition starts.

Its more then just the coral that use up CO2 during the day, every living bit of algea in the tank is doing the same thing. Tank pH is goverened by several different in tank variables such as how heavly stocked a tank is, surface agitation, skimmers and last but certainly not least is the fact every tanks pH is also goverened in part by its own chemistry.

pH is also changed by how many people are in the room at a given time, the oven being on (if its gas) or anything else that may effect the amount of CO2 in a room.

You probably have to isolate all these variables and then maybe you would have a chance assuming every coral has the same saturation capacity. It is an interesting theory.

 

[SantaMonica]

What would be the purpose of trying to figure this out?

 

[Lavoisier]

Light. They can only take in so much before photo inhibition starts (saturation) so if Ph rises as the light turns on in am and through the day. Then maybe as day goes on and corals reach photo inhibition them maybe Ph stops rising or slows up. Maybe Ph can help us understand when photo inhibition starts.

Also, if I understand saturation correctly (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2007/3/aafeature1) it occurs in relation to intensity not duration. That would mean the level of photosynthesis would remain constant in relation to the quality (PAR) rather than fluctuate relative to the quantity (hours of exposure.

 

[elegance coral]

Light. They can only take in so much before photo inhibition starts (saturation) so if Ph rises as the light turns on in am and through the day. Then maybe as day goes on and corals reach photo inhibition them maybe Ph stops rising or slows up. Maybe Ph can help us understand when photo inhibition starts.

Thanks. I see what you're saying now.

So simple question can I use ph to calculat saturation for corals?

Roger

Realistically, no. At least not in our systems. It would require a very controlled environment to draw such conclusions. There are simply to many variables that can effect PH in our systems, especially on a small scale, to conclusively show that Photoinhibition is the cause.

 

[SantaMonica]

A lot of things go into photoinhabition during mid-day in the ocean. It's just their natural way of getting through the day, while keeping the sensitivity they need for less-intense parts of the day.

 

[Reefin' Dude]

this only works if the zoax in the corals are using CO2 from the water column, and not from the corals themselves, and the O2 released from the zoax is not used by the corals.

in other words, what EC said.

G~

 

[gdpolzin]

SantaMonica asked why would you want to figure this out? I am wondering the same thing. Is just because you want to know, or do you see an advantage by knowing it, you can improve upon something. I am a EE and not a Chem E so maybe to some it may seem like a dumb question.

 

[rogergolf66]

SantaMonica asked why would you want to figure this out? I am wondering the same thing. Is just because you want to know, or do you see an advantage by knowing it, you can improve upon something. I am a EE and not a Chem E so maybe to some it may seem like a dumb question.

Well lighting is very important as we all know. Well to much light also is not good causing photo inhibition this actually slows the growth of the corals. I was looking to find a way for the perfect duration of the lights for the day on each tank, but I guess back to the drawing board.

Thanks for all the input.

Roger