Sean,
We utilize 36"x12" Schuran industrial calcium reactors in our Aquaculture Coral and Marine Life Facility on our three main coral rows to maintain calcium and alkalinity in our systems. Once the reactors were dialed in several years ago, its rare that we have to adjust them as we have a consistent load of corals in each of these systems. The saltwater we us to top off the systems when we pack out order, or to do water changes is matched to the parameters of our coral rows by the addition of Calcium chloride and Magnesium to our mix water. On very rare occasions when we have had to adjust the calcium level of the water in a system, we will add Calcium chloride over the course of a few days to bring the level back up to our desired target.
Gresh,
The use of weekly (or daily in the raceways with Tridacna spp.)additions of phytoplankton in our facility is to appease the demands of the bivalves, sponges, tunicates, worms and other filter feeding organisms that are growing like crazy in our sumps under our raceways in the facility. Each of our three main coral rows have almost 4000 pound of live rock in each of them, and the sponge growth is extraordinary as the sumps are kept in the dark 24/7. This abundant growth of benthic filter feeders in my opinion really helps to keep our systems’ water chemistry stable. These three main coral rows are over two years old now and are really coming into shape making things easier for us as far as growth and coloration. I do however think that the use of phytoplankton does help to stimulate a response with SPS corals as they tend to polyp out more during this time so that they can consume some Zooplankton and Rotifers that we feed. The use of Zooplankton and frozen rotifers (cases at a time) are fed weekly to each of the three main coral rows. This meaty food is consumed by SPS corals, and helps us to maintain the nutrient levels we are targeting as the 12 foot tall RK2 skimmers in conjunction of the injected Ozone tends to strip the water of nutrients. These skimmers tend to make our systems more nutrient deficient with their ability to export nutrients quickly and efficiently, which can cause the corals to become pale or bleached if we do not feed at all. We utilize 400-watt halides in very shallow raceways, so maintaining a balance between pristine water chemistry and the proper nutrient levels is what we are trying to accomplish. See you at MACNA here soon and have a great weekend!
Cheers!
Kevin Kohen
Director of LiveAquaria
Drs. Foster and Smith
