Why is PH important to corals?
- Thread starter luconi
- Start date
I'm curious as to why you're concerned or is it just general info? Are you trying to maintain a low PH system or something?
I have a ton of Hairy mushrooms. I know when my PH and sometimes my alk are off, because when the ph is slightly low or the alk is slightly low, they get soooo ****ed...
They close up, look miserably and horrible. As soon as things get evened out again, you can't tell that there was anything wrong. They're brighted and bushy as usual!
But when hair mushrooms get ****ed watch out!
So, I do believe PH matters to soft corals. (my xenia get ****ed too). I don't know the scientific need for a specific ph though if that's what you're looking for.
I have a ton of Hairy mushrooms. I know when my PH and sometimes my alk are off, because when the ph is slightly low or the alk is slightly low, they get soooo ****ed...
They close up, look miserably and horrible. As soon as things get evened out again, you can't tell that there was anything wrong. They're brighted and bushy as usual!
But when hair mushrooms get ****ed watch out!
So, I do believe PH matters to soft corals. (my xenia get ****ed too). I don't know the scientific need for a specific ph though if that's what you're looking for.
Reefman29
New member
Ph is related to alkalinity. Alkalinity is a measure of the ability of a solution to neutralize acids to the equivalence point of carbonate or bicarbonate. The main thing with corals in general is stability. Soft corals are less demanding then lps and sps. Soft coral has adapted to a certain Ph range.
HighlandReefer
Team RC
Once the pH in reef tanks drops below 7.8, the calcium carbonate in coral skeleton begins to dissolve, like in a calcium reactor. As the pH drops the rate that the calcium carbonate dissolves increases. Having a higher alk level may help offset this issue. As long as your pH remains between 7.8 - 8.5 your fine. 
Randy provides more details in this article:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
Randy provides more details in this article:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
luconi
New member
Once the pH in reef tanks drops below 7.8, the calcium carbonate in coral skeleton begins to dissolve, like in a calcium reactor. As the pH drops the rate that the calcium carbonate dissolves increases. Having a higher alk level may help offset this issue. As long as your pH remains between 7.8 - 8.5 your fine.
Randy provides more details in this article:
Low pH: Causes and Cures
http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2004-09/rhf/index.htm
Thank you!
HighlandReefer
Team RC
YOur welcome.
I would not worry as long as your pH remains between 7.8 - 8.5.
I would not worry as long as your pH remains between 7.8 - 8.5.
A few bits of info:
Seawater is about 8.2ph. 7.8 is as low as you can go without risking harm to calcifying corals . Other corals live in relatively the stable ph of seawater ,so going out of range may also be difficult for them.
In addition to risks of dissolving calcium carbonate, the extra H+ in the water at lower ph values(higher number of H+ protons in the water) makes it a little harder for corals to form skeletal mass/calcium carbonate . They take in calcium(Ca) and bicarbonate(HCO3) and must squeeze off a H+ precipitate calcium carbonate(Ca CO3).This is easier to do if the density of H+ in the water is lower.
Leather corals do precipitate calcium carbonate. They form sclerites which are splinter like formations of calcium carbonate within their tissue mass which enables them to stand up. So they too need good ph and alk.
Seawater is about 8.2ph. 7.8 is as low as you can go without risking harm to calcifying corals . Other corals live in relatively the stable ph of seawater ,so going out of range may also be difficult for them.
In addition to risks of dissolving calcium carbonate, the extra H+ in the water at lower ph values(higher number of H+ protons in the water) makes it a little harder for corals to form skeletal mass/calcium carbonate . They take in calcium(Ca) and bicarbonate(HCO3) and must squeeze off a H+ precipitate calcium carbonate(Ca CO3).This is easier to do if the density of H+ in the water is lower.
Leather corals do precipitate calcium carbonate. They form sclerites which are splinter like formations of calcium carbonate within their tissue mass which enables them to stand up. So they too need good ph and alk.
This article goes into calcification in detail:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/apr2002/chem.htm
