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| Strontium |
| Beside calcium that is
utilize by corals to built crystallize calcium carbonate
(aragonite) for their skeletons, the existence of strontium
carbonate are also being found in it. Experiments have
also shown that in a coral reefs aquarium, concentration
of strontium is constantly depleted. However there is
no solid prove that it has been consumed by corals. Never
the less we can easily add in strontium in our aquarium
by using various products that can be found in local marine
fish shop. But because that there is no test kit available
in aquarium market for testing strontium concentration,
there for it is safer to add in strontium half of the
amount being directed by the product. This is because
we can never know how much of strontium have been consumed
by corals and adding too much of strontium will make harms
to reefs life. Changing water can also help balance the
strontium or other minerals concentrations. |
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| Iodine |
| Iodine
is another particular trace element that will run short
quickly in a coral reef aquarium. We have learned that
iodine or perhaps in combination with other trace elements
seem to play an important role in formation of natural
anti-UV pigments in corals or some algae. Having an aquarium
with a strong activated carbon filter, many minerals including
iodine will be removed as well. Experience show that in
this situation, corals will show clear signs of bleaching
(situation where corals lose their normal coloration due
to a decrease of zooxanthellae
algae). When iodine was added, the corals will normally
get their normal coloration back. Supply of iodine can
also easily be found in local marine fish shop but there
is no test kit available in the aquarium market. |
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| Trace
Elements |
| Trace elements
are elements that can be found in natural sea water in
a small amount. Protein
skimming and active activated carbon filtration will
remove certain amount of trace elements. Algae and animals
also consume trace elements from the aquarium water and
accumulate them. Even if we do not know the amount of
trace elements that have being consumed, it is definitely
depleting and need to be replace. |
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| Silicates |
| Silicates
(SiO2) can normally be found in sea water in a concentration
of 2 to 3mg/l. An increase of silicate concentration will
lead to a bloom of a type of algae called diatoms which
make use of silicate to build their cell walls. There
is high concentration of silicate in our tap water therefor
a newly set up coral reef aquarium will normally lead
to a diatoms bloom for the first few weeks. Silicate will
also be added to our aquarium during water changes and
topping up water. Fortunately silicate can be removed
with a silicate removing filter media. It is also wise
to use reverse osmosis water (R.O. water) as all of the
unwanted minerals in tap water can be removed. |
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| There are
also some other minerals that we should counter measure
such as the magnesium (Mg) which is highly concentrated
in natural sea water. Magnesium plays an important part
in maintaining calcium level. This is because magnesium
concentration is 3 times more then calcium concentration.
In natural sea water, magnesium has the concentration
of 1200-1350ppm which is 3 times of 400-420ppm which is
calcium concentration. It is hard to find calcium test
kit or calcium supply in our local marine fish shop and
it also comes at a high price. But again, regular water
changes will help to maintain a balance concentration
in most elements or minerals. |
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| Fresh water fish only: |
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| Aquatic plants: |
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| Marine fish only: |
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| Coral reefs: |
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