CO2 supply needed ?

[Limpc]

Hi all,

Please don't laugh at me for this simple question ok!!

Since some coral and macroalgae depends on photosynthesis for survival, do they need CO2 ? If they do, how do we ensure sufficient supply ?

Sorry, young days did not study so much.

Limpc

[Morgan]

No you do not require CO2. This will drive the ph of the water down which is not good.

Macro/Micro algae gets their requirement from the water.

[BarraCudaTM]

not to mention excess CO2 will react with calcium

[Achilles Tang]

LOL! No prob... it's good to ask first! It's not a question of studying harder when younger... it's a different knowledge altogether..!

Don't pump CO2 into your reeftank... not only will your sandbed rapidly dissolve but possibly even coral skeletons! You will get a very high calcium level though!

CO2 will also quickly lower the PH of seawater, killing your livestock due to shock!

High levels of CO2 will also drive out the oxygen in your tank... and your livestock will die of oxygen deprivation.

This is very different from FW planted tanks!

[bawater]

i have a question also- revelant.

those of using calc reactors(which use CO²). what is the ph of the water coming out? Although it goes into the sump- non less its still an ongoing source lowering your PH. Is it un-noticeable?

Let's not count respiration from fishes/inverbrates/corals.

[Tanzy]

The effluent from a calcium reactor is about pH 6.5-7.5 depending on your model and bubble count. The rate of flow is so slow that coupled with a good skimmer, all of the excess CO2 will be blown off into the atmosphere, so it won't have a negative impact on tank pH if used properly.