The ban with coral is getting tougher and we aquarist feels the pressure nowadays. Coral Chip has long been the buffer source for most of us because it WAS inexpensive and plentiful. But that is then and this is now, it ain't cheap anymore. I kept hearing this every time I go mamak with hobbyist and I told them my last purchase of coral chip was I think somewhere 4 or 5 years ago. Most will look at me puzzled and asked me what do I use for buffering nowadays? I told them the same batch of coral chip!!!
A little information about coral chip, What you need to understand about coral or coral chip is they are made entirely of calcium carbonate. They releases calcium ions when exposed to CO2 and also acid during nitrification process. But bacteria will soon take resident in the coral chip and produces a slime that covers the entire coral chip. This is the part when hobbyist feels their coral chip no longer functions and throw them away. The slime protect the coral chip from releasing calcium ions and that is why it cant buffer our PH. Fresh dry coral chip will leave a white chalk like traces.
What I always do is I pack my coral chip in a few netted bag. I would rotate them after a couple of months when my PH is no longer holding, means the coral chip is not producing enough calcium to buffer my PH. I would take them out, wash them with chlorine water and put them to sun dry. I do this every few months until my corals are so tiny that I can't use them anymore. The reason is when we dry them out the slime is gone and so is the bacteria. After a few days you will again feel the white chalk powder when you hold your coral chip.
So dont go throw away your coral chip when you can recharged them.
Comments
Post a Comment