Calcium consumption relative to sps growth

[Dan Ponchak]

If my acro dominant tank consumes “x” calcium and growth doubles, would calcium consumption be “x” times 2 ? OR is calcium consumption exponential?

 

[mdb_talon]

If all else were equal it should be approximately double.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, double. Alkalinity too.

Of course, it may depend on how you define growth. A lot of scientists define growth based on total coral skeleton deposition (by weight, often), and that is what doubles. It would also roughly hold for the linear growth of a branch of a coral.

If you define it some other way, then that relationship may not hold. For example, if it is an encrusting coral and you are defining it by the diameter of a growing circle of coral, then for each doubling of the diameter, calcium and alk consumed for the growth goes up by a factor of 4.

If you are taking about the diameter of the spherical head of a coral (like a brain coral), then to double the diameter requires 8 times as much calcium and alkalinity.

 

[Dan Ponchak]

Yes, double. Alkalinity too.

Of course, it may depend on how you define growth. A lot of scientists define growth based on total coral skeleton deposition (by weight, often), and that is what doubles. It would also roughly hold for the linear growth of a branch of a coral.

If you define it some other way, then that relationship may not hold. For example, if it is an encrusting coral and you are defining it by the diameter of a growing circle of coral, then for each doubling of the diameter, calcium and alk consumed for the growth goes up by a factor of 4.

If you are taking about the diameter of the spherical head of a coral (like a brain coral), then to double the diameter requires 8 times as much calcium and alkalinity.

well stated. Thank you.