This is mostly for Randy, but since I can't PM him, this has to go here. If anybody else has input though, I'm open to hearing that as well.
I recently met a student on campus (other side of the state from Randy) who is working in a lab doing research with fresh water muscles. We have a problem with declining wild populations and they are trying to run some studies in the lab to find out if they can determine the reasons why.
They are currently bubbling CO2 through coral skeletons to maintain calcium, which is probably not sufficient to keep up with the thousands of juveniles that they are attempting to raise (they are acquiring a more accurate device to monitor calcium to determine if levels are staying at reasonable values). I am not sure if they are monitoring magnesium or alkalinity (if it is necessary/possible in fresh water). I would imagine that the ideas for reef aquaria carry over to their application with the large mass of calcium based shell the organisms need to grow, I am just not sure how many of the principals directly transfer over to fresh water.
I am going to try to see if I can get in the lab to see the setup and what they are doing. They understand the mechanics and biology, but might not fully the equipment as this is a new area for them, so I am going to see if I can lend a hand.
Question 1 is for Randy: can I put them in contact with you for water chemistry advice? And if so how?
Question 2. Does the chemistry and techniques from reef aquaria carry over to freshwater?
Question 3. Should (can?) they be monitoring magnesium and alkalinity for fresh water?
Question 4. Would Kalkwasser be a suitable option in freshwater?
Question 5. Since I am a bit short on time with the semester coming to a close in a couple of weeks, would anybody have some good links for growing organisms like this in fresh water or the chemistry involved? I know I have some good links and info buried somewhere, but I think I lost most of it when Windows locked up and I had to refresh.
Thanks
I recently met a student on campus (other side of the state from Randy) who is working in a lab doing research with fresh water muscles. We have a problem with declining wild populations and they are trying to run some studies in the lab to find out if they can determine the reasons why.
They are currently bubbling CO2 through coral skeletons to maintain calcium, which is probably not sufficient to keep up with the thousands of juveniles that they are attempting to raise (they are acquiring a more accurate device to monitor calcium to determine if levels are staying at reasonable values). I am not sure if they are monitoring magnesium or alkalinity (if it is necessary/possible in fresh water). I would imagine that the ideas for reef aquaria carry over to their application with the large mass of calcium based shell the organisms need to grow, I am just not sure how many of the principals directly transfer over to fresh water.
I am going to try to see if I can get in the lab to see the setup and what they are doing. They understand the mechanics and biology, but might not fully the equipment as this is a new area for them, so I am going to see if I can lend a hand.
Question 1 is for Randy: can I put them in contact with you for water chemistry advice? And if so how?
Question 2. Does the chemistry and techniques from reef aquaria carry over to freshwater?
Question 3. Should (can?) they be monitoring magnesium and alkalinity for fresh water?
Question 4. Would Kalkwasser be a suitable option in freshwater?
Question 5. Since I am a bit short on time with the semester coming to a close in a couple of weeks, would anybody have some good links for growing organisms like this in fresh water or the chemistry involved? I know I have some good links and info buried somewhere, but I think I lost most of it when Windows locked up and I had to refresh.
Thanks
