Has anyone created a chemistry simulator for reef tanks?

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jgvergo

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I am very interested in learning about reef chemistry. Is there an authoritative book for hobbyists? Has anyone created a simulation tool? It would be really nice to create a "virtual tank" and get some insight into what is likely to happen based on the chemistry.
 
The answer to both is mostly no. There are very good books on chemistry in the ocean, and good books on general reefkeeping which touch lightly on chemical topics, but for the detailed chemistry for reefkeeping I think you'll have to look to individual articles.

By virtual tank you mean a computer program? Beyond calculators of many types, there's no such thing available. I wish we could do it, but I see at least three main problems trying to make one.

The first is that many of the biggest issues are not equilibrium processes, so modeling them is very difficult. Calcium carbonate, for example, is supersaturated in seawater, and modeling it's precipitation and dissolution rate is very complicated.

Second is that many of the processes are biologically mediated, so exactly what organisms you have, including bacteria, and where they are in the tank (pores vs bulk water, for example) will have a big impact. No one knows this sort of info for reef tanks.

Finally, the nature of the organics in our aquaria is very poorly understood. They have impacts ranging from calcium carbonate precipitation rates to metals bioavailability to bacterial growth rates.

Together I think these issues and more, make modeling very challlenging and probably of limited actual use.
 

IF YOU HAD TO TAKE A REEFING EXAM, WOULD YOU PASS?

  • Yes!

    Votes: 32 45.7%
  • Not yet, but I have one that I want to buy in mind!

    Votes: 9 12.9%
  • No.

    Votes: 26 37.1%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 3 4.3%
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