Is there value in pressurized CO2 injection?

[LittleFidel]

I recently converted a hi-tech planted tank to a refugium style reef tank. Coming from the planted world, I am primarily interested in cultivating healthy macro algae and corals. I would like to know if there is value in using my pressurized CO2 injection system in the reef tank. The inhabitants include a pair of clowns, a hearty invertebrate population, lots of caulerpa prolifera, and a few LPS frags. Let me know your thoughts.

 

[Memoreefs]

you can use it for calcium reactor. That's what I did.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I recently converted a hi-tech planted tank to a refugium style reef tank. Coming from the planted world, I am primarily interested in cultivating healthy macro algae and corals. I would like to know if there is value in using my pressurized CO2 injection system in the reef tank. The inhabitants include a pair of clowns, a hearty invertebrate population, lots of caulerpa prolifera, and a few LPS frags. Let me know your thoughts.

DEFINITELY not something you want to do for the reef tank overall.

It will drive pH too low, and most people already suffer from excessive CO2/low pH. Calcifying organisms are hurt by low pH.

I'd add that many marine algae do not use CO2 itself, but rather use bicarbonate as their source of CO2, since there is so much more of it.

I discuss that aspect of CO2 sources here:

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-10/rhf/index.php