Organic Vs inorganic carbon

[YankeeTankee]

Hi! I'm new here are reviving some knowledge from gen chem

Is it true that only organic carbon is for "carbon dosing"?

Does inorganic carbon have no carbon dosing effect at all?

What role does inorganic carbon do in our tanks aside from GAC, nothing?

 

[ThunderGoose]

Picking those nits...

I'm not sure what you mean by inorganic carbon. The Husband is an organic chemist and he'd point out there are very few "inorganic " sources of carbon (CO2, elemental carbon like graphite, asbestos and diamond).

 

[YankeeTankee]

Picking those nits...

I'm not sure what you mean by inorganic carbon. The Husband is an organic chemist and he'd point out there are very few "inorganic " sources of carbon (CO2, elemental carbon like graphite, asbestos and diamond).

I am getting this from one of Randy's posts a while back....

"In the ocean, is there typically more inorganic carbon or organic carbon?

A. There is more inorganic carbon

Total inorganic carbon in seawater is about 2.05 millimole/kg, or about 25 ppm carbon. In order of decreasing concentration, it is present as bicarbonate, carbonate, unhydrated CO2, and hydrated CO2, which is carbonic acid, H2CO3.

Dissolved organic carbon varies substantially, but is usually between about 20 and 200 uM, or about 0.24 and 2.4 ppm C.

Particulate organic carbon averages out to a lower level than dissolved organic carbon, at 1-17 uM in surface seawater, or about 0.01 to 0.2 ppm C."

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Hi! I'm new here are reviving some knowledge from gen chem

Is it true that only organic carbon is for "carbon dosing"?

Does inorganic carbon have no carbon dosing effect at all?

What role does inorganic carbon do in our tanks aside from GAC, nothing?

Correct on the first two. Organisms cannot oxidize inorganic forms of pure carbon (GAC, diamond, graphite, etc.) to metabolize them, which is the purpose of organic carbon dosing.

Inorganic carbon might also include bicarbonate and carbonate and CO2, so they are hugely important, but cannot be changed in oxidation state by normal aerobic reef organisms.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Picking those nits...

I'm not sure what you mean by inorganic carbon. The Husband is an organic chemist and he'd point out there are very few "inorganic " sources of carbon (CO2, elemental carbon like graphite, asbestos and diamond).

Try carbonate on him.