Miami Reef
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Beautiful!!
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Nothin bad to report. Lowering my lights seems to have given everything a boost. Even the receding encruster is recovering. I may have discovered how to increase the “bag of sand” phosphate removal but I really need to do a few tests before mentioning it, doh!
And my urchin has decided after 3 years that he will wear two snail hats.
Salinity 35ppt, nitrate 40 ish, phos 0.25, temp 25.5C
And my urchin has decided after 3 years that he will wear two snail hats.
Salinity 35ppt, nitrate 40 ish, phos 0.25, temp 25.5C
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Miami Reef
10K Club Member
I can’t wait to hear about the new sand generation method. I’m going to guess you add some muriatic acid to lower the pH.
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Miami Reef
10K Club Member
Tank looks good. Merry Christmas, you’ve been a very nice chap to me this year. 
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Nothin major to report this month, stuff seems to be growing well. I chopped the head off this pink thing that’s puddling but little else, (gave it to the wife for her tank). Added my CO2 bubbly thing to her tank also, to combat the vinegar she’s using whilst dabbling with carbon dosing. In my tank I’m dabbling with reacting Lugols in old tank water then dosing that, see what happens, lol
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+14 days and I could swear that stuff is having a growth spurt, lol. especially the coralline. I’ve changed nothing else that I’m aware of;
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Intentionally damaged puddler. Reaction from damage, Lugols or coincidence? I’ll try and keep the camera flat against the glass so the pic is at the same angle from now on, lol
Edit - worked out how to get a similar angle on the pic by putting reference marks on the screen, then lining them up, so pics are direct comparisons, near enough. Lighting settings identical, same camera.
Pic 3 updated 2 April:
Edit - worked out how to get a similar angle on the pic by putting reference marks on the screen, then lining them up, so pics are direct comparisons, near enough. Lighting settings identical, same camera.
Pic 3 updated 2 April:
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Another monthly pic. Don’t remember doing anything odd this month, except I tested ammonia for the heck of it, which appears to indicate a flux from fish to other things. An acro has bleached on the bottom half, not surprised though as it’s in the shade, been attacked from the back side by stingy things and a branch got snapped off.
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The acro that was STN’ing, bit the dust. Another green acro joined him but some remains and is doing well. The last few months I stopped adding vinegar to the kalk. This immediately stopped the progression of the strange SPS bubbly disease I encountered, and three weeks later all bubblyness had gone. I’ve restricted my pH to 8.4 maximum using a DIY C02 thingy and stopped kalk during the day, using bicarbonate two part during the lit period. Pics;
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Miami Reef
10K Club Member
This is the second post I read about someone having a bubbling sps disease with vinegar. Interesting.
Miami Reef
10K Club Member
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Indeed. I was hoping for zero negative effects of dosing vinegar. My algae scrubbing insomnia 12 or 13 years ago presented information that sugars released from excessive algal growth could ultimately prove harmful for corals, I was hoping vinegar would be different. There's a couple of us that believe excessive algae exudates are bad, perhaps @Timfish could furnish this thread with his data bomb. I'd love reefbuilders to include algal exudates in their carbon dosing experiments.
You asked for it! But really it's any excess labile DOC that promotes microbial growth. A critical paper for Rohwer's DDam mtheory (that's been proven now with research by Haas) was this paper by Kline, et al (2006) even the DOC from a coral when concentrated and reapplied to the same coral caused problems. Additinally, we need to remember or pay attention to not only species specific but genotype specific as well as adapted responses of a given colony, we can't assume the response of one colony in a system will apply even to a clone colony in the same system but in a different location. We also cannot use either growth or coloration as indicators of corals health.
FWIW, since Haas (see below refferences) has shown excess microbial growth can create anoxic conditions on the surface of corals and type of tissue loss when labile DOC. aka carbon dosing, is being used can be caused by the labile DOC
I haven't had the time to look through all the posts son there may be some redundancy but I'll start off with Salem Clemens article on Reefbuilders. While I've been saying much the same for years his article is a pretty good presentation of the problem we have.
He does leave out a couple problems though. One is the problem of ozone and refractory DOC and the other is the duality of sponges. Sponges can process algae DOC distinctly different from coral DOC. This can include sponges in a potential feedback loop that results in coral decline. There is definitely issues using ozone with refractory DOC in a system. As it will break down the refractory DOC in a system and make it available for microbial growth, a system can see much the same issues as a system where labile DOC is used allowing heterotrophic bacteria to feed on the refractory DOC and creating the anoxic conditions and pathogenic shifts associated with their uncontrolled growth.
Water changes still are the best way to remove refractory DOC, keep it from building up in a system and remove in equal protions hydrophillic and hydrophobic polutants.
Rohwer's book and select videos
"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas " This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title. Used copies are available on line and it may be free to read on Internet Archive. both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC (carbon dosing) in reef ecosystems and how it can alter coral microbiomes. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems and are an excellent starting point to understand the conflicting roles of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC, aka "carbon dosing") in reef ecosystems.
Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes
Microbial view of Coral Decline
Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont
BActeria and Sponges
Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)
Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching
DNA Sequencing and the Reef Tank Microbiome
Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"
DOC stuff
For refference when talking about DOC; While large portion of compunds that make up DOC are still undiferentiated DOC can be roughly divided into "labile" "semirefractory" and "refreactory". The deep oceans are "sinks" for refractory DOC and may have only a few percent of labile DOC. Reef systems in contrast will comprise of about 1/3 labile DOC, a small portion of semi-refractory and about 2/3rds refractory. Here's a short terms of terms also as there's some different terms used that are almost identical:
DOC - Dissolved Organic Carbon, really small stuff
DOM - Dissolved Organic Matter, some might consider this term more appropraite to DOC as there's a lot still undiferentiated
POC - Particulate Organic Carbon, stuff to large to be DOC
TOC - Total Organic Carbon = DOC + POC In reef systems DOC accounts for about 90% and POC about 10%
Indirect effects of algae on coral: algae‐mediated, microbe‐induced coral mortality
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism.
Coral DOC improves oxygen (autotrophy), algae DOC reduces oxygen (heterotrophy).
peerj.com
Role of elevated organic carbon levels and microbial activity in coral mortality
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Algae releases significantly more DOC into the water than coral.
journals.plos.org
Pathologies and mortality rates caused by organic carbon and nutrient stressors in three Caribbean coral species.
DOC caused coral death but not high nitrates, phosphates or ammonium.
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
peerj.com
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates
Exposure to exudates derived from turf algae stimulated higher oxygen drawdown by the coral-associated bacteria.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs
www.nature.com
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Sugar enrichment provides evidence for a role of nitrogen fixation in coral bleaching
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
(here's an argument for maintaining heavy fish loads if you're carbon dosing)
www.sciencedirect.com
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton
www.nature.com
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Biophysical and physiological processes causing oxygen loss from coral reefs.
Global microbialization of coral reefs
DDAM Proven
www.nature.com
Coral Reef Microorganisms in a Changing Climate, Fig 3
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ecosystem Microbiology of Coral Reefs: Linking Genomic, Metabolomic, and Biogeochemical Dynamics from Animal Symbioses to Reefscape Processes
Ken Feldman's papers
Back in 2008 and 2009 Ken Feldman, a researcher at Penn State, conducted some experiments and posted a series of articles on Advanced Aquarist introducing aquarists to the some of the research on DOC and publishing his research on TOC and bacteria in aquaria.
Total Organic Carbon Pt 1
reefs.com
Total Organic Carbon Pt 2
reefs.com
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 1
reefs.com
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 2
reefs.com
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate
reefs.com
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water
reefs.com
Sponge stuff
And here I gotta give a shout out to Steve Tyree, who back in the 90's was championing the use of cryptic sponges and cryptic zones, It's really too bad more "gurus" didn't pay attention to what he was trying to point out about sponges him instead of touting inorganic phosphorus as a major problem.
Element cycling on tropical coral reefs.
This is Jasper de Geoij's ground breaking research on reef sponge finding some species process labile DOC 1000X faster than bacterioplankton. (The introduction is in Dutch but the content is in English.)
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
www.pnas.org
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
www.pnas.org
Differential recycling of coral and algal dissolved organic matter via the sponge loop.
Sponges treat DOC from algae differently than DOC from corals
besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
academic.oup.com
Surviving in a Marine Desert The Sponge Loop Retains Resources Within Coral Reefs
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen are quickly processed by sponges and released back into the reef food web in hours as carbon and nitrogen rich detritus.
www.researchgate.net
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The Role of Marine Sponges in Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles of COral Reefs and Nearshore Environments.
search.proquest.com
Nutrients - Phosphorus
One of the workds formost coral researchers wrote this in the early 90's in his book "Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific" (I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if more "gurus" had paid attention.)
"Imported nutrients are usually transported to reefs from rivers; but if there are no rivers, as with reefs remote from land masses, nutrients can only come from surface ocean circulation. Often this supply is poor, and thus the vast ocean expanses have been refered to as "nutrient deserts". The Indo-Pacific has many huge atolls in these supposed deserts which testify to the resilience of reefs, but the corals themselves may lack the lush appearance of those of more fertile waters. Many reefs have another major supply of inorganic nutrients as, under certain conditions, surface currents moving against a reef face may cause deep ocean water to be drawn to the surface. This "upwelled" water is often rich in phosphorus and other essential chemicals." J. E. N. Veron "Corals of Austrailia and the Indo-Pacific" pg 30 (Upwelling exposes corals to .3 mg/l)
And Charles Delbeek wrote this about nutrients in 2010:
"When I see the colors of some of these low nutrient tanks, I can't help but be reminded of bleached coral reefs. It should therefore not come as a surprise that feeding corals in such systems becomes a very important component in these systems. Though reefs are often catagorized as nutrient "deserts" the influx of nutrients in the form of particulates and plankton is quite high when the total volume of water passing over a reef is taken into consideration.
Our crystal-clear aquaria do not come close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs. And so when we create low-nutrient water conditions, we still have to deal with the rest of a much more complex puzzle. Much like those who run their aquarium water temperature close to the thermal maximums of corals walk a narrow tight rope, I can't help but think that low-nutrient aquariums may be headed down a similar path." Charles Delbeck, Coral Nov/Dec 2010, pg 127
Southampton' research, this is the reaserch done with coral maintained for as long as a decade in aquaria identfying a minimum threshold level of .03 mg/l to prevent corals from experiencing a phosphorus deficiency.
www.cambridge.org
An Experimental Mesocosm for Longterm Studies of Reef Corals
Phosphate Deficiency:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching:
www.nature.com
Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont:
www.frontiersin.org
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
www.sciencedirect.com
More phosphorus stuff
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
www.sciencedirect.com
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
jeb.biologists.org
Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts
reefs.com
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
www.pnas.org
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
www.pnas.org
Fig 4 from "Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts"
Nutrients Nitrogen
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals (Coral pull ammonia directly from the water to feed their zooxanthellae)
www.ingentaconnect.com
Amino acids a source of nitrogen for corals
journals.biologists.com
Urea a source of nitrogen for corals
www.sciencedirect.com
Diazotrpophs a source of nitrogen for corals
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Context Dependant Effects of Nutrient Loading on the Coral-Algal Mutualism, Nitrates cause reduced calcification in corals
www.researchgate.net
Fig. 3 from the above paper.
Other stuff
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
www.reef2reef.com
www.reef2reef.com
Growth cannot be used as an indicator of health.
peerj.com
But really it's any excess labile DOC that promotes microbial growth. A critical paper for Rohwer's DDam mtheory (that's been proven now with research by Haas) was this paper by Kline, et al (2006) even the DOC from a coral when concentrated and reapplied to the same coral caused problems. Additinally, we need to remember or pay attention to not only species specific but genotype specific as well as adapted responses of a given colony, we can't assume the response of one colony in a system will apply even to a clone colony in the same system but in a different location. We also cannot use either growth or coloration as indicators of corals health. FWIW, since Haas (see below refferences) has shown excess microbial growth can create anoxic conditions on the surface of corals and type of tissue loss when labile DOC. aka carbon dosing, is being used can be caused by the labile DOC
I haven't had the time to look through all the posts son there may be some redundancy but I'll start off with Salem Clemens article on Reefbuilders. While I've been saying much the same for years his article is a pretty good presentation of the problem we have.
He does leave out a couple problems though. One is the problem of ozone and refractory DOC and the other is the duality of sponges. Sponges can process algae DOC distinctly different from coral DOC. This can include sponges in a potential feedback loop that results in coral decline. There is definitely issues using ozone with refractory DOC in a system. As it will break down the refractory DOC in a system and make it available for microbial growth, a system can see much the same issues as a system where labile DOC is used allowing heterotrophic bacteria to feed on the refractory DOC and creating the anoxic conditions and pathogenic shifts associated with their uncontrolled growth.
Water changes still are the best way to remove refractory DOC, keep it from building up in a system and remove in equal protions hydrophillic and hydrophobic polutants.
DOC is The Most Important Parameter For A Healthy Reef Tank: Here’s a New Method to Manage It | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
In this article, I will provide an overview of my take on the current zeitgeist of reefing and explain why the entire industry is ignoring a critical aspect of coral care. I will explain what issues…
reefbuilders.com
Rohwer's book and select videos
"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas " This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title. Used copies are available on line and it may be free to read on Internet Archive. both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC (carbon dosing) in reef ecosystems and how it can alter coral microbiomes. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems and are an excellent starting point to understand the conflicting roles of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC, aka "carbon dosing") in reef ecosystems.
Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes
Microbial view of Coral Decline
Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont
BActeria and Sponges
Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)
Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching
DNA Sequencing and the Reef Tank Microbiome
Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"
DOC stuff
For refference when talking about DOC; While large portion of compunds that make up DOC are still undiferentiated DOC can be roughly divided into "labile" "semirefractory" and "refreactory". The deep oceans are "sinks" for refractory DOC and may have only a few percent of labile DOC. Reef systems in contrast will comprise of about 1/3 labile DOC, a small portion of semi-refractory and about 2/3rds refractory. Here's a short terms of terms also as there's some different terms used that are almost identical:
DOC - Dissolved Organic Carbon, really small stuff
DOM - Dissolved Organic Matter, some might consider this term more appropraite to DOC as there's a lot still undiferentiated
POC - Particulate Organic Carbon, stuff to large to be DOC
TOC - Total Organic Carbon = DOC + POC In reef systems DOC accounts for about 90% and POC about 10%
Indirect effects of algae on coral: algae‐mediated, microbe‐induced coral mortality
Error - Cookies Turned Off
Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism.
Coral DOC improves oxygen (autotrophy), algae DOC reduces oxygen (heterotrophy).
Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism
Benthic primary producers in tropical reef ecosystems can alter biogeochemical cycling and microbial processes in the surrounding seawater. In order to quantify these influences, we measured rates of photosynthesis, respiration, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exudate release by the dominant...
peerj.com
Role of elevated organic carbon levels and microbial activity in coral mortality
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Algae releases significantly more DOC into the water than coral.
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Benthic primary producers in marine ecosystems may significantly alter biogeochemical cycling and microbial processes in their surrounding environment. To examine these interactions, we studied dissolved organic matter release by dominant benthic taxa and subsequent microbial remineralization in...
Pathologies and mortality rates caused by organic carbon and nutrient stressors in three Caribbean coral species.
DOC caused coral death but not high nitrates, phosphates or ammonium.
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
Planar optodes were used to visualize oxygen distribution patterns associated with a coral reef associated green algae (Chaetomorpha sp.) and a hermatypic coral (Favia sp.) separately, as standalone organisms, and placed in close proximity mimicking coral-algal interactions. Oxygen patterns were...
peerj.com
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates
Exposure to exudates derived from turf algae stimulated higher oxygen drawdown by the coral-associated bacteria.
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates - PMC
Algae-derived dissolved organic matter has been hypothesized to induce mortality of reef building corals. One proposed killing mechanism is a zone of hypoxia created by rapidly growing microbes. To investigate this hypothesis, biological oxygen ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs - Nature Microbiology
Human pressures on coral reefs are giving macroalgae a competitive advantage over reef-building corals. These algae support larger, and potentially pathogenic, microbial populations that are metabolically primed for less-efficient, yet faster, carbohydrate remineralization, perpetuating a...
www.nature.com
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages.
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages - PubMed
Increasing algal cover on tropical reefs worldwide may be maintained through feedbacks whereby algae outcompete coral by altering microbial activity. We hypothesized that algae and coral release compositionally distinct exudates that differentially alter bacterioplankton growth and community...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Sugar enrichment provides evidence for a role of nitrogen fixation in coral bleaching
Error - Cookies Turned Off
Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
(here's an argument for maintaining heavy fish loads if you're carbon dosing)
Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
Labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a major pollutant in coastal marine environments affected by anthropogenic impacts, and may significantly con…
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton - The ISME Journal
Coastal pollution and algal cover are increasing on many coral reefs, resulting in higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. High DOC concentrations strongly affect microbial activity in reef waters and select for copiotrophic, often potentially virulent microbial populations. High...
www.nature.com
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs.
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs - PubMed
Recent work has shown that hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic matter (OM) from algae disrupts the function of the coral holobiont and promotes the invasion of opportunistic pathogens, leading to coral morbidity and mortality. Here we refer to these dynamics as the (3)DAM [dissolved organic...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance.
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance - PubMed
Diverse microbial communities associate with coral tissues and mucus, providing important protective and nutritional services, but once disturbed, the microbial equilibrium may shift from a beneficial state to one that is detrimental or pathogenic. Macroalgae (e.g., seaweeds) can physically and...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides.
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides - PubMed
With the continued and unprecedented decline of coral reefs worldwide, evaluating the factors that contribute to coral demise is of critical importance. As coral cover declines, macroalgae are becoming more common on tropical reefs. Interactions between these macroalgae and corals may alter the...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals.
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals - PubMed
Benthic macroalgae can be abundant on present-day coral reefs, especially where rates of herbivory are low and/or dissolved nutrients are high. This study investigated the impact of macroalgal extracts on both coral-associated bacterial assemblages and sublethal stress response of corals. Crude...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Biophysical and physiological processes causing oxygen loss from coral reefs.
Global microbialization of coral reefs
DDAM Proven
Global microbialization of coral reefs - Nature Microbiology
Analysis of 60 sites in three ocean basins suggests that overgrowth of fleshy algae on coral reefs supports higher microbial abundances dominated by copiotrophic, potentially pathogenic bacteria via the provision of dissolved inorganic carbon.
www.nature.com
Coral Reef Microorganisms in a Changing Climate, Fig 3
Figure - PMC
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, yet they have suffered tremendous losses due to anthropogenic disturbances and are predicted to be one of the most adversely affected habitats under future climate ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Ecosystem Microbiology of Coral Reefs: Linking Genomic, Metabolomic, and Biogeochemical Dynamics from Animal Symbioses to Reefscape Processes
Ken Feldman's papers
Back in 2008 and 2009 Ken Feldman, a researcher at Penn State, conducted some experiments and posted a series of articles on Advanced Aquarist introducing aquarists to the some of the research on DOC and publishing his research on TOC and bacteria in aquaria.
Total Organic Carbon Pt 1
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part I
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.
reefs.com
Total Organic Carbon Pt 2
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part II
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly continue to report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.
reefs.com
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 1
The Development of a Method for the Quantitative Evaluation of Protein Skimmer Performance
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Protein skimmers have become indispensable for many aquarists who strive to maintain the high water quality necessary to keep stony corals.
reefs.com
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 2
Further Studies on Protein Skimmer Performance
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Many factors contribute to the 'value' of a skimmer to an aquarist, including quality of construction, size, footprint, noise level, ease of cleaning, energy efficiency of the pump, and of course, the ability...
reefs.com
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate: What Does a Protein Skimmer Actually Remove from Aquarium Water?
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. The chemical/elemental composition of skimmate generated by an H&S 200-1260 skimmer on a 175-gallon reef tank over the course of several days or a week had some surprises.
reefs.com
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming...
reefs.com
Sponge stuff
And here I gotta give a shout out to Steve Tyree, who back in the 90's was championing the use of cryptic sponges and cryptic zones, It's really too bad more "gurus" didn't pay attention to what he was trying to point out about sponges him instead of touting inorganic phosphorus as a major problem.
Element cycling on tropical coral reefs.
This is Jasper de Geoij's ground breaking research on reef sponge finding some species process labile DOC 1000X faster than bacterioplankton. (The introduction is in Dutch but the content is in English.)
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...
Differential recycling of coral and algal dissolved organic matter via the sponge loop.
Sponges treat DOC from algae differently than DOC from corals
Error - Cookies Turned Off
A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are economically important ecosystems that have suffered unprecedented losses of corals in the recent past. Why have Caribbean reefs in particu
academic.oup.com
Surviving in a Marine Desert The Sponge Loop Retains Resources Within Coral Reefs
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen are quickly processed by sponges and released back into the reef food web in hours as carbon and nitrogen rich detritus.
(PDF) 2013 deGoeij Science Sponge loop
PDF | On Jun 23, 2015, Jasper M de Goeij and others published 2013 deGoeij Science Sponge loop | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
www.researchgate.net
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) - PMC
Coral-excavating sponges are the most important bioeroders on Caribbean reefs and increase in abundance throughout the region. This increase is commonly attributed to a concomitant increase in food availability due to eutrophication and pollution. ...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
The Role of Marine Sponges in Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles of COral Reefs and Nearshore Environments.
The role of marine sponges in carbon and nitrogen cycles of coral reef and nearshore environments - ProQuest
Explore millions of resources from scholarly journals, books, newspapers, videos and more, on the ProQuest Platform.
search.proquest.com
Nutrients - Phosphorus
One of the workds formost coral researchers wrote this in the early 90's in his book "Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific" (I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if more "gurus" had paid attention.)
"Imported nutrients are usually transported to reefs from rivers; but if there are no rivers, as with reefs remote from land masses, nutrients can only come from surface ocean circulation. Often this supply is poor, and thus the vast ocean expanses have been refered to as "nutrient deserts". The Indo-Pacific has many huge atolls in these supposed deserts which testify to the resilience of reefs, but the corals themselves may lack the lush appearance of those of more fertile waters. Many reefs have another major supply of inorganic nutrients as, under certain conditions, surface currents moving against a reef face may cause deep ocean water to be drawn to the surface. This "upwelled" water is often rich in phosphorus and other essential chemicals." J. E. N. Veron "Corals of Austrailia and the Indo-Pacific" pg 30 (Upwelling exposes corals to .3 mg/l)
And Charles Delbeek wrote this about nutrients in 2010:
"When I see the colors of some of these low nutrient tanks, I can't help but be reminded of bleached coral reefs. It should therefore not come as a surprise that feeding corals in such systems becomes a very important component in these systems. Though reefs are often catagorized as nutrient "deserts" the influx of nutrients in the form of particulates and plankton is quite high when the total volume of water passing over a reef is taken into consideration.
Our crystal-clear aquaria do not come close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs. And so when we create low-nutrient water conditions, we still have to deal with the rest of a much more complex puzzle. Much like those who run their aquarium water temperature close to the thermal maximums of corals walk a narrow tight rope, I can't help but think that low-nutrient aquariums may be headed down a similar path." Charles Delbeck, Coral Nov/Dec 2010, pg 127
Southampton' research, this is the reaserch done with coral maintained for as long as a decade in aquaria identfying a minimum threshold level of .03 mg/l to prevent corals from experiencing a phosphorus deficiency.
An experimental mesocosm for long-term studies of reef corals | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom | Cambridge Core
An experimental mesocosm for long-term studies of reef corals - Volume 92 Issue 4
Phosphate Deficiency:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching - Nature Climate Change
Increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in sea water have been linked to a reduction of the temperature threshold at which corals bleach, however, the mechanism underlying this change is not known. This phenomenon is now explained in terms of increased phosphatase activities...
www.nature.com
Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont:
Frontiers | Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont
Reef building corals associated with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) can access environmental nutrients from different sources, most significantly via the up...
www.frontiersin.org
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with din…
More phosphorus stuff
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
Phosphate contamination can negatively affect corals, modifying growth rates, skeletal density, reproduction, mortality, and zooxanthellae. We determi…
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
SUMMARYSeveral untested aspects of the regulation of inorganic nutrient uptake were examined using nutrient depletion experiments with the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. The total inhibition of phosphate uptake in artificial seawater lacking sodium indicates the involvement of a...
jeb.biologists.org
Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts
Skeptical Reefkeeping 9: Test Kits, Chasing Numbers and Phosphate
By Rich Ross and Chris Jury There are many standard parameters in the reefkeeping world that aquarists strive to match in their home reefs – water quality,
reefs.com
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...
Fig 4 from "Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts"
Nutrients Nitrogen
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals (Coral pull ammonia directly from the water to feed their zooxanthellae)
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals: Ingenta Connect
Amino acids a source of nitrogen for corals
Uptake of dissolved free amino acids by the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
SUMMARY. This study was designed to assess the importance of dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) as a nitrogen source for the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata. For this purpose, experiments were performed using 15N-enriched DFAAs, and %15N enrichment was measured both in animal tissue and...
journals.biologists.com
Urea a source of nitrogen for corals
Urea uptake by the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
Urea can be one of the major sources of nitrogen for phytoplankton, but little is known about its importance for corals. Experiments were therefore de…
Diazotrpophs a source of nitrogen for corals
Diazotrophs: a non-negligible source of nitrogen for the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata - PubMed
Corals are mixotrophs: they are able to fix inorganic carbon through the activity of their symbiotic dinoflagellates and to gain nitrogen from predation on plankton and uptake of dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients. They also live in close association with diverse diazotrophic communities...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Context Dependant Effects of Nutrient Loading on the Coral-Algal Mutualism, Nitrates cause reduced calcification in corals
Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism | Request PDF
Request PDF | Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism | Human-mediated increases in nutrient availability alter patterns of primary production, impact species diversity, and threaten ecosystem function.... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on...
www.researchgate.net
Fig. 3 from the above paper.
Other stuff
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms - PubMed
As coral reef habitats decline worldwide, some reefs are transitioning from coral- to algal-dominated benthos with the exact cause for this shift remaining elusive. Increases in the abundance of microbes in the water column has been correlated with an increase in coral disease and reduction in...
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock
About this article This article describes an experiment documenting the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium. While I’ve tried to tell the story as briefly as I can, it’s the story of a month-long study of replicated tanks, with analysis of both water chemistry and the microbial...
www.reef2reef.com
QUESTION OF THE DAY - Do colorful corals mean you have stressed corals?
I don' think so. If they were so stressed out they wouldn't grow well so I think that when we have good color and good growth, they are probably thriving. I think our lights don't actually mimic sunlight and that we now provide the right spectrum to support colorful corals, but not full...
www.reef2reef.com
Growth cannot be used as an indicator of health.
Mechanisms and potential immune tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation
Microfragmentation is the act of cutting corals into small pieces (~1 cm2) to accelerate the growth rates of corals relative to growth rates observed when maintaining larger-sized fragments. This rapid tissue and skeletal expansion technique offers great potential for supporting reef...
peerj.com
OP
OP
You asked for it!
FWIW, since Haas (see below refferences) has shown excess microbial growth can create anoxic conditions on the surface of corals and type of tissue loss when labile DOC. aka carbon dosing, is being used can be caused by the labile DOC
I haven't had the time to look through all the posts son there may be some redundancy but I'll start off with Salem Clemens article on Reefbuilders. While I've been saying much the same for years his article is a pretty good presentation of the problem we have.
He does leave out a couple problems though. One is the problem of ozone and refractory DOC and the other is the duality of sponges. Sponges can process algae DOC distinctly different from coral DOC. This can include sponges in a potential feedback loop that results in coral decline. There is definitely issues using ozone with refractory DOC in a system. As it will break down the refractory DOC in a system and make it available for microbial growth, a system can see much the same issues as a system where labile DOC is used allowing heterotrophic bacteria to feed on the refractory DOC and creating the anoxic conditions and pathogenic shifts associated with their uncontrolled growth.
Water changes still are the best way to remove refractory DOC, keep it from building up in a system and remove in equal protions hydrophillic and hydrophobic polutants.
DOC is The Most Important Parameter For A Healthy Reef Tank: Here’s a New Method to Manage It | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
In this article, I will provide an overview of my take on the current zeitgeist of reefing and explain why the entire industry is ignoring a critical aspect of coral care. I will explain what issues…reefbuilders.com
Rohwer's book and select videos
"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas " This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title. Used copies are available on line and it may be free to read on Internet Archive. both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC (carbon dosing) in reef ecosystems and how it can alter coral microbiomes. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems and are an excellent starting point to understand the conflicting roles of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC, aka "carbon dosing") in reef ecosystems.
Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes
Microbial view of Coral Decline
Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont
BActeria and Sponges
Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)
Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching
DNA Sequencing and the Reef Tank Microbiome
Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"
DOC stuff
For refference when talking about DOC; While large portion of compunds that make up DOC are still undiferentiated DOC can be roughly divided into "labile" "semirefractory" and "refreactory". The deep oceans are "sinks" for refractory DOC and may have only a few percent of labile DOC. Reef systems in contrast will comprise of about 1/3 labile DOC, a small portion of semi-refractory and about 2/3rds refractory. Here's a short terms of terms also as there's some different terms used that are almost identical:
DOC - Dissolved Organic Carbon, really small stuff
DOM - Dissolved Organic Matter, some might consider this term more appropraite to DOC as there's a lot still undiferentiated
POC - Particulate Organic Carbon, stuff to large to be DOC
TOC - Total Organic Carbon = DOC + POC In reef systems DOC accounts for about 90% and POC about 10%
Indirect effects of algae on coral: algae‐mediated, microbe‐induced coral mortality
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Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism.
Coral DOC improves oxygen (autotrophy), algae DOC reduces oxygen (heterotrophy).
Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism
Benthic primary producers in tropical reef ecosystems can alter biogeochemical cycling and microbial processes in the surrounding seawater. In order to quantify these influences, we measured rates of photosynthesis, respiration, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exudate release by the dominant...
Role of elevated organic carbon levels and microbial activity in coral mortality
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Algae releases significantly more DOC into the water than coral.
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Benthic primary producers in marine ecosystems may significantly alter biogeochemical cycling and microbial processes in their surrounding environment. To examine these interactions, we studied dissolved organic matter release by dominant benthic taxa and subsequent microbial remineralization in...
Pathologies and mortality rates caused by organic carbon and nutrient stressors in three Caribbean coral species.
DOC caused coral death but not high nitrates, phosphates or ammonium.
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
Planar optodes were used to visualize oxygen distribution patterns associated with a coral reef associated green algae (Chaetomorpha sp.) and a hermatypic coral (Favia sp.) separately, as standalone organisms, and placed in close proximity mimicking coral-algal interactions. Oxygen patterns were...
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates
Exposure to exudates derived from turf algae stimulated higher oxygen drawdown by the coral-associated bacteria.
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates - PMC
Algae-derived dissolved organic matter has been hypothesized to induce mortality of reef building corals. One proposed killing mechanism is a zone of hypoxia created by rapidly growing microbes. To investigate this hypothesis, biological oxygen ...
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs - Nature Microbiology
Human pressures on coral reefs are giving macroalgae a competitive advantage over reef-building corals. These algae support larger, and potentially pathogenic, microbial populations that are metabolically primed for less-efficient, yet faster, carbohydrate remineralization, perpetuating a...
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages.
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages - PubMed
Increasing algal cover on tropical reefs worldwide may be maintained through feedbacks whereby algae outcompete coral by altering microbial activity. We hypothesized that algae and coral release compositionally distinct exudates that differentially alter bacterioplankton growth and community...
Sugar enrichment provides evidence for a role of nitrogen fixation in coral bleaching
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Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
(here's an argument for maintaining heavy fish loads if you're carbon dosing)
Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
Labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a major pollutant in coastal marine environments affected by anthropogenic impacts, and may significantly con…
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton - The ISME Journal
Coastal pollution and algal cover are increasing on many coral reefs, resulting in higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. High DOC concentrations strongly affect microbial activity in reef waters and select for copiotrophic, often potentially virulent microbial populations. High...
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs.
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs - PubMed
Recent work has shown that hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic matter (OM) from algae disrupts the function of the coral holobiont and promotes the invasion of opportunistic pathogens, leading to coral morbidity and mortality. Here we refer to these dynamics as the (3)DAM [dissolved organic...
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance.
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance - PubMed
Diverse microbial communities associate with coral tissues and mucus, providing important protective and nutritional services, but once disturbed, the microbial equilibrium may shift from a beneficial state to one that is detrimental or pathogenic. Macroalgae (e.g., seaweeds) can physically and...
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides.
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides - PubMed
With the continued and unprecedented decline of coral reefs worldwide, evaluating the factors that contribute to coral demise is of critical importance. As coral cover declines, macroalgae are becoming more common on tropical reefs. Interactions between these macroalgae and corals may alter the...
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals.
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals - PubMed
Benthic macroalgae can be abundant on present-day coral reefs, especially where rates of herbivory are low and/or dissolved nutrients are high. This study investigated the impact of macroalgal extracts on both coral-associated bacterial assemblages and sublethal stress response of corals. Crude...
Biophysical and physiological processes causing oxygen loss from coral reefs.
Global microbialization of coral reefs
DDAM Proven
Global microbialization of coral reefs - Nature Microbiology
Analysis of 60 sites in three ocean basins suggests that overgrowth of fleshy algae on coral reefs supports higher microbial abundances dominated by copiotrophic, potentially pathogenic bacteria via the provision of dissolved inorganic carbon.
Coral Reef Microorganisms in a Changing Climate, Fig 3
Figure - PMC
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, yet they have suffered tremendous losses due to anthropogenic disturbances and are predicted to be one of the most adversely affected habitats under future climate ...
Ecosystem Microbiology of Coral Reefs: Linking Genomic, Metabolomic, and Biogeochemical Dynamics from Animal Symbioses to Reefscape Processes
Ken Feldman's papers
Back in 2008 and 2009 Ken Feldman, a researcher at Penn State, conducted some experiments and posted a series of articles on Advanced Aquarist introducing aquarists to the some of the research on DOC and publishing his research on TOC and bacteria in aquaria.
Total Organic Carbon Pt 1
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part I
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.
Total Organic Carbon Pt 2
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part II
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly continue to report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 1
The Development of a Method for the Quantitative Evaluation of Protein Skimmer Performance
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Protein skimmers have become indispensable for many aquarists who strive to maintain the high water quality necessary to keep stony corals.
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 2
Further Studies on Protein Skimmer Performance
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Many factors contribute to the 'value' of a skimmer to an aquarist, including quality of construction, size, footprint, noise level, ease of cleaning, energy efficiency of the pump, and of course, the ability...
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate: What Does a Protein Skimmer Actually Remove from Aquarium Water?
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. The chemical/elemental composition of skimmate generated by an H&S 200-1260 skimmer on a 175-gallon reef tank over the course of several days or a week had some surprises.
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming...
Sponge stuff
And here I gotta give a shout out to Steve Tyree, who back in the 90's was championing the use of cryptic sponges and cryptic zones, It's really too bad more "gurus" didn't pay attention to what he was trying to point out about sponges him instead of touting inorganic phosphorus as a major problem.
Element cycling on tropical coral reefs.
This is Jasper de Geoij's ground breaking research on reef sponge finding some species process labile DOC 1000X faster than bacterioplankton. (The introduction is in Dutch but the content is in English.)
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...
Differential recycling of coral and algal dissolved organic matter via the sponge loop.
Sponges treat DOC from algae differently than DOC from corals
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A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are economically important ecosystems that have suffered unprecedented losses of corals in the recent past. Why have Caribbean reefs in particu
Surviving in a Marine Desert The Sponge Loop Retains Resources Within Coral Reefs
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen are quickly processed by sponges and released back into the reef food web in hours as carbon and nitrogen rich detritus.
(PDF) 2013 deGoeij Science Sponge loop
PDF | On Jun 23, 2015, Jasper M de Goeij and others published 2013 deGoeij Science Sponge loop | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) - PMC
Coral-excavating sponges are the most important bioeroders on Caribbean reefs and increase in abundance throughout the region. This increase is commonly attributed to a concomitant increase in food availability due to eutrophication and pollution. ...
The Role of Marine Sponges in Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles of COral Reefs and Nearshore Environments.
The role of marine sponges in carbon and nitrogen cycles of coral reef and nearshore environments - ProQuest
Explore millions of resources from scholarly journals, books, newspapers, videos and more, on the ProQuest Platform.
Nutrients - Phosphorus
One of the workds formost coral researchers wrote this in the early 90's in his book "Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific" (I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if more "gurus" had paid attention.)
"Imported nutrients are usually transported to reefs from rivers; but if there are no rivers, as with reefs remote from land masses, nutrients can only come from surface ocean circulation. Often this supply is poor, and thus the vast ocean expanses have been refered to as "nutrient deserts". The Indo-Pacific has many huge atolls in these supposed deserts which testify to the resilience of reefs, but the corals themselves may lack the lush appearance of those of more fertile waters. Many reefs have another major supply of inorganic nutrients as, under certain conditions, surface currents moving against a reef face may cause deep ocean water to be drawn to the surface. This "upwelled" water is often rich in phosphorus and other essential chemicals." J. E. N. Veron "Corals of Austrailia and the Indo-Pacific" pg 30 (Upwelling exposes corals to .3 mg/l)
And Charles Delbeek wrote this about nutrients in 2010:
"When I see the colors of some of these low nutrient tanks, I can't help but be reminded of bleached coral reefs. It should therefore not come as a surprise that feeding corals in such systems becomes a very important component in these systems. Though reefs are often catagorized as nutrient "deserts" the influx of nutrients in the form of particulates and plankton is quite high when the total volume of water passing over a reef is taken into consideration.
Our crystal-clear aquaria do not come close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs. And so when we create low-nutrient water conditions, we still have to deal with the rest of a much more complex puzzle. Much like those who run their aquarium water temperature close to the thermal maximums of corals walk a narrow tight rope, I can't help but think that low-nutrient aquariums may be headed down a similar path." Charles Delbeck, Coral Nov/Dec 2010, pg 127
Southampton' research, this is the reaserch done with coral maintained for as long as a decade in aquaria identfying a minimum threshold level of .03 mg/l to prevent corals from experiencing a phosphorus deficiency.
An Experimental Mesocosm for Longterm Studies of Reef CoralsAn experimental mesocosm for long-term studies of reef corals | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom | Cambridge Core
An experimental mesocosm for long-term studies of reef corals - Volume 92 Issue 4
Phosphate Deficiency:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching - Nature Climate Change
Increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in sea water have been linked to a reduction of the temperature threshold at which corals bleach, however, the mechanism underlying this change is not known. This phenomenon is now explained in terms of increased phosphatase activities...
Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont:
Frontiers | Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont
Reef building corals associated with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) can access environmental nutrients from different sources, most significantly via the up...
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with din…
More phosphorus stuff
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
Phosphate contamination can negatively affect corals, modifying growth rates, skeletal density, reproduction, mortality, and zooxanthellae. We determi…
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
SUMMARYSeveral untested aspects of the regulation of inorganic nutrient uptake were examined using nutrient depletion experiments with the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. The total inhibition of phosphate uptake in artificial seawater lacking sodium indicates the involvement of a...
Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts
Skeptical Reefkeeping 9: Test Kits, Chasing Numbers and Phosphate
By Rich Ross and Chris Jury There are many standard parameters in the reefkeeping world that aquarists strive to match in their home reefs – water quality,
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...
Fig 4 from "Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts"
Nutrients Nitrogen
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals (Coral pull ammonia directly from the water to feed their zooxanthellae)
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals: Ingenta Connect
Amino acids a source of nitrogen for corals
Uptake of dissolved free amino acids by the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
SUMMARY. This study was designed to assess the importance of dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) as a nitrogen source for the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata. For this purpose, experiments were performed using 15N-enriched DFAAs, and %15N enrichment was measured both in animal tissue and...
Urea a source of nitrogen for corals
Urea uptake by the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
Urea can be one of the major sources of nitrogen for phytoplankton, but little is known about its importance for corals. Experiments were therefore de…
Diazotrpophs a source of nitrogen for corals
Diazotrophs: a non-negligible source of nitrogen for the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata - PubMed
Corals are mixotrophs: they are able to fix inorganic carbon through the activity of their symbiotic dinoflagellates and to gain nitrogen from predation on plankton and uptake of dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients. They also live in close association with diverse diazotrophic communities...
Context Dependant Effects of Nutrient Loading on the Coral-Algal Mutualism, Nitrates cause reduced calcification in corals
Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism | Request PDF
Request PDF | Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism | Human-mediated increases in nutrient availability alter patterns of primary production, impact species diversity, and threaten ecosystem function.... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on...
Fig. 3 from the above paper.
Other stuff
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms - PubMed
As coral reef habitats decline worldwide, some reefs are transitioning from coral- to algal-dominated benthos with the exact cause for this shift remaining elusive. Increases in the abundance of microbes in the water column has been correlated with an increase in coral disease and reduction in...
Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock
About this article This article describes an experiment documenting the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium. While I’ve tried to tell the story as briefly as I can, it’s the story of a month-long study of replicated tanks, with analysis of both water chemistry and the microbial...
QUESTION OF THE DAY - Do colorful corals mean you have stressed corals?
I don' think so. If they were so stressed out they wouldn't grow well so I think that when we have good color and good growth, they are probably thriving. I think our lights don't actually mimic sunlight and that we now provide the right spectrum to support colorful corals, but not full...
Growth cannot be used as an indicator of health.
Mechanisms and potential immune tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation
Microfragmentation is the act of cutting corals into small pieces (~1 cm2) to accelerate the growth rates of corals relative to growth rates observed when maintaining larger-sized fragments. This rapid tissue and skeletal expansion technique offers great potential for supporting reef...
Thank you
OP
OP
You asked for it!
FWIW, since Haas (see below refferences) has shown excess microbial growth can create anoxic conditions on the surface of corals and type of tissue loss when labile DOC. aka carbon dosing, is being used can be caused by the labile DOC
I haven't had the time to look through all the posts son there may be some redundancy but I'll start off with Salem Clemens article on Reefbuilders. While I've been saying much the same for years his article is a pretty good presentation of the problem we have.
He does leave out a couple problems though. One is the problem of ozone and refractory DOC and the other is the duality of sponges. Sponges can process algae DOC distinctly different from coral DOC. This can include sponges in a potential feedback loop that results in coral decline. There is definitely issues using ozone with refractory DOC in a system. As it will break down the refractory DOC in a system and make it available for microbial growth, a system can see much the same issues as a system where labile DOC is used allowing heterotrophic bacteria to feed on the refractory DOC and creating the anoxic conditions and pathogenic shifts associated with their uncontrolled growth.
Water changes still are the best way to remove refractory DOC, keep it from building up in a system and remove in equal protions hydrophillic and hydrophobic polutants.
DOC is The Most Important Parameter For A Healthy Reef Tank: Here’s a New Method to Manage It | Reef Builders | The Reef and Saltwater Aquarium Blog
In this article, I will provide an overview of my take on the current zeitgeist of reefing and explain why the entire industry is ignoring a critical aspect of coral care. I will explain what issues…reefbuilders.com
Rohwer's book and select videos
"Coral Reefs in the Microbial Seas " This video compliments Rohwer's book of the same title. Used copies are available on line and it may be free to read on Internet Archive. both deal with the conflicting roles of the different types of DOC (carbon dosing) in reef ecosystems and how it can alter coral microbiomes. While there is overlap bewteen his book and the video both have information not covered by the other and together give a broader view of the complex relationships found in reef ecosystems and are an excellent starting point to understand the conflicting roles of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC, aka "carbon dosing") in reef ecosystems.
Changing Seas - Mysterious Microbes
Microbial view of Coral Decline
Nitrogen cycling in hte coral holobiont
BActeria and Sponges
Maintenance of Coral Reef Health (refferences at the end)
Optical Feedback Loop in Colorful Coral Bleaching
DNA Sequencing and the Reef Tank Microbiome
Richard Ross What's up with phosphate"
DOC stuff
For refference when talking about DOC; While large portion of compunds that make up DOC are still undiferentiated DOC can be roughly divided into "labile" "semirefractory" and "refreactory". The deep oceans are "sinks" for refractory DOC and may have only a few percent of labile DOC. Reef systems in contrast will comprise of about 1/3 labile DOC, a small portion of semi-refractory and about 2/3rds refractory. Here's a short terms of terms also as there's some different terms used that are almost identical:
DOC - Dissolved Organic Carbon, really small stuff
DOM - Dissolved Organic Matter, some might consider this term more appropraite to DOC as there's a lot still undiferentiated
POC - Particulate Organic Carbon, stuff to large to be DOC
TOC - Total Organic Carbon = DOC + POC In reef systems DOC accounts for about 90% and POC about 10%
Indirect effects of algae on coral: algae‐mediated, microbe‐induced coral mortality
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Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism.
Coral DOC improves oxygen (autotrophy), algae DOC reduces oxygen (heterotrophy).
Influence of coral and algal exudates on microbially mediated reef metabolism
Benthic primary producers in tropical reef ecosystems can alter biogeochemical cycling and microbial processes in the surrounding seawater. In order to quantify these influences, we measured rates of photosynthesis, respiration, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exudate release by the dominant...
Role of elevated organic carbon levels and microbial activity in coral mortality
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Algae releases significantly more DOC into the water than coral.
Effects of Coral Reef Benthic Primary Producers on Dissolved Organic Carbon and Microbial Activity
Benthic primary producers in marine ecosystems may significantly alter biogeochemical cycling and microbial processes in their surrounding environment. To examine these interactions, we studied dissolved organic matter release by dominant benthic taxa and subsequent microbial remineralization in...
Pathologies and mortality rates caused by organic carbon and nutrient stressors in three Caribbean coral species.
DOC caused coral death but not high nitrates, phosphates or ammonium.
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
Visualization of oxygen distribution patterns caused by coral and algae
Planar optodes were used to visualize oxygen distribution patterns associated with a coral reef associated green algae (Chaetomorpha sp.) and a hermatypic coral (Favia sp.) separately, as standalone organisms, and placed in close proximity mimicking coral-algal interactions. Oxygen patterns were...
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates
Exposure to exudates derived from turf algae stimulated higher oxygen drawdown by the coral-associated bacteria.
Biological oxygen demand optode analysis of coral reef-associated microbial communities exposed to algal exudates - PMC
Algae-derived dissolved organic matter has been hypothesized to induce mortality of reef building corals. One proposed killing mechanism is a zone of hypoxia created by rapidly growing microbes. To investigate this hypothesis, biological oxygen ...
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs
Microbial ecology: Algae feed a shift on coral reefs - Nature Microbiology
Human pressures on coral reefs are giving macroalgae a competitive advantage over reef-building corals. These algae support larger, and potentially pathogenic, microbial populations that are metabolically primed for less-efficient, yet faster, carbohydrate remineralization, perpetuating a...
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages.
Coral and macroalgal exudates vary in neutral sugar composition and differentially enrich reef bacterioplankton lineages - PubMed
Increasing algal cover on tropical reefs worldwide may be maintained through feedbacks whereby algae outcompete coral by altering microbial activity. We hypothesized that algae and coral release compositionally distinct exudates that differentially alter bacterioplankton growth and community...
Sugar enrichment provides evidence for a role of nitrogen fixation in coral bleaching
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Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
(here's an argument for maintaining heavy fish loads if you're carbon dosing)
Elevated ammonium delays the impairment of the coral-dinoflagellate symbiosis during labile carbon pollution
Labile dissolved organic carbon (DOC) is a major pollutant in coastal marine environments affected by anthropogenic impacts, and may significantly con…
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton
Excess labile carbon promotes the expression of virulence factors in coral reef bacterioplankton - The ISME Journal
Coastal pollution and algal cover are increasing on many coral reefs, resulting in higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. High DOC concentrations strongly affect microbial activity in reef waters and select for copiotrophic, often potentially virulent microbial populations. High...
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs.
Unseen players shape benthic competition on coral reefs - PubMed
Recent work has shown that hydrophilic and hydrophobic organic matter (OM) from algae disrupts the function of the coral holobiont and promotes the invasion of opportunistic pathogens, leading to coral morbidity and mortality. Here we refer to these dynamics as the (3)DAM [dissolved organic...
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance.
Allelochemicals Produced by Brown Macroalgae of the Lobophora Genus Are Active against Coral Larvae and Associated Bacteria, Supporting Pathogenic Shifts to Vibrio Dominance - PubMed
Diverse microbial communities associate with coral tissues and mucus, providing important protective and nutritional services, but once disturbed, the microbial equilibrium may shift from a beneficial state to one that is detrimental or pathogenic. Macroalgae (e.g., seaweeds) can physically and...
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides.
Macroalgae decrease growth and alter microbial community structure of the reef-building coral, Porites astreoides - PubMed
With the continued and unprecedented decline of coral reefs worldwide, evaluating the factors that contribute to coral demise is of critical importance. As coral cover declines, macroalgae are becoming more common on tropical reefs. Interactions between these macroalgae and corals may alter the...
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals.
Macroalgal extracts induce bacterial assemblage shifts and sublethal tissue stress in Caribbean corals - PubMed
Benthic macroalgae can be abundant on present-day coral reefs, especially where rates of herbivory are low and/or dissolved nutrients are high. This study investigated the impact of macroalgal extracts on both coral-associated bacterial assemblages and sublethal stress response of corals. Crude...
Biophysical and physiological processes causing oxygen loss from coral reefs.
Global microbialization of coral reefs
DDAM Proven
Global microbialization of coral reefs - Nature Microbiology
Analysis of 60 sites in three ocean basins suggests that overgrowth of fleshy algae on coral reefs supports higher microbial abundances dominated by copiotrophic, potentially pathogenic bacteria via the provision of dissolved inorganic carbon.
Coral Reef Microorganisms in a Changing Climate, Fig 3
Figure - PMC
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and productive ecosystems on the planet, yet they have suffered tremendous losses due to anthropogenic disturbances and are predicted to be one of the most adversely affected habitats under future climate ...
Ecosystem Microbiology of Coral Reefs: Linking Genomic, Metabolomic, and Biogeochemical Dynamics from Animal Symbioses to Reefscape Processes
Ken Feldman's papers
Back in 2008 and 2009 Ken Feldman, a researcher at Penn State, conducted some experiments and posted a series of articles on Advanced Aquarist introducing aquarists to the some of the research on DOC and publishing his research on TOC and bacteria in aquaria.
Total Organic Carbon Pt 1
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part I
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.
Total Organic Carbon Pt 2
Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and the Reef Aquarium: an Initial Survey, Part II
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Ken and Kelly continue to report on their work on Total Organic Carbon and how it relates to the reef aquarium.
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 1
The Development of a Method for the Quantitative Evaluation of Protein Skimmer Performance
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Protein skimmers have become indispensable for many aquarists who strive to maintain the high water quality necessary to keep stony corals.
Protein Skimmer Performance, Pt 2
Further Studies on Protein Skimmer Performance
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. Many factors contribute to the 'value' of a skimmer to an aquarist, including quality of construction, size, footprint, noise level, ease of cleaning, energy efficiency of the pump, and of course, the ability...
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate
Elemental Analysis of Skimmate: What Does a Protein Skimmer Actually Remove from Aquarium Water?
Department of Chemistry, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802. The chemical/elemental composition of skimmate generated by an H&S 200-1260 skimmer on a 175-gallon reef tank over the course of several days or a week had some surprises.
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water
Bacterial Counts in Reef Aquarium Water: Baseline Values and Modulation by Carbon Dosing, Protein Skimming, and Granular Activated Carbon Filtration
What are the bacteria populations in the water column of reef tanks, and how does that value compare with bacterial counts in authentic reef water? Does carbon dosing indeed increase water column bacteria populations (i.e., is growth carbon limited)? Does mechanical filtration (protein skimming...
Sponge stuff
And here I gotta give a shout out to Steve Tyree, who back in the 90's was championing the use of cryptic sponges and cryptic zones, It's really too bad more "gurus" didn't pay attention to what he was trying to point out about sponges him instead of touting inorganic phosphorus as a major problem.
Element cycling on tropical coral reefs.
This is Jasper de Geoij's ground breaking research on reef sponge finding some species process labile DOC 1000X faster than bacterioplankton. (The introduction is in Dutch but the content is in English.)
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...
Differential recycling of coral and algal dissolved organic matter via the sponge loop.
Sponges treat DOC from algae differently than DOC from corals
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A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
A Vicious Circle? Altered Carbon and Nutrient Cycling May Explain the Low Resilience of Caribbean Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are economically important ecosystems that have suffered unprecedented losses of corals in the recent past. Why have Caribbean reefs in particu
Surviving in a Marine Desert The Sponge Loop Retains Resources Within Coral Reefs
Dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen are quickly processed by sponges and released back into the reef food web in hours as carbon and nitrogen rich detritus.
(PDF) 2013 deGoeij Science Sponge loop
PDF | On Jun 23, 2015, Jasper M de Goeij and others published 2013 deGoeij Science Sponge loop | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ResearchGate
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC)
Natural Diet of Coral-Excavating Sponges Consists Mainly of Dissolved Organic Carbon (DOC) - PMC
Coral-excavating sponges are the most important bioeroders on Caribbean reefs and increase in abundance throughout the region. This increase is commonly attributed to a concomitant increase in food availability due to eutrophication and pollution. ...
The Role of Marine Sponges in Carbon and Nitrogen Cycles of COral Reefs and Nearshore Environments.
The role of marine sponges in carbon and nitrogen cycles of coral reef and nearshore environments - ProQuest
Explore millions of resources from scholarly journals, books, newspapers, videos and more, on the ProQuest Platform.
Nutrients - Phosphorus
One of the workds formost coral researchers wrote this in the early 90's in his book "Corals of Australia and the Indo-Pacific" (I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if more "gurus" had paid attention.)
"Imported nutrients are usually transported to reefs from rivers; but if there are no rivers, as with reefs remote from land masses, nutrients can only come from surface ocean circulation. Often this supply is poor, and thus the vast ocean expanses have been refered to as "nutrient deserts". The Indo-Pacific has many huge atolls in these supposed deserts which testify to the resilience of reefs, but the corals themselves may lack the lush appearance of those of more fertile waters. Many reefs have another major supply of inorganic nutrients as, under certain conditions, surface currents moving against a reef face may cause deep ocean water to be drawn to the surface. This "upwelled" water is often rich in phosphorus and other essential chemicals." J. E. N. Veron "Corals of Austrailia and the Indo-Pacific" pg 30 (Upwelling exposes corals to .3 mg/l)
And Charles Delbeek wrote this about nutrients in 2010:
"When I see the colors of some of these low nutrient tanks, I can't help but be reminded of bleached coral reefs. It should therefore not come as a surprise that feeding corals in such systems becomes a very important component in these systems. Though reefs are often catagorized as nutrient "deserts" the influx of nutrients in the form of particulates and plankton is quite high when the total volume of water passing over a reef is taken into consideration.
Our crystal-clear aquaria do not come close to the nutrient loads that swirl around natural reefs. And so when we create low-nutrient water conditions, we still have to deal with the rest of a much more complex puzzle. Much like those who run their aquarium water temperature close to the thermal maximums of corals walk a narrow tight rope, I can't help but think that low-nutrient aquariums may be headed down a similar path." Charles Delbeck, Coral Nov/Dec 2010, pg 127
Southampton' research, this is the reaserch done with coral maintained for as long as a decade in aquaria identfying a minimum threshold level of .03 mg/l to prevent corals from experiencing a phosphorus deficiency.
An Experimental Mesocosm for Longterm Studies of Reef CoralsAn experimental mesocosm for long-term studies of reef corals | Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom | Cambridge Core
An experimental mesocosm for long-term studies of reef corals - Volume 92 Issue 4
Phosphate Deficiency:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching:
Nutrient enrichment can increase the susceptibility of reef corals to bleaching - Nature Climate Change
Increased dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations in sea water have been linked to a reduction of the temperature threshold at which corals bleach, however, the mechanism underlying this change is not known. This phenomenon is now explained in terms of increased phosphatase activities...
Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont:
Frontiers | Ultrastructural Biomarkers in Symbiotic Algae Reflect the Availability of Dissolved Inorganic Nutrients and Particulate Food to the Reef Coral Holobiont
Reef building corals associated with symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) can access environmental nutrients from different sources, most significantly via the up...
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Phosphate deficiency promotes coral bleaching and is reflected by the ultrastructure of symbiotic dinoflagellates
Enrichment of reef environments with dissolved inorganic nutrients is considered a major threat to the survival of corals living in symbiosis with din…
More phosphorus stuff
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
Effects of phosphate on growth and skeletal density in the scleractinian coral Acropora muricata: A controlled experimental approach
Phosphate contamination can negatively affect corals, modifying growth rates, skeletal density, reproduction, mortality, and zooxanthellae. We determi…
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
High phosphate uptake requirements of the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
SUMMARYSeveral untested aspects of the regulation of inorganic nutrient uptake were examined using nutrient depletion experiments with the symbiotic coral Stylophora pistillata. The total inhibition of phosphate uptake in artificial seawater lacking sodium indicates the involvement of a...
Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts
Skeptical Reefkeeping 9: Test Kits, Chasing Numbers and Phosphate
By Rich Ross and Chris Jury There are many standard parameters in the reefkeeping world that aquarists strive to match in their home reefs – water quality,
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Sponge symbionts and the marine P cycle
Marine sponges are ubiquitous colonizers of shallow, clear-water environments in the oceans (1, 2). Sponges have emerged as significant mediators of biogeochemical fluxes in coastal zones by virtue of respiring organic matter and facilitating both the consumption and release of nutrients (3, 4)...
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Phosphorus sequestration in the form of polyphosphate by microbial symbionts in marine sponges
Coral reefs are highly productive ecosystems that raise a conundrum called “Darwin’s paradox”: How can high production flourish in low-nutrient conditions? We show here that in three abundant Caribbean sponges, the granules that have been commonly observed in sponge tissue for decades are...
Fig 4 from "Phosphorus metabolism of reef organisms with algal symbionts"
Nutrients Nitrogen
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals (Coral pull ammonia directly from the water to feed their zooxanthellae)
Ammonium Uptake by Symbiotic and Aposymbiotic Reef Corals: Ingenta Connect
Amino acids a source of nitrogen for corals
Uptake of dissolved free amino acids by the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
SUMMARY. This study was designed to assess the importance of dissolved free amino acids (DFAA) as a nitrogen source for the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata. For this purpose, experiments were performed using 15N-enriched DFAAs, and %15N enrichment was measured both in animal tissue and...
Urea a source of nitrogen for corals
Urea uptake by the scleractinian coral Stylophora pistillata
Urea can be one of the major sources of nitrogen for phytoplankton, but little is known about its importance for corals. Experiments were therefore de…
Diazotrpophs a source of nitrogen for corals
Diazotrophs: a non-negligible source of nitrogen for the tropical coral Stylophora pistillata - PubMed
Corals are mixotrophs: they are able to fix inorganic carbon through the activity of their symbiotic dinoflagellates and to gain nitrogen from predation on plankton and uptake of dissolved organic and inorganic nutrients. They also live in close association with diverse diazotrophic communities...
Context Dependant Effects of Nutrient Loading on the Coral-Algal Mutualism, Nitrates cause reduced calcification in corals
Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism | Request PDF
Request PDF | Context-dependent effects of nutrient loading on the coral-algal mutualism | Human-mediated increases in nutrient availability alter patterns of primary production, impact species diversity, and threaten ecosystem function.... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on...
Fig. 3 from the above paper.
Other stuff
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms
Aura-biomes are present in the water layer above coral reef benthic macro-organisms - PubMed
As coral reef habitats decline worldwide, some reefs are transitioning from coral- to algal-dominated benthos with the exact cause for this shift remaining elusive. Increases in the abundance of microbes in the water column has been correlated with an increase in coral disease and reduction in...
Establishing a Healthy Microbiome in a New Aquarium Using Live Rock
About this article This article describes an experiment documenting the effects of live rock in a newly established aquarium. While I’ve tried to tell the story as briefly as I can, it’s the story of a month-long study of replicated tanks, with analysis of both water chemistry and the microbial...
QUESTION OF THE DAY - Do colorful corals mean you have stressed corals?
I don' think so. If they were so stressed out they wouldn't grow well so I think that when we have good color and good growth, they are probably thriving. I think our lights don't actually mimic sunlight and that we now provide the right spectrum to support colorful corals, but not full...
Growth cannot be used as an indicator of health.
Mechanisms and potential immune tradeoffs of accelerated coral growth induced by microfragmentation
Microfragmentation is the act of cutting corals into small pieces (~1 cm2) to accelerate the growth rates of corals relative to growth rates observed when maintaining larger-sized fragments. This rapid tissue and skeletal expansion technique offers great potential for supporting reef...
You seen this vid? It's basically the info that put me off algae scrubbers a long time ago that has resurfaced;
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