Red Sea - Reef Foundation 3x250ml Nanokit

Red Sea Reef Foundation Program – Reef Fundamentals Program

A successful reef 'aquarium' depends on maintaining appropriate water parameters which, in turn, provide the stable environment required by corals. Although all of the elements found in natural seawater play an important role in maintaining these optimal parameters, a few of them play an even more significant role in overall stability. These elements are the foundation of the reef environment and include the three major elements: calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and bicarbonates (HCO3).

These three fundamental elements have a major effect on water chemistry (pH stability, alkalinity, ionic strength of seawater) and on many biological processes at work in coral (skeleton formation, exchanges ions, photosynthesis).

Red Sea 's Reef Foundation program provides a complete solution to maintain and support the building of coral foundation blocks in the reef aquarium. For this it is composed of complete and balanced supplements, formulated to act together in the long term without changing the ionic balance of the water.

Skeletogenesis is a process by which special cells within the soft tissues of corals combine the building blocks with strontium and barium taken from the surrounding water to form the building blocks of coral skeletons.

Corals build about 90% of their skeleton by combining calcium and carbonate ions taken from water to form aragonite (CaCO3). The rest of the skeleton is made of magnesite (MgCO3), strontian (SrCO3), calcite (a more brittle crystal structure of CaCO3), fluorite (CaF2) and other minor and trace minerals.

In a state of imbalance, such as when Mg and/or Sr levels are low, the skeleton will grow with a greater proportion of calcite, making it more fragile and more susceptible to damage.

The fundamental elements complement each other in the formation of the coral skeleton. If they are not available in the right proportions, one of them can quickly become the limiting factor for healthy coral growth.

Corals must invest their energy to transport the fundamental and other elements that are found in the surrounding water and are necessary for their skelettogenesis through their soft tissues. High levels of ground elements make the ionic pressure more positive. This makes possible a passive diffusion of the elements through the soft tissues and thus makes the process much more efficient (less energy is required per gram of skeleton). Also, a balanced level of the fundamental elements results in accelerated coral growth rates.

In the case of mature systems, where accelerated growth is not sought, or if the aim is rather a reinforced coloration (by reducing the level of nutrients for the algae), it is necessary to maintain a level of less optimal fundamental elements.

Optimal levels of fundamental elements

Unlike the natural reef environment, where the reservoir of fundamental elements is immense, the reef aquarium is an artificial environment that is constantly affected by chemical changes. This is the reason why it must be constantly monitored and replenished with the basic elements. Research has shown that optimal levels of these elements should be maintained depending on the variety and maturity of the specific coral population.

To choose the optimal level for your aquarium, it is recommended to use the recommended values for the most demanding species in your aquarium.

Optimal levels of salinity, KH, Ca and Mg depending on the type of aquarium:

Starting the Red Sea Reef Foundation program maintains the required concentrations of Foundational Elements. The Reef Foundation program provides the optimal conditions to increase the rate of calcification via passive diffusion enhancement. This reduces the energy demands generated by calcification processes. Corals are stronger, healthier and more colorful.

Red Sea Reef Foundation Program Video