Mg++ and problems with calcification of corals.
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>By Ron Shimek:
Additional calcification reduction may be due to the substitution of strontium for calcium in the enzymatic pathways necessary for calcification. Strontium(and other doubly charged positive ions such as magnesium, barium and zinc) will occasionally substitute for calcium in the chemical processes that a coral uses for skeletogenesis. The substitution of strontium(Mg/Ba/Zn) for calcium by corals, mollusks, and fishes appears accidental (Sadovy and Severin, 1992). However, strontium(Mg/Ba/Zn) is not a twin of calcium and reacts somewhat differently than calcium, and may significantly slow down the calcification process. Thus, if the conditions are otherwise good for the corals, the addition of Strontium(Mg/Ba/Zn) would inhibit calcification.
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[ 23 January 2002: Message edited by: DJ88 ]</p>