BioRock Experiment

[ScubaSteve]

I've been thinking this over for a while and I have the time now to indulge in my curiosity, so I'm going to just throw this out there to see who might be interested...

Many of you are probably pretty familiar with the Biorock project by now. For those that aren't, the idea is that they use electricity to stimulate the growth of corals on galvanized steel structures thus growing an artificial reef. Cool stuff. They have found that corals grow 3 to 6 times faster on these electrified structures!

As far as I have found, no one has tried this in an aquarium. I have found forums that mention the idea but no one has ventured to try it. I want to try! This is particularly interesting to me as it is related to my research (I am doing my PhD in electrochemical engineering and photocatalysis) and the jump between my work and this idea is small and could lead to something really cool. Plus it'd be sweet to grow your expensive frags to colony proportions lickety-split.

What I want to do is build a conducting frag rack that can boost the growth of frags using this technique. I want to experiment with SPS frags on this device. My tank set-up, however, is not ideal for this... it's simply to small and not mature enough.

I am wondering if there is someone out there who is an SPS pro and doses calc, alk and magnesium who would be willing to work with me in their tank to try this out?

The idea would be to put this frag rack in the tank with two frags from the same mother side-by-side (so they have the same light), mounted identically except only one of them will be on the electrified rack. We would then measure the growth rates over a period of time and see which grows fastest. I will build and pay for the device, I just need someone willing to test it.

I know many people are hesitant to try this out, especially with the whole electricity/water combo. I can assure you that this thing would not cause stray voltage issues (Stray voltage is mostly an AC current issue. This device uses low DC currents) and I will ensure that all the materials are compatible with a tank.

Anybody curious to give this a try?

[banditpowdercoat]

Hmm, totally interesting concept. They are growing it on Galvanized steel? No leeching effects I wonder? I am interested in this, but my tank is probibally not the best for you to experiment on. Not yet anyways.

[don.ald]

do you need an established tank or new set-up?

[ScubaSteve]

The galvanized steel would be electrochemically protected (any rust and corrosion would actually be reversed in these conditions) and would not leach. I will not build something I wouldn't put into my own tank.

I am going to finish reading a few of the published biorock scientific papers and do a few designs over the next two weeks. I have the Olympics off basically as I can't get to work (my lab is right next to the hockey venue). After that I'll build it and give it a test in my lab on my potentiostat to make sure the materials are safe, how much power it needs, etc.

I'd prefer an established set-up for a whole laundry list of reasons. The big one being stability; also someone with a good knowledge of SPS is a benefit too (not saying that anyone here isn't). My SPS tank is stable but small (20G) and young... That is too many variables as it is without adding a gizmo to it and trying to determine results.

[ScubaSteve]

It turns out that ReefHQ, an aquarium in Australia, has been experimenting with the process for a couple years now in their tanks, so it is reef safe. They have a few nifty tricks in their system that could make this possible in small aquariums like the ones we deal with. I have contacted them for more info and results.

Anybody in Vancouver interested?

Also, comments, ideas and input are appreciated!

[wolf_bluejay]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

It turns out that ReefHQ, an aquarium in Australia, has been experimenting with the process for a couple years now in their tanks, so it is reef safe. They have a few nifty tricks in their system that could make this possible in small aquariums like the ones we deal with. I have contacted them for more info and results.

Anybody in Vancouver interested?

Also, comments, ideas and input are appreciated!

What about those of us not in Vancouver area?

I've been tempted to play with something like this, but just haven't had the time to play much. I'm in Kamloops with a 220gal SPS tank, automated dosing for calc and alk.

Seems they are only using about 12VDC which doesn't worry me about the stray voltage.

I could probably slap something together and do it myself, but I don't have any specs on what they are running for current

[ScubaSteve]

Ha! You're not the first out of towner to say that today . Only reason I was looking for someone around here is that I could troubleshoot it and measure the results. I do want to actually make some scientific claim to either prove or refute this thing. Sometimes certain procedures in aquaria get a fairly subjectiveIf I don't find anyone around here I'll gladly work with people out of town.

I'm going to do a little more footwork and put together some plans and the materials needed. I will gladly build a few of them or pass the plans on. You need to be careful with the selection of you anode material so that you don't get anodic corrosion and poison your tank. Today I did a few experiments and was able to form limestone on the cathode. It actually happens really fast!

[wolf_bluejay]

Originally Posted by ScubaSteve

Ha! You're not the first out of towner to say that today . Only reason I was looking for someone around here is that I could troubleshoot it and measure the results. I do want to actually make some scientific claim to either prove or refute this thing. Sometimes certain procedures in aquaria get a fairly subjectiveIf I don't find anyone around here I'll gladly work with people out of town.

I'm going to do a little more footwork and put together some plans and the materials needed. I will gladly build a few of them or pass the plans on. You need to be careful with the selection of you anode material so that you don't get anodic corrosion and poison your tank. Today I did a few experiments and was able to form limestone on the cathode. It actually happens really fast!

The happening fast part is where I was worried. I was thinking that with unregulated current you would pretty much be electroplating the medium.
If you have some plans I would love it, (B.Sc in Comp Sci and Physics) so my tank is more toy than hobby.

Of course I wish there was a way to make the metal mesh removable, as I was thinking of attempting to "grow" the shapes I want for aquascaping. But as soon as the current is removed the metal will be a problem.

It would be neat to see how fast you could grow limestone with lots of power and really, really high dosing rates.

[ScubaSteve]

Electroplating is exactly what you are doing to the electrode. Actually to be more correct its electro-accretion of minerals, but who's getting technical here? . Once that outer layer forms it slows down. Also, it depends on how high you drive the voltage, whether you leave it unregulated, and so on. But really, the idea IS tho to plating limestone onto the growing medium, that's where the magic is.

The coral itself would not necessarily attach to the metal. It would attach to the accretion layer which can be (easily) chipped off. All the metals that I would spec would be marine safe, so you could grow into those directly. Also, you don't need a metal to be conductive. You could easily grow this onto a carbon as well.. just something to mull over there.

Give me a week to gather a bit more info and I'll let you know what I come up with.

[Kryptic4L]

would this not be equivelent to a farmer's feild where as the lime becomes the ideal soil.

Still not sure how this translate's to us, as the plating draws in mineral's thus creating more farming land. Which would be something we have more control over on the smaller scale .

Also, my train of thought would lead toward's if they are placed in a tank, and the plating is drawing more of the mineral's near the electrically charged area. This could potentially take nutrients away from subject B putting it at a disadvantage where A gains a slight advantage.