hard water and life (1 Viewer)

[chewy123]

what's the effect of calcium ion on aquatic life?
text book seem to say it is harmless.

 

[Undermyskin]

I don't think it really does any harm. Since there's a natural buffer system of carbonate/bicarbonate present in any aquatic niches, whenever the [Ca 2+] is too high, CaCO3 precipitates out and this solid doesn't pose any problem at all. It's like adding builder NaCO3 to surfactants to help reduce the effect of hard-water (or to soften water).

 

[Steth0scope]

It strengthens their bones =)

 

[Undermyskin]

Really? They just simply absorb it?

 

[minijumbuk]

I guess too hard of anything is bad =P

But yea, as Undermyskin said, there is a natural buffer, so there shouldn't be a huge problem.

Also, whether it strengthens animals' bones or not does not matter, because if there is a buffer system, then animals' bone strength won't change =\

 

[Steth0scope]

Well animal's bones acts as a buffer system too because the amount of Ca2+ being absorbed/released from bones depends on hormonal signals which trigger bone development or break down. So, the strength of animals bones can change ... I doubt you'd need to mention this at HSC.