Methods for Cleansing Corals of Harmful Substances

Introduction

In this article, we'll examine an important topic – stimulating corals to expel toxins. Like any living organisms, corals accumulate metabolic waste products that periodically need to be expelled. Similar to how fish release ammonia, urea, CO₂, and other waste substances into the water, corals also have mechanisms for eliminating unwanted compounds.

Natural Coral Cleansing Processes

Water Release and Renewal

The first cleansing mechanism is the cyclical release and uptake of water. Corals can expel:

• Undigested food clumps
• Excess zooxanthellae (often as black threads)
• Processed organic matter from their cavity

Corals don't have a typical stomach, so they regulate the content of organic matter and zooxanthellae by taking in water and then contracting to expel this water. Essentially, this is a unique form of flushing.

This process is especially noticeable in LPS corals. You can observe how a coral completely contracts, then inflates again. Such cycles may repeat 1-2 times a day. Through this mechanism, corals feed on substances dissolved in water and simultaneously cleanse themselves.

Adaptation Process

This process is particularly evident during the adaptation of new corals. When a coral is transferred to a new environment, it needs to release its internal water and fill itself with water from the new aquarium. The stress during adaptation after transportation occurs precisely because of the difference between the external and internal water in the coral.

When a coral arrives in a new aquarium and quickly inflates, this doesn't yet indicate successful adaptation. You need to observe it for several hours or days:

• The coral fills with new water
• Gradually "recognizes" the parameters of this water
• If it doesn't suit the coral, it begins to inflate less – it releases water and tries to fill again

The adaptation process occurs in waves and usually takes about a week when there's a significant difference in water parameters. If the difference is small, the coral adapts faster.

If a coral inflates after receiving it from a supplier – this is a good sign, indicating that it's alive. But if it gradually deflates afterward and eventually dies, it means it couldn't adapt to the new conditions. Perhaps the water parameters didn't suit it, or the difference between the former and new environment was too great.

Mucus Secretion as a Cleansing Mechanism

Natural Process of Mucus Secretion

Besides internal water flushing, corals have another important cleansing mechanism – the secretion of protective mucus. This process allows them to get rid of harmful substances accumulated on the surface and in tissues.

In the natural environment, stimulation for mucus secretion occurs due to:

• Tides
• Storms when water churns
• Small air bubbles adhering to corals in aeration zones

An interesting example is the corals of the Great Barrier Reef, especially acroporas, which are located in the tidal zone. When water recedes for several hours, corals remain without water under direct sunlight and secrete a thick layer of mucus (2-3 cm) for protection. This mucus coating helps them avoid burning under the sun.

Cooling of corals during such moments occurs through capillary rising water, as well as through the base, which remains in water. Although the tips may heat up a couple of degrees higher than the surrounding water, they don't overheat critically. When the tide returns, all mucus is washed away and mixed by the current.

Amount of Secreted Mucus

It's surprising how much mucus even a small coral can secrete. If you take a healthy, actively growing coral out into the air, it immediately begins to secrete mucus. When turning the coral over, you can observe how drops of mucus are released within 30-60 seconds – this isn't just draining water, but specifically viscous mucus.

If such a coral is rinsed, washing away all the mucus, and placed back in the aquarium, and then taken out again after some time, the second time there will be significantly less mucus or none at all. This indicates that the coral has already expelled accumulated substances with the first portion of mucus.

Practical Method for Stimulating Cleansing

Imitation of Natural Conditions

Obviously, constantly removing all corals from the aquarium to stimulate mucus secretion is impractical and risky. However, we can imitate natural conditions that stimulate this cleansing process.

The most effective way is to create temporary saturation of water with small air bubbles. Here's a step-by-step instruction:

Frequency of procedure:

Conduct 1-3 times a week (twice is usually sufficient)

Required equipment:

• Regular pump with an air intake tube
• Timer for process automation

Setup:

• Place a powerful pump so that it draws air from the surface
• Set it to blow small air bubbles into the aquarium
• Connect the pump to a timer for automatic on/off

Duration of procedure:

• Turn on the system for 1-5 minutes (usually 2-3 minutes is enough)
• The goal is to create good bubble saturation in the aquarium, but not to the state of completely "white" water

Result:

• Bubbles adhere to corals
• After turning off the pump, corals begin to secrete mucus to get rid of bubbles
• Mucus along with bubbles is carried away by the current and eventually removed from the system

Important Conditions for Successful Procedure

For safe and effective procedure, it's necessary to ensure:

• A good skimming system – to remove secreted mucus
• Effective degassing and aeration – to process suspended particles
• Properly organized internal flow – so bubbles don't get stuck under the reef or in grottos

Attention! Make sure you don't have structures where air bubbles can accumulate. The reef should be built so that the current can carry all bubbles to the surface. Ideally, 1-1.5 hours after the procedure, there should be no visible consequences (air accumulations) in the aquarium.

Benefits of Regular Cleansing

After a properly conducted procedure, you'll notice that pieces of mucus remain in the system, attached to various surfaces. Don't worry – all this will be utilized by the biological filtration system and won't lead to increased phosphates, since these substances were already in your system.

This cleansing process doesn't add anything new to the aquarium – corals simply excrete what was already in them. This isn't the same as adding new organics from outside.

With regular procedures (twice a week) for 2-3 weeks, you'll notice that your acroporas and other corals become noticeably more active and healthier:

• They will look more vigorous
• Will inflate more strongly
• Will more actively extend polyps

Conclusion

Stimulating corals to cleanse through the mechanism of mucus secretion is an effective way to improve their health and activity. By imitating natural processes, we can help corals get rid of accumulated toxins and harmful substances, which positively affects their condition and growth.

A properly organized procedure with temporary water saturation with bubbles, combined with a good flow and filtration system, won't cause problems and will significantly improve the overall condition of the coral reef in your aquarium.