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potatocouch

Member
Jan 16, 2014
1,124
153
Sydney
When Sps Die, Do They Become Ammonia Or Just Dead Rock?
Simple question: when Acropora (or other SPS) die, will they become Ammonia or just dead rock?

I mean they're not really meaty organism, are they, which can become rotten hence Ammonia.

amedia.treasurecoastcorals.com_media_catalog_product_cache_1_if5b01531f4dafe03ab38c487f7a9423b.jpg
 

MagicJ

Moderator
Jul 11, 2011
9,650
3,761
Hobart, Tasmania
I mean they're not really meaty organism, are they, which can become rotten hence Ammonia.
They have a calcium based skeleton, but the polyps themselves are a tiny animal, closely related to jellyfish - this picture provides an idea of what they look like
acoral.org_wordpress_wp_content_uploads_2013_10_Emily_M._Eng_coral_crosssection_label.jpg

So, yes, when an SPS coral dies it will break down and form ammonia, just like any other living animal.
 

KoNP

Member
Jan 5, 2015
72
70
Every animal produces ammonia compounds when it dies and decays. It's a natural biological process.