halimeda -> tang -> ?

[siropa]

This is a very unimportant question, but i'm curious none the less...

I've got lots of halimeda growing in my reef tank. I recently got a unicorn tang that likes to much on the stuff. Since the halimeda uses Ca to grow, what happens to that Ca after being "processed" by the tang? Is it back into the water in some form that is reusable or has it been converted to something else by this point?

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

It may be partly dissolved in the GI tract pH is low enough, but I expect a lot of it simply passes out and becomes part of the sand substrate. :)

[siropa]

Thanks Randy. From now on when people ask what kind of sand I have i'm going to say tang grade :)

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Or poop grade. :D

[bertoni]

Parrot fish produce a lot of sand this way, if my memory is correct.

[siropa]

poop grade. I like that one better.