Coral Chips For Aquarium? Top 36 Best Answers

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Have you ever looked at a beautiful piece of coral and wondered if you could put it in your freshwater aquarium? Known for their unique shapes and ability to provide cover for various species of fish, corals can make a great addition to your freshwater aquarium.

Unfortunately, appearances can be deceiving. While a piece of coral may seem like an innocuous, showy piece of tank decor, the truth is far more complex and unexpected than meets the eye. Today we’re taking a look at whether or not you can actually put corals in a freshwater aquarium!

What happens when you add dead coral to a freshwater tank?

Water hardness is measured by the amount of calcium and magnesium ions in the water. When corals are placed in a freshwater tank, the water hardness increases.

Corals are made up of calcium carbonate, CaCO₃, the same compound found in shells, pearls, and carbonate rocks. When corals come into contact with water, they form calcium bicarbonate, which is present in freshwater as calcium ions (Ca2+), bicarbonate ions (HCO − 3), and carbonate ions (CO 2− 3 ).

The calcium ions produced by coral dissolution cause freshwater to become hard when corals are placed in aquariums.

Should you add coral to a freshwater tank?

In general, adding dead reef corals to a freshwater aquarium is not a good idea. Very few freshwater fish can survive in the harsh conditions of dead coral, and even those who prefer harder water benefit from stable water parameters – which disintegrating coral cannot offer.

Each piece of coral will respond differently to the conditions in your aquarium, so it’s best to avoid coral altogether. Hyper-reactive pieces of coral can produce dangerous levels of calcium ions, leading to imbalanced water chemistry.

Consequences of adding coral to freshwater tanks

Many hobbyists attempt to add coral to their freshwater tanks despite conventional wisdom strongly warning against it. While adding corals can be safe under very specific contexts, most of the time it leads to undesirable consequences. Here are three negative implications to be aware of:

Unstable water parameters

In general, fish can thrive as long as their water chemistry requirements are met—this includes water hardness and pH. However, there is a caveat to this rule: all changes in water parameters should be gradual, even if the fluctuations occur within your fish’s preferred pH and hardness ranges.

Overly drastic changes can prove fatal to your fish, which is why adding dead coral to your aquarium is not a good idea. If you add a whole chunk of coral to the tank, you have no way of controlling the degree to which the pH and hardness level changes, and you run the risk of the differences being too drastic for your fish to handle could.

While some aquarists add crushed coral to raise the pH of acidic water, they do so in a controlled, gradual manner.

Dangerous levels of ammonia and nitrites

While adding dead reef coral can cause unstable pH levels and water hardness, adding live coral to your aquarium can cause dangerous spikes in ammonia and nitrite levels. This is because living corals cannot survive in your tank and will gradually die and decompose.

Decomposing bacteria release ammonia while feeding on dying coral, which in turn increases nitrite levels and harms your fish. Even the slightest increase in ammonia and nitrites can be toxic and often fatal to your fish.

For some tips on how to use plants to help reduce ammonia and nitrite levels in your aquarium, read this article!

Stressed Fish

Both dead and live corals cause stress to your fish by creating unstable and sometimes toxic water parameters. Stressed fish suffer from a weakened immune system, making them more susceptible to diseases caused by parasites, viruses and bacteria in the aquarium. This makes stress an indirect cause of death for many fish.

If you have decided to care for live coral and other parts of the ocean, then the best option is a reef aquarium or a saltwater aquarium.

FAQs Can you add live coral to freshwater aquariums? Absolutely not! Live corals make amazing additions to marine tanks, cannot survive in freshwater and will gradually die off if placed in that environment. To make matters worse, the corals will pollute your aquarium when they die, releasing ammonia and nitrates that can be harmful to your fish. Is it ever appropriate to add coral to freshwater tanks? Yes, many aquarists add crushed coral to their freshwater aquariums when the water is too soft or too acidic. The calcium ions released when coral dissolves increase water hardness, while the bicarbonate ions can increase the pH of the water, making it less acidic. To add crushed coral to your aquarium, simply place a handful on the bottom of your aquarium or its filter and wait a few hours before testing your water’s pH and TDS. We’ve also written a handy guide on how to raise and lower the pH in your aquarium for those of you who want to learn more! Which fish species prefer hard water? Most species of cichlids thrive well in hard water, along with livebearers such as guppies and mollies. In addition, other underwater creatures such as the Malaysian trumpet snail also thrive in harsh water conditions. When caring for these animals, it is sometimes acceptable to add small pieces of crushed coral to your aquarium to keep water hardness stable. However, always remember to go slowly and gradually to avoid sudden pH or TDS spikes!

Conclusion

Putting corals in a freshwater tank is definitely a bad idea under most circumstances as it would put undue stress on your fish. The only exception is if you have a pet that thrives in hard water—even then, you’ll need to add crushed coral in small, conservative amounts to allow for a gradual increase in water hardness and pH.

We hope this article has answered all of your questions about whether or not you can add crushed coral to a freshwater aquarium! If you found it helpful, share it with someone else who might enjoy this article. Let us know in the comments if we’ve missed anything or if you have a question you’d like to ask us!

Choosing the right aquarium substrate is an important decision whether it is freshwater, saltwater, plants, reef or any other type of aquarium setup.

Glass bottom aquariums are not recommended as they do not provide a natural bottom for fish, especially if they reflect the light from the mount off the top of the tank.

Aquarium substrates such. B. crushed corals, thus serve the natural look and serve as a settlement and breeding ground for bacteria that benefit your fish.

So to give you a quick answer to the question of whether crushed coral can be used in an aquarium – yes, you can use crushed coral as a substrate in your aquarium. However, it might not always be a good idea to use it (as covered later in this article).

What is crushed coral?

Crushed coral is a common aquarium substrate made up of pieces of coral skeleton, shells, and limestone.

Large-grain substrates are easily whipped up by strong water currents, leading to sandstorms and sedimentation in aquariums.

To prevent this problem, coarse-grained substrates are crushed into smaller grains, which are suitable for aquariums with a strong flow.

Benefits of using crushed coral in the aquarium

As an aquarist, you must be aware of the importance of your aquarium’s pH level to maintaining a healthy environment in which fish can survive and thrive.

Decaying organic matter, uneaten fish food, and other biological debris can lower the pH of the aquarium over time.

It is therefore extremely important to proactively check the pH of the tank and determine if changes are needed.

Coral skeletons, which make up crushed coral, are composed of calcium carbonate, which helps raise the pH of your aquarium up to 7.6 without the use of chemicals.

If you want to raise the pH further, all you have to do is either add crushed coral to your filter, or simply add a handful of it to the bottom of the tank.

In any case, you will have to wait a few hours before you notice changes in pH, since the effect of crushed coral on the aquarium pH is quite slow.

Since most tropical fish do not require a pH buffer, crushed coral is not needed for regular tropical aquariums. However, they are ideal for use in brackish, marine and reef aquariums and are perfect for freshwater African cichlids.

Crushed coral is best for African cichlids

The reason crushed coral is recommended for keeping African cichlids is because it caters to the high pH requirements of the fish.

African cichlids are kept in saltwater aquariums that require high pH and alkalinity.

Crushed Coral offers just that.

The calcium carbonate found in crushed coral slowly dissolves in water, increasing water hardness and providing a pH and alkalinity buffer.

As such, crushed coral is often preferred by saltwater hobbyists and those who keep African cichlids.

Some issues with crushed coral as an aquarium substrate

Large grains of crushed coral cause some problems.

Food particles, dirt and excrement, commonly referred to as “detritus”, often settle or become trapped between the grains, requiring regular maintenance of the sand bed.

If you hesitate in cleaning the waste, it will break down and break down, releasing ammonia, phosphates and nitrates.

These compounds are the last thing you want in your aquarium because they feed the tank-destroying algae.

Another dilemma associated with large grains is that it deprives you of some of the most interesting species of fish that are categorized as sand-sifting animals.

Starfish, Nassuarius snails and gobies are examples of such fish that will burrow into the sand and sift through it with their mouths, serving as your incredible cleaning crew.

The large grains of crushed coral prevent them from performing this function. So it is best to use small-grain crushed coral or look for another alternative.

Should You Be Using Crushed Coral Now?

Many years ago, crushed coral was the most sought-after aquarium substrate, especially among saltwater aquarists.

But they are rarely used today. New product alternatives that offer a better range of grits for different aquarium types have replaced crushed coral these days.

They ensure a more balanced pH for your aquarium and promise less effort in trapping debris.

You can always use crushed coral for your aquarium if you can commit to regular maintenance, but why do it when there are more promising options on the market?

Today, dry or live sand is preferred, and the most popular options among them are aragonite and calcite.

Things to consider with an aquarium substrate

Finding the right substrate for your aquarium requires identifying the underlying purpose and considering your preferences.

Is a healthy living space your priority, or are you more concerned with aesthetics?

The aesthetics

In terms of appearance, substrate in combination with plants, driftwood, rocks, etc. creates a visually appealing landscape and creates a calming effect in your aquarium.

A well designed aquarium is believed to have health benefits for those who glance at it often.

There are a variety of themes to choose from. For example, a more natural brown gravel and driftwood theme suits the room decor.

Gravel also has the added benefit of containing beneficial bacteria that break down the waste produced by the fish.

There are also colorful theme options.

If you are looking for a substrate for an aquarium in the children’s room, mermaid or castle motifs come into question. Some people prefer the substrate color that suits their fish.

Many people believe that the color of your aquarium floor should mimic natural fish beds for the benefit of the fish. This is not necessarily true.

Even if you choose a color based on personal preference, such as and offer nutritious fish food.

While it is true that these are not the colors they would see in natural habitats, they are largely unaffected by color.

The bottom line is that the substrate color does not directly harm the aquarium inhabitants.

bacterial medium

The substrate serves as a breeding ground for beneficial bacteria to reproduce, grow, and colonize. While the substrate is not the only such medium, it is where most bacteria reside.

As previously mentioned, these bacteria play an important role in removing detritus and maintaining a hygienic environment for your fish.

Many types of substrates not only serve as a platform for beneficial bacteria, but also support the roots of living plants and draw nutrients.

Some substrates provide essential nutrients for use with live plants.

On the other hand, there are substrates that do not support living plants. Whether or not you plan to have live plants in your aquarium will determine the type of substrate you want.

The type of fish you want to keep

The type of substrate you choose also depends on the type of fish you want to keep in your aquarium.

After all, they are used as living space. Certain substrate types like the sandy substrates are ideal for fish that like to dig.

Some bottom-dwelling fish tend to sift through the substrate to collect the food particles that have fallen there.

Unlike glass floors, substrates can help fish feel safer because they don’t reflect light or images of other fish in the aquarium.

Certain species of fish hide their eggs at the bottom of the substrate.

Without sufficient substrate, the eggs are easily accessible and are therefore more likely to be consumed by adult fish.

If you choose a speckled or large substrate, the eggs will hide or fall between the open spots, out of the reach of other fish.

substrate materials

Besides crushed coral and sand, another commonly used substrate is gravel, which comes in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors.

Large river rocks are sometimes used with gravel or alone to present an attractive natural setting.

Marbles are used for keeping egg-laying fish species, although they are far from natural.

They drop eggs between them to protect them from adult fish. Marbles also allow for easy aquarium maintenance and are therefore used in Betta Fish Bowls.

Last word

Substrates are crucial elements in fish aquariums that not only contribute to the aesthetics of your aquarium, but also serve various functions related to fish health.

Not only do they offer numerous colors and themes, but they are also important in maintaining the precise level of hygiene for your fish.

In fact, many species of fish thrive on certain types of substrates. However, some types of substrates can be harmful to fish.

Therefore, choosing the right substrate is an extremely important decision. In addition to sand and gravel, broken coral is a well-known aquarium floor. Its main function is to buffer the pH of your aquarium.

However, with the more sophisticated substrates available today, crushed coral is obsolete.

This type of coral is still available in the market today, but other sand options such as calcite and aragonite now dominate the market and are preferred by most aquarists.

You might also like these aquarium articles:

Unless you are attempting to breed sensitive or wild-caught fish from extremely low or high pH environments, it is best not to attempt to change the pH of your aquarium. Most fish will adapt as long as the water quality is good and the pH is stable. If your fish are thriving and showing no signs of stress, there is no reason to change the pH of the aquarium.

How to adjust the pH value in the aquarium:

What if your tap water is unusually high or low? Or maybe it’s within reach but you want to keep or even breed wild-caught fish that come from extreme habitats? Aquarium stores sell products that change pH, but these should be avoided altogether or used with extreme care by experienced aquarists to avoid sudden drastic pH shifts. Some products, especially liquid pH regulators, often only have a temporary effect and the pH will soon shift back to its original value, requiring more to be added all the time. The resulting pH roller coaster is very stressful for aquatic life.

If you decide to adjust the pH in your aquarium, do so BEFORE introducing fish or other livestock and test regularly to ensure it remains stable. If you already have fish or other creatures in your aquarium, never make sudden or drastic changes to pH or any other water parameter. Below are some natural methods of adjusting pH that last longer and are more stable over time.

Use reverse osmosis water and decorate liberally with driftwood to maintain a low pH.

How to lower the pH in aquariums:

Use reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water to create the desired pH and provide buffering. Always prepare water and test the pH before adding it to your aquarium.

Decorate your aquarium with natural driftwood. Tannins released by driftwood can help lower the pH, but keep in mind that it takes quite a bit of driftwood to get the desired effect. A small piece or two won’t do much, especially in a large aquarium or one with strong buffering capacity.

Add peat moss or peat pellets to your filter. Like driftwood, peat moss contains tannins that lower pH. Use a mesh bag to enclose it and only use peat products designed for aquariums. Supplement as needed to maintain desired pH.

How to increase the pH in aquariums:

Use reverse osmosis (RO) or deionized (DI) water to achieve the desired pH and buffering. Always prepare water and test the pH before adding it to your aquarium.

Use crushed coral or dolomite gravel as substrate. These calcium carbonate based gravels slowly dissolve over time, increasing and buffering the pH.

Decorate your aquarium with limestone or coral rock. As with driftwood to lower the pH, use a healthy amount of calcium carbonate rock to achieve the desired effect.

Fill a mesh bag with crushed coral or dolomite gravel and place in your filter.

Acclimate new fish

Use calcium carbonate-based rock and substrate to safely increase pH and buffering.

When purchasing new fish or invertebrates, compare the pH of your aquarium to the water in the tanks you purchase them from. Acclimate by slowly adding small amounts of your aquarium water into the bag or shipping container until the pH is as close as possible. The bigger the difference, the slower they should settle in when you bring them home.

Changing the pH in your aquarium is generally not necessary, and in some cases it can do more harm than good. Most freshwater aquarium fish today are captive bred and adapt to a wider range of water conditions than wild-caught fish. Regular water changes and proper care will keep most fish, plants and invertebrates alive and healthy!

An aquarium acquires an individual charm when its bottom is covered with stones you have picked yourself. However, using your own gravel or rocks in the bottom of the aquarium does come with some risks if you don’t test the rocks first. The rock composition could potentially change the hardness and pH of the water in a way that is harmful to your fish. Collected free range rocks can also be covered with contaminants that can affect aquarium water.

Experts have mixed opinions; Many argue that unless you are an expert at determining rock composition, it is best to go to a pet store and purchase rocks and substrates that are known to be safe for aquarium use. However, other authorities believe that using collected gravel and rocks is acceptable, provided you follow directions for testing to rule out hazardous components.

How to test rocks

The main danger of using your own gravel and rocks outdoors in an aquarium is the possibility that they contain calcium, which can change the pH of the aquarium water. Before testing, however, wash the stones thoroughly to remove all loose grains and impurities.

Testing for calcium can be as simple as putting a few drops of vinegar on the rock or gravel you plan to use. If the vinegar (an acidic substance) is bubbling or foaming on the stone, do not use it. The chemical reaction you see indicates that the stone contains calcium.

Another way to test rocks and gravel is to place the washed rocks in a bucket that is completely submerged in a small amount of the water you use in your aquarium. First test the pH and hardness and then let the water with stones sit for a week and test again. If there is a significant increase, these stones or gravel will cause problems in your aquarium.

Rocks to avoid, rocks to use

The stones to avoid are highly calcareous, which means they contain a large amount of calcium. Also, always avoid sharp-edged stones that can harm your fish.

Stones to avoid include:

Shells or crushed coral (these are not ideal for most freshwater aquariums but can be used for African cichlid aquariums where higher pH and calcium hardness are desirable)

limestone

geodes

marble

dolomite

Safer stones include:

granite

quartz

slate

Lava rock (note sharp edges, especially in fish with sensitive barbels, such as Cory species)

Onyx and frosted glass

Sandstone (always test before use as it may contain traces of lime)

Many gravels and rocks have a mix of minerals, even in the same stone. Even if you think you have correctly identified a stone as a safe mineral, always test to be sure.

Where to find outdoor rocks

Open Ground Gravel and Smoothed Rocks can be collected from the wild. Try it on sea beaches and lake shores, in dry wash beds, or along the banks of streams and rivers. However, avoid collecting rocks from underwater sites, particularly in sheltered environments, as rock removal can disrupt native habitats that wild fish and plants rely on.

You can also buy outdoor rocks from a variety of sources:

Landscaping companies that sell smooth river rock and other aggregates

Garden centers and nurseries

Hardware stores with garden department

All of these sources can provide you with inexpensive and attractive stones and gravel. Just remember to make your selection carefully and always test rocks or gravel before using them in your aquarium.

Most of you coming from freshwater will be used to gravel as the substrate in your aquarium, but now you are faced with a plethora of substrates! which one do you use Which grit? What material?

There is a wide variety of substrates to choose from and this article aims to help you decide which substrate is best for your aquarium.

Crushed coral has been a popular substrate choice for many aquarists, but newer sand-based products help reduce trapped detritus, better balance pH, and a wide range of grit sizes to suit any aquarium have made sand the preferred choice for made marine aquariums.

What is crushed coral?

Crushed coral consists mainly of a mixture of limestone, pieces of coral skeleton and shells. It was a substrate that was very popular with marine aquarists over a decade ago.

It has large particle sizes which makes it good for very high flow tanks. Smaller granular substrates can be thrown up by a strong current and create a sandstorm in your aquarium. This was prevented by using the larger grains of crushed coral.

Due to the larger grain sizes of crushed coral, it poses a different problem! It’s notorious for catching uneaten food, excrement, and dirt; often referred to as “detritus”.

Typical crushed coral

The debris can settle in the gaps between the grains and if not removed through regular maintenance of the sand bed, it will begin to crumble and crumble. As the waste breaks down, it releases ammonia, nitrates, and phosphates that feed algae.

Many aquarists have reported tank-destroying algae outbreaks many years after the initial installation of their aquarium. After the detritus-laden substrate was removed and replaced with a sand-based substrate, their algal blooms disappeared.

Another problem with crushed coral substrates is that you can’t buy sand-sifting animals as part of your clean-up crew.

Sand-sifting starfish, gobies and wetsuarius snails all like to bury themselves in the sand and sift it through their mouths to remove debris. The grain sizes in this substrate are too large for these animals to function in your aquarium.

Crushed coral is an outdated substrate that is very rarely used today. There are much better alternatives that allow you to get a cleaner substrate to prevent detritus buildup.

What is dry aquarium sand?

Dry sand is exactly what it sounds like. Sand that has been collected, dried and then packaged. The majority of sands available for the marine aquarium are all aragonite based (more on that at the end of the article) and CaribSea is the main producer which you will find in most marine aquariums in North America.

Caribsea screens the sand into different sized grains to meet your specific needs.

You can get sand in fine “sugar-sized” grains that Caribsea recommends for deep sand bed aquariums where anaerobic zones are required for nitrification.

They also produce coarse grit for the SPS dominant tanks which required a very heavy random water flow that could have the small grit sand flying all over the place thanks to the tank.

With varying grits between their two extremes, you can find a sand that suits your needs.

Dry sand takes a little longer to cycle because it doesn’t contain any beneficial bacteria, but for those of you who want to start with a completely sterile aquarium, dry sand with dry rock is the perfect way to go.

What is living sand for an aquarium?

Live sand is the same type of sand as dry sand, except it comes packaged wet. Included in this moisture are billions of broad spectrum marine bacteria, but also carefully selected strains of marine bacteria that help start the formation of your aquarium’s biological filter.

Arag-Alive!™ is CaribSea’s benchmark range that says exactly what it is. Aragonite sand animated by bacteria.

Typical live sand

The two biggest benefits of using the Arag-Alive!™ range of sands are that the bacteria they contain allow for a faster aquarium cycle as the bacteria are already colonised, and because they are aragonite based they keep the pH of the water at around 8 ,2 keep stable this is perfect for a reef aquarium.

The Caribsea Arag-Alive!™ range of sands is the brand I recommend, have in my own aquarium and have used in all of my clients’ aquariums that I have installed over the years.

A nice selection of Live Sands can be found HERE at Amazon.com

Can you mix living sand with crushed coral?

But what if the aquarium you bought used came with a crushed coral substrate and the previous owner swears by it? Can you just clean the crushed coral and then add new sand to speed up the cycle? Well yes you can, but why should you? Saving money is usually the first answer I hear.

When you add sand to a crushed coral substrate, you fill in any gaps to prevent debris from building up, but if you don’t clean crushed coral properly, you’ve now only trapped the debris, which will break down and release its problematic elements.

The other problem is that your substrate is still too rough for a sand-sifting clean-up crew to help keep it clean.

The best course of action is to discard the crushed coral and start with new sand, dry or alive. Just spend the little money to install a new sand bed and potentially save yourself many nitrate and phosphate problems for years to come.

It’s a lot easier to remove the crushed coral now than when the tank is full of life (and algae!).

What is the best substrate for a reef aquarium?

There are two main types of substrates:

Aragonite from the Florida/Caribbean areas

Calcite from the inland areas of the USA

aragonite

This is by far the most popular sand for saltwater aquariums as it is a type of calcium carbonate that slowly dissolves in a pH 8.2 solution.

This is important as most reef aquariums like to have a pH of around 8.0 – 8.2. As the aragonite slowly dissolves it releases calcium carbonate into the water which is then consumed by invertebrates to build their shells and corals such as LPS and SPS to build their skeletons.

Calcium carbonate helps maintain calcium levels while it dissolves.

calcite

This is also a calcium carbonate based mineral, except it dissolves at a much lower pH of 7.5. In saltwater aquariums with a much higher pH, this type of substrate will never dissolve. Because it doesn’t dissolve in an 8.0 saltwater solution, you don’t get the added benefit of sand buffering and pH stabilization.

Calcite is more likely to be used in freshwater aquariums where a lower pH is desired.

Now you have the information to decide what type of sand is right for your aquarium. Next you need to calculate how much sand you need to buy.

Click the button below to go to Bulk Reef Supply’s sand bed calculator. It gives you some great information on the types of grits and then calculates how much sand to buy

↓ ↓ It’s a super useful tool!!! ↓ ↓

Continue reading

To aid your research, the following articles might be helpful:

This post may contain affiliate links.

Calcium is an essential part of freshwater aquariums as it keeps fish and other species strong and healthy. Fish crave calcium for bone growth and egg development, and higher levels of calcium in an aquarium can also promote longer lifespans. But how do you add calcium to freshwater aquariums?

The best way to add calcium to freshwater aquariums is to add a calcium-rich substance such as crushed coral, squid, or a wonder shell and monitor the water’s pH to make sure it’s low enough to dissolve it. You can also add liquid calcium supplements if you prefer.

Calcium levels in your freshwater aquarium can be a sign of a healthy tank or, in severe cases, can lead to fish death. However, it doesn’t have to be that difficult to control. This article discusses the many ways you can add calcium to an aquarium, why calcium is important to an aquarium, and how it interacts with pH.

Why do aquariums need calcium?

Natural water sources such as lakes and rivers have limescale deposits due to erosion of rocks. Plants, invertebrates, and fish nearby absorb the calcium and use the nutrient for growth and development.

The calcium concentration in natural freshwater sources is between 0.5 milligrams per liter and 75 milligrams per liter, depending on the landscape. The American Midwest sees calcium concentrations of about 20 milligrams per liter (0.003 ounces per gallon) in most lakes. Meanwhile, marl lakes in areas with high limestone levels have much higher calcium levels.

The lowest freshwater calcium concentrations are found in the boreal zones of Canada and Europe, where levels are about 5 milligrams per liter (0.0007 oz per gallon). Lakes at and below these calcium levels are unsuitable for many invertebrate life forms that rely on calcium intake to build their exoskeleton.

Why do fish need calcium?

Fish depend on calcium to build their skeletons, produce eggs, and absorb calcium through their gills. However, they can also obtain sufficient calcium from their diet and are less dependent on dissolved calcium than their invertebrate relatives. For them, adequate calcium levels have more to do with adapting to the harshness of their natural environment.

If a fish experiences a sudden change in calcium levels, it can become very ill and lethargic, or even die. For that reason alone, you should make sure you know two things: the approximate concentration of calcium in the fish’s natural water source and how the pet store or retailer kept the fish.

Water rich in calcium is also suitable for fish, as not all fish food is enriched with sufficient minerals. And since aquariums don’t have natural sources of calcium, you need to supplement them with artificial calcium deposits to help your fish and other species grow properly and live long lives.

Calcium supplements are especially important if you have a freshwater aquarium that has a lower natural water hardness than a saltwater aquarium. Water hardness simply refers to the amount of calcium and magnesium dissolved in the water and is important for the growth and development of many species of fish.

The Best Ways to Add Calcium to a Freshwater Aquarium

There are several ways you can add calcium to a freshwater aquarium. Each has its pros and cons and requires different levels of maintenance. It is important that you maintain a constant and adequate level of dissolved calcium at all times.

Frequent water changes

Depending on the hardness of the tap water in your area, you may be able to get enough calcium in your water tank simply by changing the water often enough. Ideally, you should change 25% of the water every two weeks. Be sure to test your calcium levels before relying on this method, as many tap water sources do not have enough hardness for an aquarium.

If you are unsure whether your water is hard or soft, consider the following signs of a hard water supply:

Mottled and filmy dishes

Soap doesn’t foam

Tubs and showers are scummy and difficult to clean

The skin is dry and squeaks when showering

White crusts around drains, shower heads and faucets

You can also call your local water authority, who can tell you what the mineral levels are in your water supply.

Another option is to buy something like these US-made total hardness test strips at a hardware store, which will tell you exactly what’s in your water.

squids

Squid are larger inner shells harvested from squid and contain about 85% calcium. These are a great choice for adding calcium as not only are they packed with minerals but they also serve as decoration. Squid are also inexpensive, widely available, and dissolve very slowly to ensure an even and steady release of calcium.

For these reasons, squid are among the best choices for adding steady calcium to your aquarium. However, it can produce a foul odor if left to rot for too long.

Squid are very large, so you may want to start with a small piece of shell broken off, about 1 inch (2.5 cm) long. These can also swim, so consider weighing the bone down with pebbles first or even cooking it.

eggshells

Another way to add calcium to your aquarium is to add eggshells. However, be aware that fish can foul eggshells, so it’s best to place them in a place where the fish cannot access them. Or you can grind them up into a powder so they sink to the bottom of the tank.

Ideally, add boiled eggshells that have had their membrane removed. Try removing eggshells from the aquarium once they stop adding calcium to the water, as they can create a foul odor if left for too long.

corals

You can decorate your aquarium and add calcium at the same time by adding corals to your aquarium. This can be whole live coral or a ground up coral substrate lining the bottom of the tank. Ground Coral has the added benefit of giving the tank a natural look; An unnaturally reflective glass bottom can be disorienting for a fish.

Corals have so much calcium due to their stony exoskeletons that they excrete both as a method of self-protection and as a way of attaching themselves to a rock surface.

calcium blocks

Calcium blocks are concentrated calcium that is pressed into block form and will dissolve in water over time. They last about two weeks each and usually also contain magnesium. Compared to cuttlebones, these blocks break down faster and have a more direct impact on the aquarium’s calcium levels.

Crushed oyster shells

Crushed oyster shells are high in calcium and significant in salt and should be used sparingly in a freshwater aquarium. However, they are an efficient and attractive way to add calcium to your aquarium.

wonder shells

Miracle shells like the Weco Wonder Shell last about a month and clear the water while raising calcium levels at the same time. They tend to be cleaner and easier to use than coral, despite being man-made. Because they’re so concentrated, it’s best to start with small bowls at a time.

Liquid Calcium Chloride

Liquid calcium chloride supplements such as Brightwell Aquatics Calcion Supplement are available at most pet stores and can be an efficient way to add calcium to your aquarium. However, they can be costly to use, so they are best suited for aquariums with lower calcium requirements. These can also cause alkalinity to drop over time, lowering the pH of the water.

Liquid additives can either be regularly dissolved directly in the water at once or introduced via a drip system. To implement a drip system, follow these steps:

Gather your supplies: an 8 ounce water bottle, rigid hoses, flexible hoses, an air hose valve, and a drill. The valve should be made of plastic as the metal will erode. Drill two holes in the water bottle cap. These holes should be just wide enough for the rigid tubing to fit in place. Cut a length of rigid tubing three quarters the way up the water bottle. Place the piece of tubing in one of the holes in the lid. Attach the flexible hose to the outer end of the rigid hose. The flexible hose length should be enough to go from the bottle to the sump or aquarium. Attach the air valve somewhere along with this piece of flexible tubing. Insert another 4 inch piece of flexible tubing into the other hole in the water bottle cap. Fill the water bottle with a calcium chloride solution dissolved in aquarium water. Screw the cap onto the bottle and close tightly. Open the valve and blow into the 4 inch hose until water begins to drip from the longer hose. Close the valve and then position it in the sump. Adjust the dial to the desired drip rate.

The correct drip rate depends on the size of your tank, the concentration of calcium chloride you are adding, and the amount and type of fish you have. You should regularly test calcium levels, as well as pH and alkalinity. Too much calcium chloride can make the water acidic and over-concentrated with minerals.

lime water

Kalkwasser, German for “lime water,” is a liquid made by combining calcium hydroxide powder and reverse osmosis (RO) water, or water with a high pH. Limewater has the added benefit of raising the pH to an appropriate level while also increasing the calcium levels.

It’s also a cost-effective solution that doesn’t leave a residue or produce a foul odor, which is a preferred choice of many aquarium owners. It is easy to prepare as it only adds water and contains only the ions you need.

One caveat is that limewater powder is dangerous to inhale because it is a corrosive substance. It must also be used on the day it is mixed, otherwise it can interact with atmospheric carbon dioxide and no longer dissolve in the aquarium water.

Two part solutions

Two-component solutions are chemical solutions that balance both calcium and pH levels simultaneously without changing the chemistry of the water. One example is Two Little Fishies’ C-Balance solutions, which are sold in two 1.89 liter containers, one with solution A and the other with solution B. The idea is that you put solution A in the water first give and then solution B.

calcium reactors

A calcium reactor consists of the following parts:

Calcium carbonate or aragonite media dissolve in water to release calcium. Different media types require different pH levels to dissolve.

or dissolves in water to release calcium. Different media types require different pH levels to dissolve. Carbon dioxide, which changes pH to promote or inhibit dissolution. By controlling the carbon dioxide flow rate, you can control how much and how quickly the media dissolves.

, which changes pH levels to promote or inhibit dissolution. By controlling the carbon dioxide flow rate, you can control how much and how quickly the media dissolves. The solenoid valve opens and closes in response to current, allowing you to control the flow of CO2.

opens and closes in response to current, allowing you to control the flow of CO2. A pump pushes water from the aquarium through the reactor.

Calcium reactors control calcium levels along with alkalinity and magnesium levels. Next to the sump under the tank is a calcium reactor that takes carbon dioxide gas from a tank and dissolves an inner piece of aragonite or carbonate to release minerals.

How to fine tune carbon dioxide flux and pH?

You can adjust the rate of calcium rise by increasing or decreasing the flow rate of carbon dioxide into the reactor, which changes the pH. Follow these steps to fine-tune the carbon dioxide flux and pH accordingly:

Set the reactor to a low flow rate, e.g. B. 40 drops per minute. That corresponds to about ten CO2 bubbles per minute. Adjust it until the pH is around 6.5 to 6.7 and measure it with a test kit or probe. If the pH is too high, decrease the flow rate. If the pH is too low, increase the flow rate. Give the reactor a few hours to react to changes after you make them. Monitor the tank’s calcium level to ensure the reactor is supplying enough for the absorption level of the species in the tank. Once you find a flow rate that works, check the tank levels every few weeks.

Make sure you have good air and water circulation in your tank, otherwise excess CO2 can build up and lower the tank pH too low. In this case, you can top up your tank with some lime water to restore balance.

A calcium reactor requires very little maintenance once set up and is a good choice for large aquariums with significant calcium needs. However, the initial setup is expensive and complicated, requiring some investment.

For more information on how to set up your calcium reactor, watch the video below:

dietary supplements

If you have snails in your aquarium, you may consider feeding them Tum or other antacid tablets to get enough calcium into their system. These can change the color of the water once dissolved, but are an effective and efficient solution for low calcium environments.

For fish, many flake foods come with mineral supplements, including calcium and phosphorus. You can also find mineral supplements in bone or meat meals available at most pet stores.

How often do you add calcium to an aquarium?

Your freshwater aquarium should have a calcium hardness of around 70 to 90 mg/L (0.009 to 0.012 oz/gal), which you can check with a calcium test kit such as the Aqua Care Pro Test Strip Set. This allows you to quickly and accurately determine when it is time to change or add more calcium supplements.

You can tell that you have too much calcium in your tank if scale builds up at the water’s edge, but there is no quick visual way to see that you have too little calcium in the tank; You really need to find a calcium test kit.

Usually you need to add more calcium every few days. However, this will vary depending on the calcium needs of the species you have in your tank, so you should always test the calcium levels in your aquarium before adding more.

Different calcium sources have different concentrations. This means that where you might only need to add a small amount of lime water, you’ll need a large chunk of cuttlefish to achieve the same calcium level.

Remember that you can combine different methods of adding calcium to the water, depending on your needs. You can use a primary source of calcium, e.g. B. slow-release ground coral, and then add a liquid additive such as calcium chloride as needed to balance the mineral content. Just be careful not to add too much as it can cause serious problems and even death.

What Happens When You Add Too Much Calcium to an Aquarium?

Although you can get away with adding a large chunk of a calcium-rich substance to your tank, you need to make sure it dissolves at a reasonable rate so that it doesn’t flood the tank with too much.

A sign that you have too much calcium in your tank is when it begins to scale or solidify at the edges of the tank. This can cause major problems for your fish and can clog your water filters.

Most fish and other aquatic life can survive outside of their ideal calcium concentration range, but have difficulty dealing with sudden changes in water chemistry. These sudden changes can cause stress, lethargy, irregular swimming, growth problems, and even death.

You should take extra care when adding new fish to your aquarium and make sure your tank’s water chemistry matches the environment the new fish are from.

What about pH?

The term pH refers to the number of hydrogen and hydroxide ions in the water. Normal water has both in the same ratio, resulting in a pH of 7.0 on a 14.0 scale. Acidic solutions have a lower pH than normal water, and alkaline or basic solutions have a pH above 7.0.

Different fish are used to different pH levels depending on the water source they come from. Saltwater fish tend to thrive in water with a higher, more alkaline pH, while freshwater fish tend to prefer a lower, more acidic pH. The correct pH for a freshwater aquarium is usually between 5.5 and 7.5, but it is important to check the correct pH for your species.

The following are recommendations for water pH for various freshwater fish species:

Angelfish: 6.5 – 7.0

: 6.5 – 7.0 clown loach : 6.0 – 6.5

: 6.0 – 6.5 Goldfish : 7.0 – 7.5

: 7.0 – 7.5 Harlequin Rasbora : 6.0 – 6.5

: 6.0 – 6.5 hatchet : 6.0 – 7.0

: 6.0 – 7.0 neon tetra : 5.8 – 6.2

: 5.8–6.2 Plecostomus : 5.0–7.0

: 5.0 – 7.0 silver dollars : 6.0 – 7.0

: 6.0 – 7.0 tiger mullet : 6.0 – 6.5

: 6.0-6.5 Zebra: 6.5-7.0

As with calcium levels, the most important thing for your fish is to avoid sudden pH changes in the water. You should know the pH of the fish’s source water and make sure the different fish you keep have compatible needs. Bringing your fish home from a pet store aquarium with a different pH than your home aquarium is one of the leading causes of early fish death.

How do you adjust the pH in an aquarium?

The pH of your aquarium should be tested about every two weeks or at least once a month. You can then raise or lower the pH of your tank using the following techniques:

To raise the pH of your tank, add crushed coral or baking soda. If you add baking soda, dissolve it in water and remove the fish before adding it to the tank.

the pH of your tank, add crushed coral or baking soda. If you add baking soda, dissolve it in water and remove the fish before adding it to the tank. To lower the pH of your tank, add peat or driftwood to the tank or reduce the aquarium aeration.

The pH of an aquarium can be thrown off balance by calcium supplements as well as some other factors listed below:

fish surplus

use of hard water

Use of crushed coral

Reduced ventilation

Use of driftwood

Add CO2

pollutants and waste

Remember that stability is the primary goal and that you should avoid unintentional, major pH changes.

How are calcium levels and pH related?

When an aquarium has a low pH, it means the water is more acidic and more easily soluble in calcium-rich minerals like cuttlefish and oyster shells. This means that a low pH will increase the amount of calcium in the water, provided there is a source of calcium that can be dissolved.

When calcium dissolves in water, it acts as a buffer and prevents the pH from changing drastically, even when a strong acid or base is added. This means that when the pH starts to fall, the calcium will dissolve and cause the pH to stabilize.

However, if the pH is too high, the calcium will not dissolve and therefore will not act as a buffer preventing the water from becoming too basic. This results in water that is too low in calcium and contains too much ammonium ions, leading to the development of ammonia, which is toxic to fish and can cause death.

That’s why it’s important to measure both your water’s pH and calcium levels: they’re related and can have serious consequences if not managed properly.

Natural water sources and pH

Different water sources have different ideal pH levels depending on the needs of the species that live in that habitat. However, all water sources can be thrown off balance by the same few factors listed below.

Wastewater is the most important factor changing the pH of wetlands in the United States. This refers to all water that has been modified by humans, including pool water and sewage, as well as rainwater. Adding or removing chemicals to the water—even in waste treatment—can adversely affect the pH of wetland waters.

is the most important factor changing the pH of wetlands in the United States. This refers to all water that has been modified by humans, including pool water and sewage, as well as rainwater. Adding or removing chemicals to the water—even in waste treatment—can adversely affect the pH of wetland waters. Mining, construction, and industrial operations can result in unnatural mineral deposits that upset the pH balance of the soil, which in turn upsets the pH balance of the surrounding wetlands. For example, a mined mineral such as diabase can raise the pH of a wetland when brought to the surface.

can lead to unnatural mineral deposits that upset the pH balance of the soil, which in turn upsets the pH balance of the surrounding wetlands. For example, a mined mineral such as diabase can raise the pH of a wetland when brought to the surface. Acid rain is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, usually from burning fossil fuels. This lowers the pH of natural water sources to dangerous levels. Acid rain can also be blown over long distances, affecting environments far from the source.

Conclusion

The best ways to add calcium to an aquarium depend on personal preference. However, many of the cheaper methods involve adding calcium-rich shells or bones to the water and monitoring the pH to ensure it is dissolving at a reasonable rate. Liquid additives and powdered lime water are also popular.

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Introducing Google Coral, the incredible machine learning hardware and software prototyping platform powered by Google.

The Coral range is an amazing platform from Google that enables high-speed machine learning and AI prototyping to production. Let’s take a look at all the items available in the range.

What is Google Coral?

Coral is a full prototyping toolkit from Google that allows users to create products using local AI. The portfolio includes hardware components that bring powerful ML capabilities to the edge devices, as well as a full set of software tools to develop ML models and applications. Coral also offers a range of ready-to-use ML models.

Why did Google create the Coral range?

The growth of smart and IoT devices has been tremendous in recent years and represents one of the biggest areas for future technological advances with a projected growth rate of over 150%. As this is one of the most important areas for innovation opportunities, Google wanted to create a platform , which makes it easy for developers around the world to design machine learning applications on the device.

Why is it called coral?

A lot of people are wondering, “What does the name Coral have to do with AI?”. According to Google. Coral stands for an inclusive and fun-loving community. It is a collection of living organisms that together contribute to the common good. That’s what they want to inspire – an AI platform for the entire industry where everyone can collaborate to share ideas and drive deep machine learning and AI devices.

Providing a vibrant and collaborative platform for creativity and innovation in AI applications. Coral’s inspiration and mission

Why should you choose on-device ML?

The Coral development well was developed for on-board ML prototyping. There are many advantages to using machine learning on-device, some of the advantages over designing off-device are:

Works offline – no internet connection required for cloud services.

– No internet connection required for cloud services. Improved data protection – data stays on the device.

– Data remains on the device. Higher performance – as local machine learning can be accelerated,

– Because local machine learning can be accelerated, more energy efficient – no need to send data, reducing power consumption.

– no data to be sent Power reduction. Local data accessible to applications on the device – Sensor data is accessible live on the device

What products are available in the Coral line?

There are 8 products in the current Coral portfolio, with 3 new additional products announced in November 2020. Our highlights from the range are:

⭐Coral Development Board A single board computer for a complete system that includes a SOC & Edge TPU integrated on the SOM. You can also remove the SOM and integrate it with other hardware via three board-to-board connectors. ⭐Coral System-On-Module A fully integrated system for accelerated ML applications in a pluggable 40mm x 48mm module. Uses Mendel Linux OS and Python and C++ languages. ⭐Coral USB Accelerator An accessory device that adds the Edge TPU to your existing system as a coprocessor – you can easily connect it to any Linux-based system with a USB cable.

Shop the full range below or click through to learn more about each product:

In summary, we think the Coral range is a fantastic choice for your next AI project. It is a dynamic product range that adapts to many legacy systems and products and is prepared for the future.

The Coral development board can be used directly with existing products, and the removable SOM can be quickly scaled from prototype to product. GREAT. The board is small and compact (similar to a Raspberry Pi board). Once you start adding accessories like the sensor board and camera, there are no limits to your IoT projects.

Please share your projects with us, we love to see them. Tweet @LetsOKdo or let us know on Instagram and Facebook with #designtheworld.

AI enables machines to do all sorts of tasks that used to be the sole preserve of humans. Do you need to perform quality control on a factory production line? Set up an AI-powered camera to spot bugs. How about interpreting medical data? Machine learning can identify potential tumors based on scans and report them to a doctor.

However, applications like this are only useful as long as they are fast and secure. An AI camera that takes minutes to process images is of little use in a factory, and no patient wants to risk having their medical data exposed when it’s sent to the cloud for analysis.

These are the sort of problems Google is trying to solve through a little-known initiative called Coral.

“Traditionally, data was sent from [AI] devices to large compute instances housed in centralized data centers where machine learning models could operate at high speeds,” Vikram Tank, product manager at Coral, told The Verge via email. “Coral is a platform of hardware and software components from Google that help you build devices with local AI – and provides hardware acceleration for neural networks… right on the edge device.”

You may not have heard of Coral (it just “completed beta”) last October, but it’s part of a fast-growing AI sector. Market analysts forecast that more than 750 million edge AI chips and computers will be sold in 2020, rising to 1.5 billion by 2024. And while most of these will be installed in consumer devices like phones, many of them are destined for enterprise customers in industries like automotive and healthcare.

To meet customers’ needs, Coral offers two main types of products: accelerators and development boards intended for prototyping new ideas, and modules intended to power the AI ​​brains of production devices such as smart cameras and sensors to supply. In both cases, the heart of the hardware is Google’s Edge TPU, an ASIC chip optimized to run lightweight machine learning algorithms – a (very) little brother to the water-cooled TPU used in Google’s cloud servers.

Build an AI marshmallow sorting machine or a smart bird feeder

While its hardware can be used by individual engineers to create fun projects (Coral offers instructions on building an AI marshmallow sorting machine and a smart bird feeder, for example), Tank says its long-term focus is on enterprise customers in industries like the automotive world and that healthcare.

As an example of the type of problem Coral is targeting, Tank gives the scenario of a self-driving car that uses computer vision to identify objects on the road.

“A car moving at 65 miles per hour would cover almost 10 feet in 100 milliseconds,” he says, so “delays in processing” — caused, for example, by a slow cellular connection — “increase the risk of critical use cases.” It’s much safer to do this analysis on the device rather than waiting for a slow connection to figure out if it’s a stop sign or a street light.

Tank says there are similar benefits in terms of improved privacy. “Imagine a medical device manufacturer who wants to analyze ultrasound images in real time using image recognition,” he says. Sending these images to the cloud creates a potential vulnerability for hackers, but analyzing images on the device gives patients and doctors “reassurance that the data being processed on the device is not getting out of their control.”

Although Coral is aimed at the corporate world, the project actually has its roots in Google’s “AIY” line of do-it-yourself machine learning kits, Tank says. Introduced in 2017 and powered by Raspberry Pi computers, AIY kits allow anyone to build their own smart speakers and smart cameras and have been a huge hit in the STEM toy and craft markets.

According to Tank, the AIY team quickly realized that some customers just wanted to follow the instructions and build the toys, while others wanted to cannibalize the hardware to prototype their own devices. Coral was created to serve these customers.

The problem for Google is that there are dozens of companies with pitches similar to Coral’s. These range from startups like Seattle-based Xnor, which is making AI cameras efficient enough to run on solar power, to powerful incumbents like Intel, which unveiled one of the first enterprise USB accelerators in 2017 and in the past Chipmaker Habana Labs paid $2 billion in December to improve (among other things) its edge AI offerings.

Given the large number of competitors out there, the Coral team says it differentiates itself by tightly integrating its hardware with Google’s ecosystem of AI services.

This product stack — which includes chips, cloud training, development tools, and more — has long been a key strength of Google’s AI work. In Coral’s case, there’s a library of AI models curated specifically for its hardware, as well as AI services on Google Cloud that integrate directly with individual Coral modules like its environmental sensors.

In fact, Coral is so tightly integrated into Google’s AI ecosystem that its Edge TPU-based hardware only works with Google’s TensorFlow machine learning framework, a fact that competitors in the AI ​​Edge market that The Verge spoke to as potential limiting factor.

Coral’s commitment to Google products may put off some customers

“Coral products process specifically for their platform [while] our products support all major AI frameworks and models on the market,” a spokesman for AI edge firm Kneron told The Verge. (Kneron said there was “no negativity” in his assessment and that Google’s entry was welcome as it “validates and drives innovation in this space”).

But how much business Coral is currently doing cannot be said. Google certainly isn’t pushing Coral nearly as hard as its cloud AI services, and the company wouldn’t provide sales figures or targets for the group. However, a source familiar with the matter told The Verge that the majority of Coral’s orders are for single units (such as AI accelerators and development boards), while few customers are making corporate purchases in the 10,000-unit scale.

For Google, Coral’s appeal may not necessarily lie in revenue, but simply in learning more about how its AI is being used where it matters. In the world of hands-on machine learning, all roads inevitably lead to the edge these days.

In this article, you’ll learn more about Google Coral and how it enables Edge AI on the device with its TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) compute capabilities. In particular, you will learn about:

Purpose and Purpose Using Google Coral for Computer Vision Benefits and Benefits Examples of real world applications

What is Google Coral

Google Coral is an edge AI hardware and software platform for smart edge devices with fast neural network inference. Coral is Google’s initiative for pushing into edge AI with machine learning devices that run disconnected from the cloud.

The Coral devices are based on the Edge TPU co-processor (Tensor Processing Unit), a small ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) from Google. The Edge TPU is specifically designed to run state-of-the-art neural networks at high speed and low power costs.

Using Google Coral for computer vision

Google Coral devices can run machine learning models for object recognition, e.g. B. TensorFlow to detect objects in video streams. A pre-trained AI model can be deployed to the device using a local video camera as input. The Coral Edge TPU detects objects locally without the need to stream the video to the cloud.

Google Coral offers two main AI hardware and accelerator products optimized for edge intelligence solutions, specifically AI inference at the edge:

1.) Computing device: single-board computer

A standalone development board that contains the System-on-Module (SoM) and is a ready-to-use edge computing device.

2.) AI Accelerator Module: USB accessory

A separate TPU accelerator device that can be connected to a PC via USB (USB stick), PCIe or M.2. connector (module).

advantages and benefits

The Coral Edge TPU boards and standalone AI accelerators are used to build and power a wide range of on-device AI applications. Edge TPU technology offers many advantages when using Google Coral for computer vision projects.

Overall, the scalability is based on an excellent price/performance ratio. This is essential to develop AI inference solutions in the field with many distributed devices in a challenging environment (temporary performance and network limitations).

Privacy protection: Edge AI capabilities allow visual data to be processed locally without streaming it to the cloud. Therefore, user data can be kept private, which is crucial, especially for running AI vision applications in the EU or US.

: Edge AI capabilities enable visual data to be processed locally without streaming it to the cloud. Therefore, user data can be kept private, which is crucial, especially for running AI vision applications in the EU or US. Low power consumption: The small single-board computers or USB modules require very little power compared to more power-hungry GPU chips. For example, the Google Coral USB accelerator is powered with 5V directly from the USB interface.

: The small single-board computers or USB modules require very little power compared to more power-hungry GPU chips. For example, the Google Coral USB accelerator is powered with 5V directly from the USB interface. Powerful Edge ML acceleration enables fast inference speeds for embedded devices. In addition, AI inference for low-power devices enables the use of edge AI hardware to power large-scale AI solutions.

Edge ML acceleration enables fast inference speeds for embedded devices. In addition, AI inference for low-power devices enables the use of edge AI hardware to power large-scale AI solutions. Offline capabilities that allow using Google Coral hardware in areas with limited connectivity. However, most Edge AI devices are capable of providing offline capabilities (onboard storage, robust auto-reboot capabilities).

allows the use of Google Coral hardware in areas with limited connectivity. However, most Edge AI devices are capable of providing offline capabilities (onboard storage, robust auto-reboot capabilities). Good cost-per-FPS ratio due to the relatively low price of such edge computing devices compared to alternative AI hardware. The USB accelerator costs between 60 and 75 USD, the single board computer dev board is priced at around 130 USD.

Examples of real applications

Google Coral’s AI hardware can be used to power a wide range of AI inference applications using Tensor Processing Units (TPUs). The most popular use cases of Coral TPUs are based on computer vision and visual deep learning on the edge.

Object Recognition: Recognize objects and people (using face recognition) with real-time video from a camera. Pose Estimation: Estimate the poses of people or objects based on key point detection and tracking. Image segmentation: Identify different objects and their position on a pixel-by-pixel basis of a video stream.

What’s next

Read more about what you can do with AI hardware and AI accelerators like the Google Coral TPU.

The Red Coral gemstone is used to increase the energy of Mars in the horoscope. Other advantages of this gemstone are:

According to Vedic astrology, gemstones play a significant role in our lives. All planets in our natal chart are ruled by a gemstone. These gems can improve the happiness of these planets. The red coral gem also known as Praval or Moonga ruled by Mars/Mangal is one of the most popular gems known to the astrological world. In our planetary hierarchy there are a total of 9 planets, of which, Mars is the god of warfare and the commander of God’s armies. In the human horoscope, Mars is the planet of energy, vitality and ambition. • Red Coral can help the wearer defeat their enemies and adversaries. Since Mars is the god of warfare, this gemstone offers the courage and enthusiasm needed for an individual to overcome all obstacles. This gem ensures the individual’s victory.• This gem aids in overcoming an individual’s lethargic attitude. It energizes the individual and offers them logical conclusions. It also helps in overcoming the lag in your endeavors.• Another benefit of the Red Coral gemstone is its impact on a person’s mental health. A person suffering from mental depression can wear this gemstone. • The gemstone Red Coral gives courage and helps to overcome fear and nervousness of the individual. This is the best gemstone that can boost the self-esteem of the wearer. • This gem has amazing healing properties. It helps in overcoming various skin problems like boils, acne and more. Apart from that, the red coral gemstone can be worn to purify the blood and protect the person from cuts, wounds and injuries. • The harmful effects of Mars in one’s horoscope can be treated with the help of the red coral gemstone. Anger issues and lack of compassion can also wear this gemstone to appropriately improve the condition. • The red coral gemstone can help people suffering from Manglik Dosha. Even couples whose fighting life is in trouble can wear red coral. • Persons involved in professions such as army, defense, police, doctors, weapon manufacturers, scientists, real estate businesses can reap benefits by wearing this gemstone. • By wearing Red Coral gemstone, one can seek powerful protection from the evil eye, Buri Nazar and black magic. • This gemstone also provides effective results in overcoming debt and improving one’s financial situation. • The red coral gemstone represents Mangalya Balam, the strength of marriage and longevity of the spouse. This gem ensures the long life of husbands. Wearing gemstones can bring effective positive results in an individual’s life. Before wearing a gemstone, however, it is important to remember that a fake gemstone can have negative effects when a real gemstone can bring positive results. Therefore, have your horoscope analyzed by an expert before wearing a gemstone.

Red coral stone meaning

Red coral rock, commonly known as moonga or praval ratna, is a dark red organic rock harvested deep beneath the sea floor by oceanic creatures called coral polyps.

The meaning of the red coral gem holds a special place in Vedic astrology and is considered one of the most important navratnas as the planet Mars rules it. The red coral stone is an absolute favorite of gemstone lovers due to its astrological significance and extravagant benefits.

Types of Moonga Stones

The Japanese Red Coral and the Italian Red Coral are the two most well known corals or Moonga Stone. Lakshmi coral, also known as triangular coral, is the best form of coral stone. Red coral is popular and prized for its unique reddish tones.

Where, when and why do you wear the Moonga Stone?

The Red Coral Stone/ Moonga should be worn on the ring finger. The ring finger represents the energies of the sun, considered the king of the nine planets affecting human density. And the sun is the friend of Mars – the planet that rules the red coral stone.

Tuesday is considered the most auspicious day for the worship of Mars. Therefore, Red Coral gemstones should be worn on Tuesdays to get their maximum benefit.

Benefits of wearing Red Coral Gemstone

Red coral is ruled by the planet Mars, which is a symbol of energy. It inspires ambition, courage and self-confidence. It eliminates fear and anxiety and leads to greater success and prosperity. Not only that, it improves mental health and takes care of problems like insomnia, depression, etc.

Red Coral is a powerful stone that bestows the strength to face difficult situations and challenges in life with self-respect and a strong will.

It supports blood circulation, which further promotes heart function. Red Coral acts as a catalyst in completing unfinished tasks, eliminating lethargy and procrastination.

It increases bonding and longevity of relationships, expels negativity, and welcomes peace and positivity.

The red coral stone is also considered a symbol of luck and wealth.

Wearing the red coral is said to bring relief from physical health problems related to bones and can help in healing knee problems, arthritis, rheumatism, menstrual cramps, etc. The deep red color of Red Coral calms the eyes and increases feelings of pride and attitude.

The Italian Red Coral Gemstone helps in overcoming financial debt and brings stability in managing finances. Red coral also acts as a repellent against black magic. It also has healing properties and helps overcome skin diseases such as acne, boils, rashes, etc.

Who Should Wear The Red Coral Gemstone?

If Mars is your main planet and is in the 7th, 9th or 10th house then wearing the red coral stone will benefit you. The red coral gemstone blesses the person with the sun signs Aries, Cancer, Scorpio, Leo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

Side Effects of Red Coral Stone

Wearing this gemstone without the proper advice of an experienced and genuine astrologer can also have certain negative effects. Wearing Red Coral Stone without the advice of an astrologer can lead to health problems.

There is a chance that blood problems will occur. Married life could be affected. There is a possibility of an increase in anger and aggressiveness.

The red coral gemstone is worn for Mars and its intensity is quite strong. If Mars is in an unfavorable position in the horoscope, one should wear the Red Coral Gemstone Ring to increase its effect or to avoid the unfavorable effects of Mars.

To see our coral gemstone collection visit: https://myratna.com/gemstone/red-coral

Also read:

Healthy coral reef ecosystems are like bustling cities, with coral buildings and thousands of sea creatures coming and going, interacting and conducting business. In this sense, coral reefs are the metropolises of the seas. Coral reefs shelter almost a quarter of all known marine species. And over the past 240 million years, reefs have evolved into one of the largest and most complex ecosystems on earth. They are home to more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral and thousands of other plant and animal species. Scientists estimate that in total more than a million plant and animal species are associated with the coral reef ecosystem. With the demise of so many coral reefs, diversity is dwindling and needs to be restored in many areas. http://coral.org