As the Biorock wire structure calcifies, what happens to the salinity of the surrounding waters?
With regard to acidity the effects are neutral in that equal amounts of acidity and of alkalinity are made at the opposite terminals. These tend to be neutralized very quickly within a very short distance and are not easily measurable in the water. The alkalinity is neutralized by limestone mineral growth, and the acidity by dissolution of limestone sediments. But because the alkaline area is much larger, we can grow reefs even if the water was acid. With regard to the salinity, the effects are very small. That is because while we can precipitate out some of the calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate in sea water, the much larger amounts of sodium, chloride, and sulphate are not affected, and these make up the vast bulk of the salinity.
