Composition suitable for aquatic habitat repair, replacement and/or enhancement
View Patent ↗The current invention provides an improved material for the repair, replacement, and/or enhancement of aquatic habitats. It is a composition for use as a replacement for concrete or as a coating for concrete in structures such as artificial reefs. The combination of calcium carbonate (preferably Aragonite), a resin (preferably a marine use resin or Dion ISO 6631), and a catalyst results in a composition that is strong, durable, easy to use, and compatible with aquatic life. The current invention can be used to fabricate structures for use as a foundation for the repair and regeneration of damaged coral reefs. The organically enhanced nature of the composition facilitates the attachment and growth of coral and algae and is compatible with other aquatic life. The composition can be fabricated into slab form and used as a surface for coral farming/seeding for eventual transplantation of live coral species. The composition can be used to fabricate artificial reef modules as described in the prior art and to duplicate certain species of hard coral. This product can also be used to build structures that will help protect shorelines from erosion. When cast in a molded process, the composition can be used for the formation of aesthetically pleasing formations (replicas of hard coral species) that are also suitable for use in aquariums. The composition can also be used to fabricate structures to be used in freshwater environments to enhance habitats used by desirable fish species for spawning.
1. A method for fabricating structures that replicate coral reef material to promote algae and coral growth for use in aquatic environments comprising:
preparing a mixture comprising;
CaCO 3 (from about 65 to about 85%) and a resin (from about 15 to about 35%) where the resin is compatible with aquatic life-forms;
adding an appropriate initiator to said mixture to start hardening of said mixture;
mixing the resulting composition to achieve a close-to-homogenous distribution of the initiator in said mixture; and
using the resulting composition in a molding process to fabricate the structure for said promoting said algae and coral growth for use in aquatic environments.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
amending said mixture with modifiers prior to adding said initiator.
3. The method of claim 2 , with said modifiers comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
4. The method of claim 2 , with said modifiers comprising:
an organic pigment to color the composition.
5. The method of claim 4 , with said modifiers further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
aragonite is the form of CaCO 3 (calcium carbonate) utilized.
7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:
amending said mixture with modifiers prior to adding said initiator.
8. The method of claim 7 , with said modifiers comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
9. The method of claim 7 , with said modifiers comprising:
an organic pigment to color the composition.
10. The method of claim 9 , with said modifiers further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote said algae and coral growth.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the resin used is either a marine use resin or Dion ISO® 6631.
12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
amending said mixture with modifiers prior to adding said initiator.
13. The method of claim 12 , with said modifiers comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
14. The method of claim 12 , with said modifiers comprising:
an organic pigment to color the composition.
15. The method of claim 14 , with said modifiers further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
16. A structure that replicates coral reef material to promote algae and coral growth for use in aquatic environments comprising:
CaCO 3 ; from about 65 to about 85%;
a resin from about 15 to about 35% where the resin is compatible with aquatic life-forms and setting of the resin was started through the use of an appropriate initiator and combined with the CaCO 3 ; and
wherein the above combination of resin and CaCO 3 is shaped to form said structure for said promoting said algae and coral growth for said use in aquatic environments.
17. The structure of claim 16 , further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
18. The structure of claim 16 , further comprising:
an organic pigment to color the composition.
19. The structure of claim 18 , further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote algae and coral growth.
20. The structure of claim 16 , wherein:
aragonite is the form of calcium carbonate utilized.
21. The structure of claim 20 , further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of a modifier selected from the group consisting of Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, or a combination thereof.
22. The structure of claim 20 , further comprising:
an organic pigment to color the composition.
23. The structure of claim 22 , further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote said algae and coral growth.
24. The structure of claim 16 , wherein:
the resin used is either a marine use resin or Dion ISO® 6631.
25. The structure of claim 24 , further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of a modifier selected from the group consisting of Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, or a combination thereof.
26. The structure of claim 24 , further comprising:
an organic pigment to color the composition.
27. The structure of claim 26 , further comprising:
about 1% to about 5% of trace minerals, including but not limited to Ca, K, Mg, and Sr, that promote said algae and coral growth.
28. A product that promotes algae and coral growth, for use in aquatic environments, fabricated using the method described in claim 1 .
29. A product that promotes algae and coral growth, for use in aquatic environments, fabricated using the method described in claim 1 whereby forming a shell that is subsequently filled with concrete or another product that would weight the product for permanent placement.
30. A product that promotes algae and coral growth as claimed in claim 28 , wherein the composition fabricated during the method described in claim 1 is further used to form a shell which is then filled with concrete.