Phosphates, which are also taken up via the symbionts’
activity, are usually found in minute quantities in coral reef
waters and can also become limiting for reef biological processes. However, in aquaria, phosphate tends to accumulate
and high phosphate levels can become problematic, especially by decreasing coral calcification (Borneman 2008).
However, phosphorus needs vary from one species to
another, and some symbiotic corals, particularlyStylophora pistillata, may have greater limitation in phosphate than
in nitrogen under culture conditions (Godinot et al.
2011c).