Amino acid and carb dosing

[Elliott Comans]

Hey everyone
I've been dosing amino acids and carbs ( went from red sea a b to coral essentials) and I definitely think they improve coral extension and colour. I also think it feeds my algae issue. Should I be dosing half? Also most importantly when do you dose, I've always done morning with my coffee but am starting to think that evening dosing would still be absorbed by corals but not feed algae during the day. Does anyone have any knowledge on this. Thanks

 

[ndrwater]

Evening is definitely better. Corals mostly feed at night. and yes if you follow a manufacturer's instructions you were probably overdosing. That will lead to algae outbreaks and all sorts of other not-so-nice things
Both are good, just in moderation

 

[Dan_P]

Hey everyone
I've been dosing amino acids and carbs ( went from red sea a b to coral essentials) and I definitely think they improve coral extension and colour. I also think it feeds my algae issue. Should I be dosing half? Also most importantly when do you dose, I've always done morning with my coffee but am starting to think that evening dosing would still be absorbed by corals but not feed algae during the day. Does anyone have any knowledge on this. Thanks

Interesting question. By the way, what “carbs” are you dosing?

Would bacteria and other microorganisms in the water column be the first life forms to be exposed to the added nutrients? Do these microorganisms eat around the clock?

 

[35ppt]

It's my understanding that different organisms will uptake aminos at different times so I found it best to dose it constantly via my ATO.

 

[Elliott Comans]

Thanks everyone
These are my products

 

[Elliott Comans]

It's my understanding that different organisms will uptake aminos at different times so I found it best to dose it constantly via my ATO.

Do you water it down, what about refrigeration and settling?

 

[35ppt]

Do you water it down, what about refrigeration and settling?

I'm using AcroPower so no need to refrigerate. I just add it to my ATO reservoir when I fill it up with freshwater. I add the amount I would have added by hand over 3 days because that's how long my ATO reservoir lasts. Nothing settles out. I have heard of people getting bacteria blooms from adding it to their AWC reservoir so that may be a concern but I've not had any issues with it. Another option is dosing it with a dosing pump. These are not options for the products that need to be refrigerated unless you want to go through the hassle of rigging up an auto phyto feeder type deal with a mini-fridge.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm using AcroPower so no need to refrigerate. I just add it to my ATO reservoir when I fill it up with freshwater. I add the amount I would have added by hand over 3 days because that's how long my ATO reservoir lasts. Nothing settles out. I have heard of people getting bacteria blooms from adding it to their AWC reservoir so that may be a concern but I've not had any issues with it. Another option is dosing it with a dosing pump. These are not options for the products that need to be refrigerated unless you want to go through the hassle of rigging up an auto phyto feeder type deal with a mini-fridge.

A product that doesn't need to be refrigerated presumably stays bacteria free by being high enough in concentration of something (salt, etc.) that it prevents bacterial growth. Massive dilution in an ATO seems like it would dilute that effect and raise the potential for bacterial growth.

How do you know that isn't happening?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Evening is definitely better. Corals mostly feed at night. and yes if you follow a manufacturer's instructions you were probably overdosing. That will lead to algae outbreaks and all sorts of other not-so-nice things
Both are good, just in moderation

While I'm not giving an opinion on when is best, I'm not sure the timing of a particulate feeding response says when it is best to dose if you are adding fully dissolved amino acids. They will not be taken up the same way.

 

[35ppt]

A product that doesn't need to be refrigerated presumably stays bacteria free by being high enough in concentration of something (salt, etc.) that it prevents bacterial growth. Massive dilution in an ATO seems like it would dilute that effect and raise the potential for bacterial growth.

How do you know that isn't happening?

I don't know that it's not and didn't mean to say that. What I meant to say is that I'm not getting bacterial blooms in my DT. Do you know of a way I could test? I think I remember something about testing No3 in the AA write up @Dana Riddle did. I'll have to go read it again. I started hand dosing AcroPower a few months ago. I had some zoas that had been nutrient starved and lost their color. When I started dosing AA they got their color back. But now I'm dosing it via ATO and haven't seen any difference but it's totally possible I'm just feeding bacteria this way.