Amino Acids. Making your own brew..?

[Luke Schnabel]

With all the research going on in the hobby with the link to amino acids and the growth and coloration of coral I’m surprised there isn’t any threads on this site in regards to making a home amino acid brew. There is known essential amino acids found in corals, there are plenty of online retailers selling these amino acids in their pure powder form.

Does anyone have any insight as to making your own amino acid brew?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I make my own, from organic whole egg powder, powder anchovies organic whole anchovies, kelp organic also and any freeze dry algae's. They have all the amino acids and some extra. The only thing, to me, and it's not a drawback to me, but to others it may be is the trace elements in the organic kelp. And possibly the organic whole anchovies. But if you do ICP test you will you may notice high levels of iodine and other Trace elements. You will notice it actually. Because I've had ICP test done and iodine and other Trace elements are higher. But the type of corals I raised don't mind higher levels.

the pictures are of carnation corals I just picked up from the wholesaler today. Dendronephthya sp.
2 of 15

 

[Luke Schnabel]

I have found at least 3 online sites that currently sell all 9 essential amino acids listed above. Advertised as 100% pure in powder form. Has anyone gone down this road?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

With all the research going on in the hobby with the link to amino acids and the growth and coloration of coral I’m surprised there isn’t any threads on this site in regards to making a home amino acid brew. There is known essential amino acids found in corals, there are plenty of online retailers selling these amino acids in their pure powder form.

Does anyone have any insight as to making your own amino acid brew?

While I am aware that certain amino acids are more needed for calcification (such as aspartic acid), I'm not convinced the general result of amino acid dosing (e.g., with respect to coloration) is not just effectively raising the bioavailabiltiy of nitrogen, which may be in short supply in many tanks, especially low nitrate tanks.

If that is the case, it may not matter much which amino acid(s) you dose, as long as corals can metabolize what you add.

 

[DxMarinefish]

I use bodybuilding Amino, “BULK POWDERS Pure Essential Amino Acids Powder, 500 g” to be precise.
I add 1.5 litre of RO water to a blender and blend it.

dose 25ml daily.

 

[marke]

I use bodybuilding Amino, “BULK POWDERS Pure Essential Amino Acids Powder, 500 g” to be precise.
I add 1.5 litre of RO water to a blender and blend it.

dose 25ml daily.

If it bulks up body builders it might do the same to corals? Question----when you mix the powder and water do they mix well, or does the powder not properly dissolve even after blending?

 

[DxMarinefish]

If it bulks up body builders it might do the same to corals? Question----when you mix the powder and water do they mix well, or does the powder not properly dissolve even after blending?

If I mix manually, the powder won’t mix.
I have to mix it in a blender after which results in a clear liquid that does not settle even after a few weeks in a dosing container.

 

[Luke Schnabel]

So I assume that these amino acids in their “pure powered form” can be put into solution and dosed to a reef tank. This is very cheap if it works. That’s almost all the essential amino acids found in coral tissue?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So I assume that these amino acids in their “pure powered form” can be put into solution and dosed to a reef tank. This is very cheap if it works. That’s almost all the essential amino acids found in coral tissue?

Remember that "essential" applies to people, not other organisms. There no evidence that corals need these added to the water.

A couple of these may not dissolve readily, depending on what concentrations you try to attain. Phenyl alanine may be the least soluble, at about 30 g/L

 

[Andy Macro]

Id be concerned about bacterial growth if it's not used immediately or kept refrigerated. I've had this happen to me when dosing aminoácids to my plants and I had to stop using it. I bet the ready made ones have compounds to inhibit this growth.

 

[justinhm]

I use bodybuilding Amino, “BULK POWDERS Pure Essential Amino Acids Powder, 500 g” to be precise.
I add 1.5 litre of RO water to a blender and blend it.

dose 25ml daily.

Since you started dosing Aminos, have you noticed any increased coral growth/coloration? I've been thinking about dosing AA's in my tank.

 

[DxMarinefish]

Since you started dosing Aminos, have you noticed any increased coral growth/coloration? I've been thinking about dosing AA's in my tank.

My Gonioporas have shown the most response. I have 7 varieties and they only started growing with the addition of aminos.

 

[justinhm]

My Gonioporas have shown the most response. I have 7 varieties and they only started growing with the addition of aminos.

That’s awesome. From what vendor/site do you buy BULK POWDERS Pure Essential Amino Acids Powder, 500 g?

 

[DxMarinefish]

That’s awesome. From what vendor/site do you buy BULK POWDERS Pure Essential Amino Acids Powder, 500 g?

Amazon (UK as I am based in the UK)