@marke just curious what if anything that you have learned about aspartic and glutamate acid in the last few months. I tried to find aspartic acid to purchase but could not find a source.
I have learned a ton! First let me say I have been through a bunch of research. Its hard to find anyone funding this type of study for the aquarium trade. Some info is available, and it all points to the potential use of aminos especially aspartic. The real research gets done by hobbyist like us who are willing to try new things and share results with others in order to get to some kind of consensus. So first the disclaimers----I am not a scientist doing controlled studies with multiple tanks that have everything the same except for amino squirts. Hence for the scientist out there please open your mind to the untested being tested before you shoot it down. Maybe even offer some help in how to further the homegrown study. Lastly I need to disclose that I own MECoral a manufacturer of pharmaceutical grade aquarium additives. Hence my opinions (not results) may be financially motivated. I hope I can show that this is not the purpose of my writing. My hope is we together via research and testing can determine what is happening.
OK Disclaimers Done!
What Have I done and Seen
I have source USP (Pharma grade) Aspartic and Glutamic acid. This was attained from a manufacturer that uses these in protein shakes and OTC pill supplements. The first thing I learned is they do not dissolve in water. So as Randy stated the PH needs to be increased to properly mix. Kalk did not work for me. I use sodium carbonate. My ratio is 20 grams of aspartic and 18 gr of glutamic to 30 gr of carbonate. Very reactive in 500 ml of rodi. I added this to the vinegar I was dosing all along. I dose every hour. Aprox 35 ml of this solution per day in my 200 gl display, heavy sps, also dosing 2part, kalk with top off. I have seen extraordinary polyp extension in all my sps and chalices and montis. Growth tips have improved as well as coloration. In other words corals are very happy. I have been doing this for 3 months now. In the meantime I have been giving away samples to my friends. In 99% of the cases everyone has seen the same results. Many people did not want the vinegar as they felt their nitrates were already to low and did not want to carbon dose. Typical for low nutrient sps systems. So I made a few batches without vinegar. Very concentrated. People were seeing results 10 minutes after putting small quantity of MEAmino in their system. At RAP Cali a month ago, I asked a store who had 3 frag tanks if they would try the aminos in one of their tanks? 1o minutes and 15 drops latter they took my bottle and put some in all their tanks. They are still begging for more. I advise people to use it 15 min before feeding the tank. Gets the polyps out and feeding so they can capture more food in the 3 minutes they have to get it. Glutamic acid from what I have read is an appetite stimulant. For Humans, Animals, and Corals. This is where I beleive the polyp extension comes from. The Aspartic is the most consumed of all aminos by corals. It is a protein used in calcification. Yes corals can get and make some aminos from the water and your food; however, I think I if they dont have to work as hard to process aminos from food, and its in the water column they will take it in and get fat and happy.
The Concerns
In one case of about 50 sample I got a report back that nitrates went up. After furthur discussion it seems this individual was fighting a nitrate problem before using meamino. So we know aminos can increase nitrates as its a protein and hence a nitrate, but it has no po4. So for low nutrient tanks this is a food source that adds nitrate but no po4. Dont many people have zero nitrate and .03-.05 po4. This is the best way to increase nitrates without increasing po4. Win win here. This is not for the high nutrient system as we may just be adding more nutrient via nitrates.
second issue shelf life
I have found if left in a warm place for a few months it can develop mold or bacteria in the solution. Maybe eating and diluting the aminos? Looking for advice and ideas here? My solution so far is to add a small amount of vinegar as a preservative. Low ph wonders. Need some time to see results. Also I am suggesting putting in the fridge as low temp retards growth along with low PH.
The unkown? What should we expect longterm? Can we be doing something that could cause pain latter? Fat Happy corals cant run? I am not sure but as we use it and test it, and the sample size keeps growing we will know for sure.
Hope this perks some interest
