Coral Nutrition

[RMMKD0]

I recently added some corals and was wondering what everyone’s thought was. Do you use amino acids to supplement, or feed corals food like reef roids, or both? And would using one vs. the other cause cause unwanted side effects like algae blooms or too high of no3 or po4

 

[AcroNem]

I've never seen any good or bad from dosing amino acids, but corals have mouths and they should eat. They don't get everything from light. Yes feeding corals does add to the bio load, and potentially adds some phosphate, but it's worth having a healthy reef. A good mix of phytoplankton and other small powdered foods are good for most corals.

 

[RMMKD0]

Watching the video brs did on aminos had me wondering if that would be “enough” or if feeding would still be needed

 

[AcroNem]

There are people that will tell you they never add any coral foods and everything is fine. And they probably aren't lying, you can not directly feed corals and they can do just fine. But on the topic or coral nutrition, amino acids are not a replacement for food.

 

[RMMKD0]

So I’ve been kicking around a couple ideas on how I wanted to run my tank. It’s a nano 18 gallon and with only a couple frags in it I think my plan is to use all for reef for the cal and alk and feed corals reef roids. I’m pretty much only going to keep lps and Zoas. Would feed g once a week be enough or is feeding more often better

 

[LardLad]

Im with you. Im feeding my nano ReefRoids and Brightwell Aquatics Coral Aminos. Alternating days twice per week each.
I have seen significant improvement and growth in one week. After "converting" from the no feeding idea.
I feed fish OmegaOne Marine flakes daily. Then give mysis "treats" once per week.

Ive seen such improvement in such short time i just cant go back.