Do you dose aminos? Should I start?

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I've not done a lot of reading on the science behind amino acids and corals. However, I have a single dosing pump that I'm not using and got to thinking that maybe dosing aminos would be a good use for it.

What do I need to know if I'm thinking about dosing aminos?
Do you dose?
How much is too much?
What are the benefits?
Any drawbacks?

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I dose both aminos and carbohydrates. I can definitely see improved coloration and growth with them. My red Montipora always looked kind of pale and sad before I began dosing the two on a regular basis. I have a 125 gallon system, and I does 10 ml each twice per week. I'm considering a second dosing pump to automate this addition, but I haven't taken that plunge just yet.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

Some people report cyanobacteria or GHA outbreaks. I haven't seen any of that (probably because I dose on the low side and also carbon dose).

I keep my nitrates in the 1-3 ppm range and phosphates in the 0.04-0.08 range.

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

I dose amines and fatty acids. I definitely saw a difference in all of my coral. Which ever product you decide to use, there should be a recommended dosage for light, medium, or heavy stocked tanks. I can't say that I am exactly familiar with the science behind it, but @Randy Holmes-Farley could probably help us out with that part.

 

[NorCal Reefer]

I dose Acropower. Approximately 5ml a day in my 75gal SPS dominated system. I have definitely seen improvements in color and polyp extension.

 

[Unholy_Rigatoni]

Is there any benefit to dosing them in non ULNS systems? I've read that they can also fuel algae or diatom blooms.

 

[LadyMac]

Just started dosing today. I’ve some pretty poor corals so I’ll let ya know how they appreciate it.

 

[CindyKz]

I mix a couple ml in with the coral food that I target feed. I definitely see better, more vibrant color.

 

[GabeM]

What would one dose for amino acids with all-for-reef? I had been dosing reef energy A + B that I got as a sample prior to all-for-reef.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I give diy amino acids to my fish. Dose for my corals diy mixture n and p, trace, bacteria and yeast.

dosing just amino acids to my corals in a low nutrient tank just resulted in dinoflagellates ime. But i may be an outlier.

 

[jda]

I do not see any changes. Been given samples and used them and noticed no difference when I quit. IMO, if everything else is as good as it can be, they make no difference. I also noticed no ill effects when dosing them, so if it makes you feel good, then go for it.

Some aminos get absorbed through cell tissue. The more tissue, the more chance that they are doing something... like a fleshy LPS. They also get absorbed by single cell algae, protozoans and bacteria - this is likely where most of them go since they are very abundant and in the water column and all places in your tank, but nobody knows for sure. Also, nobody knows what aminos are in each supplement.

Just remember that you are not supplying just the corals with aminos, but everything in the tank... the good and the bad.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Just remember that you are not supplying just the corals with aminos, but everything

A very good point

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

Aquavitro fuel is what I use and like

 

[jda]

Keep in mind that everybody sees progress when they start. This is true with human supplements as well. It is quitting and then still seeing the difference that matters and yet confirming that by starting up again (glucosamine, probiotic yogurt, etc.). Some have quit and started a few times with aminos and say that they can see a difference, but most cannot.

This same phenonomen used to be true with DT's Oyster Eggs, Phyto, Marine Snow, Essential Elements, etc. People swore that they made all kinds of difference. Now, these are all punchlines. My many years of reefing observations lead me to believe that the current grouping of aminos and supplements (acropower, Red Sea or whathaveyou) will soon be a punchline too when steroidal or Kryptonian supplements (or whatever, I am guessing in a flippant manner) become available and people start to swear by the new generation. Most of the people who have lived through a few generations of supplements tend to steer clear.

In any case, none of them ever hurt unless you already were fighting really high residual levels of building blocks, so there appears to be little downside in the macro, but there can be in the micro (like the dino case above - who are are engineered to soak up aminos).

 

[Reefs and Geeks]

I started dosing Aminos about 3 weeks ago, and am now starting to see some more vibrant colors in a few of my coral, while some seem unchanged. The most dramatic color change seems to be in my walt disney frag. My other coral are more common, and have less dramatic changes.

On a side note, since starting to dose aminos, my alk consumption has gone up some where it has been very consistent before. I've gone from dosing 160ml 2 part to 175ml of 2 part. Not huge, but has increased about 10%. Could also be coincidence. I bought 6 months worth of aminos to give it a try so will have to see if things look any different after 6 months. I may stop and see if they go back, or depending on how convinced I am I may just continue dosing.

I dose aminos twice a week manually and soak reef roids in them before feeding the coral. I figure that would get the most aminos to the coral.

 

[Peace River]

@Daniel@R2R - have you thought about using the extra dosing pump for one of the EasyReefs gel foods?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

@Daniel@R2R - have you thought about using the extra dosing pump for one of the EasyReefs gel foods?

I haven't looked into that. I'll check 'em out.

 

[Peace River]

I haven't looked into that. I'll check 'em out.

Here is a thread with more info:

Phytoplankton: Single Doses, Manually Dose, or Connect to a Doser!

EasyReefs EasyBooster Phytoplankton Gel PRODUCT LINKS: https://www.coralvue.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=easybooster In nature, there is one key organism that stands alone as the base of the marine ecosystem. Without this small giant, life in the ocean would be impossible. Phytoplankton or...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[nkyreef]

I was dosing Brightwell's CoralAmino until I had a cyano outbreak then I stopped. My nitrates were 16 and po4 was 0.04. I might give it another try at a later date. If you do start dosing please share your results with us

 

[Zach W]

Here is a thread with more info:

Phytoplankton: Single Doses, Manually Dose, or Connect to a Doser!

EasyReefs EasyBooster Phytoplankton Gel PRODUCT LINKS: https://www.coralvue.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=easybooster In nature, there is one key organism that stands alone as the base of the marine ecosystem. Without this small giant, life in the ocean would be impossible. Phytoplankton or...

www.reef2reef.com

+1 for this. I use EasySPS Evo and have been super happy with it!! I switched from AcroPower to this and have very noticeable increase in PE and Alk consumption. Plus they tell you exactly what is in all of their coral food. The package also hooks directly up to the dosing pump which is nice.