overdosing vitamins/amino acids

[ahiggins]

What happens if you overdose your tank with amino acids/vitamins?
The LFS said not to...but what actually happens to the corals?

 

[sinekal]

In my experience on the aminos, a certainly level of dosing seems to feed a cyano outbreak.

I've never dosed vitamins so I can't say.

 

[Willz]

What happens if you overdose your tank with amino acids/vitamins?
The LFS said not to...but what actually happens to the corals?

You won't have as many corals since you are feeding your skimmer with expensive aminos and vitamins.

 

[ahiggins]

You won't have as many corals since you are feeding your skimmer with expensive aminos and vitamins.

I take it you don't dose? lol I'm trying out a bottle to see if it's worth it

 

[Willz]

I take it you don't dose? lol I'm trying out a bottle to see if it's worth it

I do dose both the Red Sea A and B, I just try not to overdose it. Too expensive What are you using?

 

[ahiggins]

Aqua vitro fuel for reef. Made by sea chem

 

[Willz]

Yeah, I used to use that too. I found out it is a carbon source and discontinued use once I started dosing NOPOX. I was always a little concerned about the copper and other metals it adds. I never really saw any negative effects after I stopped using it.

 

[ahiggins]

Hmm. Interesting. So what does the Red Sea a and b do?

 

[Willz]

Hmm. Interesting. So what does the Red Sea a and b do?

I run a fairly ULN system, so I'm hoping it is feeding my acros and montis. The amino acids anyways, and the vitamins are mixed in with it. I have a buddy that uses it on his tank with outstanding results, so I'm kind of copying him trying to chase his results. haha... Since it isn't a significant source of carbon, it was what I switched to after I gave up Fuel.

 

[ahiggins]

Why is it bad to have carbon? In small amounts.

 

[Willz]

I am dosing carbon via NOPOX, which I can measure and adjust based on my nitrates and phosphates tests. I just didn't want to add more via Fuel since I don't know how much it is adding to the mix.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I would anticipate overdosing of organics such as amino acids and vitamins will fuel bacteria (such as cyano ) and possibly increase nitrate (from the N in these additives). It could also brown up corals from elevated zoox levels.

 

[ahiggins]

Thanks Randy
The reccomended dose according to the bottle, should be put in 2x per week. If I did it every other week, would you think that I would reap any of the benefits? Or did I buy expensive AAs just to put them into the skimmer? lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks Randy
The reccomended dose according to the bottle, should be put in 2x per week. If I did it every other week, would you think that I would reap any of the benefits? Or did I buy expensive AAs just to put them into the skimmer? lol

If you have a ULNS tank, there may be a benefit. I'm not convinced vitamins are useful when added to tank water, and aminos may not be useful unless it is a low nutrient tank where organisms are starved for a source of nitrogen.

 

[ahiggins]

Thank you for your opinion. I think Ill take those back then. I used to run ULNS until I bleached everything lol

 

[Hans-Werner]

Some vitamins like vitamin B1 (thiamin) and others also add nitrogen.

 

[ahiggins]

I would have never known lol

 

[BigJohnny]

I would anticipate overdosing of organics such as amino acids and vitamins will fuel bacteria (such as cyano ) and possibly increase nitrate (from the N in these additives). It could also brown up corals from elevated zoox levels.

-this. At half the recommended dose of reef energy a and b, my corals looked great at first, then browning acros and cyano, reduced the dosage drastically and found a nice middle ground, then stopped completely and didn't really notice a difference lol.

just dose in moderation and keep an eye out for any changes (good or bad). every tank is different and proper dose can vary. if your corals aren't using it all and you are dosing too much/not doing enough water changes, you can throw everything out of balance. who knows if they even use them like that btw......

I had much better luck supplementing my low n and p system with pohls coral vitalizer.

 

[Hans-Werner]

That are the big disadvantages of dosing aminos. The nitrogen is readily available to corals and causes browning of corals. Aminos are basically ammonia plus an organic acid means nitrogen and organic carbon dosing at the same time. This lowers phosphate which supports cyanos. What you describe is very typical for amino dosing.

 

[ksed]

That are the big disadvantages of dosing aminos. The nitrogen is readily available to corals and causes browning of corals. Aminos are basically ammonia plus an organic acid means nitrogen and organic carbon dosing at the same time. This lowers phosphate which supports cyanos. What you describe is very typical for amino dosing.

I have never heard lower phosphates support cyano?
I did hear low nitrates may support cyano.