What carbon source in NP Bacto Balance?

[Miami Reef]

What type of carbon source does NP Bacto Balance from Tropic Marin use?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I don't know.

 

[KStatefan]

Did you ask Lou? He has always responded to my e-mail questions.

 

[Miami Reef]

@Lou Ekus

 

[14 foot reef]

Lou did an interview with Devon at Reef Dudes and described the organic bio polymer used I believe. Let me see if I can locate it.

Found it.......The carbon source is from seaweed in NP Bacto Balance.

 

[Lou Ekus]

The natural salt water polymer derived from seaweed is in the Reef Actif NOT the NP BACTO Balance. The NP BACTO Balance is a medium short polymer that has advantages over the monomers like vodka (alcohol), vinegar and sugars. But it is not the one from seaweed.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The natural salt water polymer derived from seaweed is in the Reef Actif NOT the NP BACTO Balance. The NP BACTO Balance is a medium short polymer that has advantages over the monomers like vodka (alcohol), vinegar and sugars. But it is not the one from seaweed.

Thanks, Lou.

Can you expand on those advantages?

 

[Miami Reef]

The natural salt water polymer derived from seaweed is in the Reef Actif NOT the NP BACTO Balance. The NP BACTO Balance is a medium short polymer that has advantages over the monomers like vodka (alcohol), vinegar and sugars. But it is not the one from seaweed.

I’d like to know the advantages as well.

Has anyone complained about STN/RTN in acros with this carbon source? I know carbon dosing vodka/vinegar can be hit or miss with some acro keepers, at least anecdotally.

 

[Lou Ekus]

Thanks, Lou.

Can you expand on those advantages?

My understanding, as it has been explained to me by my team in Germany, is that most (not exclusively but most) of the algae and bacterial critters that we would prefer NOT to grow in our systems, have much better mechanisms for utilizing monomers than anything that is longer carbon chains. They just don't have good ability to break those longer chains down to the monomers they need. While the good guys (algae and bacteria) that are helpful to us have much better mechanisms for breaking those longer chains down to the monomers they utilize. So if you add mostly carbon chains that are more than monomers, you "target" and focus that nutrition on the beneficial critters we like to see multiply and help our closed tank system biome.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I’d like to know the advantages as well.

Has anyone complained about STN/RTN in acros with this carbon source? I know carbon dosing vodka/vinegar can be hit or miss with some acro keepers, at least anecdotally.

Have you switched from your daily diy vodka/vinegar carbon solution?

 

[Miami Reef]

Have you switched from your daily diy vodka/vinegar carbon solution?

I did the DIY vodka/vinegar mix. I didn’t see any problems but I stopped it because I read a few posts of people getting STN from it.

I know SunnyX uses NPBacto with really good results. I was honestly just curious about what was in it.

I don’t really plan on using any carbon dosing since I can manage my nutrients well without it. I was mainly just curious about the ingredients.

 

[Lou Ekus]

I did the DIY vodka/vinegar mix. I didn’t see any problems but I stopped it because I read a few posts of people getting STN from it.

I know SunnyX uses NPBacto with really good results. I was honestly just curious about what was in it.

I don’t really plan on using any carbon dosing since I can manage my nutrients well without it. I was mainly just curious about the ingredients.

For me, the real purpose of the carbon dosing has much more to do with the availability of PO4 for your corals, than it does with the nutrient reduction. But that is just my opinion.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

For me, the real purpose of the carbon dosing has much more to do with the availability of PO4 for your corals, than it does with the nutrient reduction. But that is just my opinion.

Exactly the point to using a product like bacto balance, or in my case i often use plus +np.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

My understanding, as it has been explained to me by my team in Germany, is that most (not exclusively but most) of the algae and bacterial critters that we would prefer NOT to grow in our systems, have much better mechanisms for utilizing monomers than anything that is longer carbon chains. They just don't have good ability to break those longer chains down to the monomers they need. While the good guys (algae and bacteria) that are helpful to us have much better mechanisms for breaking those longer chains down to the monomers they utilize. So if you add mostly carbon chains that are more than monomers, you "target" and focus that nutrition on the beneficial critters we like to see multiply and help our closed tank system biome.

OK, thanks Lou!

 

[Miami Reef]

I’m glad I made this thread! Seems like most of us gained information!

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

I’m glad I made this thread! Seems like most of us gained information!

yeah its a good one you got some greats on here thanks

 

[sixty_reefer]

For me, the real purpose of the carbon dosing has much more to do with the availability of PO4 for your corals, than it does with the nutrient reduction. But that is just my opinion.

I believe Np bacto balance is adding organic nutrients wile at the same time reducing inorganic nutrients with Doc. Is in your opinion DON more easily assimilated by coral Vs DIN?

 

[Lou Ekus]

I believe Np bacto balance is adding organic nutrients wile at the same time reducing inorganic nutrients with Doc. Is in your opinion DON more easily assimilated by coral Vs DIN?

Yes, that is exactly correct.