Instant-Algae VS Tahitian Blend

[Jimnorris]

Hello,
I have been working with Reed (Install-algae) for some time now. We have developed a microalgae food for clams and corals, simply call clam and coral diet. It has five mirco alages in it and it very cost affective. Our main goal was to create a food for clams and corals that was better than Dts and affordable for the hobbist.
Some of the members are currently using it!
Jim

[captexas]

Jim -
Glad to see you joined MAAST. I have heard your name mentioned frequently, but I'm afriad I don't know much about you. For those of those that haven't met you yet, could you please tell us about yourself and about your new product. Tim Marvin said it is supposed to be better than anything on the market and much more affordable. I'm sure all of us would love to find out how to get some!

Thanks,
Chris Parker

[Derek B]

Hey Chris,

Jim is out of Austin and he will be carrying the product for sale. Check out his website at www.tanku.net and you can check out the website for the algae at www.instant-algea.com. He provided me a sample a couple weeks ago and I bought the 100ml bottle from him too. All I can say is ...awesome!!! The dosage compared to DT's is minimal, it lasts longer, has 5 different types of algae compared to DT's 1 and is much cheaper ($20).

Derek

[captexas]

Thanks Derek for the info! :D

[Derek B]

Wow Chris, I'm not used to getting a reply back before 8 in the AM!

[Derek B]

Josh, I'm talking about normal people :-o

[newtosa]

So did we ever find out if the algae are live or not? Don't get me wrong, I'll probably try the product to feed my tank anyway (love that it also has Isochrysis, etc.). It's just that some of us are nuts enough to try to use DTs and other products (like possibly this one) to get live cultures going in Coke bottles. Might not be a fruitful exercise if we're continually dumping dead stuff in thise bottles....

Does anyone know?

[Derek B]

Dean, I am interested too. I will do some checking and get back with everyone soon.

Josh, I laughed my can off at that little animation. :rotf:

[TexasState]

Dean,
You have to be very carefull ( keeping the process as sterile as possible) trying to culture from your original bottle of DT. If you have contamination, some other algaes could take over, and crowd out your DT. The end product from the culture could be completely different from DT. It could have different nutritional values, storage life, etc.

There's competition in nature, the contaminated algaes could outgrow your culture of the DT.

[Jimnorris]

Hello,
I am a addicted reef keeper!!!!! I started a business called Tanku to help support my addiction. I have imported hundreds of clams into the US from the Marshall Islands. I have help many people become addicted to this hobby! My main purpose is to help people enjoy this hobby as much as I do by getting live/hard goods for people at a LOW cost. My main drawback is TIME. You know working, family and etc. Also because of this hobby I have met many wonderful people and friends.
The clam and coral diet was developed by Randy Reed (I quest for me) because I wanted something like DTs only BETTER and less$$$$ Dts is a fine product but $39.95 for a 30 oz bottle is crazy. So clam & coral diet is my answer.
Jim

[Derek B]

Hey Jim, good to see you posting on the board. Welcome. Thanks a bunch for the sample of the instant-algae. It turns my tank green as can be with only a couple ml!!! Derek

[Jimnorris]

Derek,
Thanks!
Jim

[Tim Marvin]

I am not sure what the difference is between live and dead anyway? Do you only eat lettuce if it comes packed in the dirt? I eat mine from the grocery store. Technically it's dead I suppose because it has been removed from the ground, but is it as good as the stuff still alive in the ground? I guess so.
Why would instant-algae be different? It is also a much higher concentration... I have been happy with it and glad Jim found it. Much more economical when feeding literally hundreds of corals.

[matt]

According to Ron Shimek, there's a huge difference between live algae like DTs and algae pastes; namely, most filter feeders like tridacna clames won't accept algae paste because the size and shape of the cell structure is different. Now, I'm not in any position to verify or debunk his claims, but he posted an article on reefcentral about it. I would say that when I feed DTs, my tank does seem to look a bit healthier, and after a few feedings of tahitian blend, which is what I'm trying now, I noticed a slight cyano build up. I'm really interested in this new product because DTs are expensive and hard to get locally.

Matt

[Derek B]

I have the new product that Jim found, Instant Algea, and I noticed a slight cyano buildup after feeding it for about two weeks. I'm starting to wonder if the less concentrated and less diverse, BUT live DT's is a better product? I am going to use up the bottle of Instant Algae and then get a bottle of DT's and see if I can tell a difference.