Amino Acids...who is dosing them?

[mkengr45]

I'm curious who all doses amino acids and what effects have you seen. I do a small biweekly dose and have had excellent polyp extension and coloration. Just curious to see who all is using them.

Randy

[Justin]

I used to use them quite a bit. I started with FUEL and then after reading a thread from ReefBuilders, went over to AcroPower. Way too much hype but the idea of the product not having to be refrigerated was appealing. I personally never saw any significant increases in growth or color of my corals but I did notice that algae started to grow in my tank. I quickly reduced my dosage and then eventually stopped altogether once I ran out of product.

My thoughts on AA are that in a normal tank they are negligible at best. The whole concept of dosing AA is that corals in our isolated systems deplete the available AA's in the water column and therefore show stunted or less than full potential color and growth. This is not true for the average reefers system. Why you may ask? Well most tanks are heavily fed and stocked with fish and other organisms that through basic metabolism, excrete the nutrients that corals need to grow in their tanks. The only exception I have found will be those that follow a ULNS (Ultra Low Nutrient System). In a system like this, everything is stripped from the water column except what the corals need minimally. This translates to in most cases Alk, Mg, Ca and some other trace elements like Sr and Iron. Those that have ULNS and dose AA, see the claims come true in their tanks because the corals are "starving" for the AA's. If you feed your tank well and have plenty of fish, like most of us, then I say you don't need Aminos. Spend the money on another fancy coral.

[mkengr45]

Justin you pretty much hit the nail right on the head...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk