Amino Acids

[crazedreefer]

Someone mentioned using powder...I would be very cautious due to most human products containing phosphates...There are somethings I would like to add to the tank, that is for humans but they all have phosphates in them and that makes me nervous.

 

[johns]

As to the notion that AA's are a fad or an elixer just remember that Amino Acids are the building blocks of life. Without them no life would exist. AA's are the building blocks of proteins and proteins are the building blocks of DNA. I think we can all agree that DNA exists within our corals so they do play a role.

Not doing this to be rude, but you have a thing or 2 backwards here.

Yes, AA are the building blocks of proteins. But proteins definitely are not the building blocks of DNA. DNA is the source material. It is basically a nucleotide chain that serves as a 'code' for which AA should be used in the protein being built. Every set of 3 DNA nucleotides codes for a single AA to be added to a peptide chain. Later down the road, this peptide chain gets a few more alterations and then folds up into a protein.

Not trying to negate your points are argue the issue at hand really. Just wanted to clarify.

 

[250G]

Agreed. Since adding my 2 big triggers and feeding them daily, along with my acans, I have seen my colours darken over the past month.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10576506#post10576506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kev apsley
Essentially hobbyist who have extremely low nutrient tanks can benefit from AA's because their water column is so stripped clean of nutrients that the corals zooxanthellae slowly starve from lack of food/energy. If that is the case, as a few folks on here have mentioned, people with low nutrient tanks can either a) feed more/add more fish b) dose AA's to increase the available uptake of nitrogen into the zooxanthellae, which in turn will create more UV protecting algae/colors in the corals. On the other hand there are a lot of people just dumping AA's into their tanks assuming that it is a magic elixir, where in actuality they probably already have enough nitrogen in their systems that the zooxanthellae are already fat and happy.

I only seeing it being a good source for lower nutrient systems not everyone IMHO

 

[Greg Hiller]

The scientific articles (tracer studies that also controlled for bacterial/zooxanthelle contamination) that I have read regarding amino acid uptake and utilization in corals are fairly conclusive, IMO. Corals DO (or can) take up many free amino acids directly from the water around them. Whether they actually benefit from free amino acids in terms of growth, color, etc. is clearly NOT proven in the scientific literature. Whether they actually take them up from the water column (if they are even IN the water column) on the reef in the natural environment to any significant degree is also, IMO, has really not been proved.

One might hypothesize that if the transporters on the surface of the corals are there, and they seem to be, then they are probably there for a good reason (nature never wastes resources on things not needed), and that corals need, and regularly take up free amino acids from the water around them. OTOH, however, it may be that there is no active 'tranporter' system at all, but the corals perhaps take up all kinds of stuff from the water around them, and in the studies in the lab that were performed, the amino acids come along for the 'ride.'

johns...thanks for the correction on the DNA stuff...when I see errors like that getting 'propagated' it really drives me nuts

 

[salt-rookie]

I'm convinced t try this....I just ordered 4 bottles from Premium...I'll keep you posted!

Phil

 

[stony_corals]

Unless your system is nutrient poor, as indicated by pastel colored sps, not test kits, you probably won't see (to our eyes) much effect...

 

[Mark C]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10644142#post10644142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stony_corals
Unless your system is nutrient poor, as indicated by pastel colored sps, not test kits, you probably won't see (to our eyes) much effect...

Yup, thats exactly my tank... Both by color and by test kits. I just ordered Saliferts Amino Acids, so I'll take pictures before I start dosing them. I'll post up the pictures when I get them, and then come back to this thread in a month or two to see if there is any noticeable difference.

 

[salt-rookie]

I modified my skimmer and am running UV to rid my system of water borne algae.....my colors have since faded......I'm hoping this will bring the colors back!!!!!!! I'll take before and after pics also!

 

[sammy33]

It would be nice to know what aminos are actually effective. The abstract quoted below mentions "eight amino acids" that were used. Does anyone have a full copy of this journal? I did find this journal report but was unable to download it as you have to be affiliated with a library or school to gain access.

I have seen Aspartic acid, L-Glutamine and Creatine mentioned in various threads and references as being useful. Seachem Reef Plus (that I use) actually lists the ingredients on the bottle but none of those aminos are listed?

Ascorbic Acid (Vit C) 5.0 mg
Thiamin (B1) 0.02 mg
Riboflavin (B2) 0.02 mg
Niacin (B3) 0.25 mg
Pantothenate (B5) 0.07 mg
Vitamin B12 0.9 µg
Choline (B4) 0.004 mg

Inositol 0.011 mg
Arginine 0.16 mg
Glutamate 0.9 mg
Lysine 0.3 mg
Tyrosine 0.19 mg

The first section appears to be mostly vitamins with the second section mostly aminos. Any of you that are using the other amino products like zeo or salifert have ingredient lists?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10575084#post10575084 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mark C
The benefit of amino acids has been known for awhile, its just that most people couldn't have kept a nutrient free tank long enough to even worry about it... Here is the abstract of an article from the Dec. 1991 edition of the Coral Reefs journal by Ferrier:

"High pressure liquid chromatography was employed to provide the first definitive proof of the net uptake of dissolved free amino acids (DFFA) at nanomolar levels by four scleractinian corals (Montastrea annularis, Madracis mirabilis, Agaricia fragilìs, and Favia fragum). During 2 h incubations all species exhibited simultaneous net uptake of eight amino acids. For M. annularis and F. fragum uptake of some dissolved amino acids occurred at concentrations lower than those found in reef waters. Microbial activity or adsorption of DFAA to exposed coral skeletons during these experiments did not appear to be important. Although it seems unlikely that DFAA uptake can provide a significant energy source for corals under ambient condìtions, it may be important in the acquisition and retention of nitrogen by these animals."

The last line is the important one for reefkeepers... It basically implies that in a nutrient deprived tank, dosing amino acids could lead to better acquistion and retention of nitrogen, which in turn can enhance their color.

 

[sammy33]

Any of you that are using the other amino products like zeo or salifert have ingredient lists?

 

[salt-rookie]

I'm just using the Spectra Pure Aminos...for almost a week, no noticable change yet.

 

[acrylic_300]

Cool, someone I can actually stop bye and take a peak at. Phil, I saw your UV pics and the corals do look a little faded compared to the last time I saw them.

Hope you start seeing some color saturation soon.

 

[Jeff]

I have been trying to get some additional information on Reefpure Ultimate Aminos by Warner Marine and have had a lot of trouble. Are they still selling it? I went to their website and went to the dealers that they claim sell it. The dealers all seem to sell Warner Marine products but not the aminos.
Has something changed?

Jeff

EDIT: I just found it at premium Aquatics for $8.95. I didnt come up on their seach engine.

 

[dtm]

why is that warner marine suggests that you dose 1 hour before feeding or 1 hour before shutting off lights?????

 

[salt-rookie]

I was assuming that is was for even distribution when lights went out and the coral polyps were extended. But I've been wrong many times before. It made sense to me, and my colors are brighteneing up after 10 days!