Nutrient and food suggestions for Prodibio system?

[LordDarth Bane]

Been keeping reefs for 13 years and the current tank is now 7 years old, running Prodibio for 4/5 years (I couldn't remember actually) :lol:

The system has been stable and low nutrient. I was too lazy to take care for it. Water change maybe once a month and feeding fish once or twice a month. (Why feed them when they grow bigger without feeding? They have found their food:lol::fun2

OK. Recently have the passion back and am getting serious into it again. The corals look pale due to low nutrient and low feeding. I am thinking of adding some nutrient, food, and trace element but would like to keep the bottles as few as possible. Don't want to have two products that are doing the same thing/purpose overlapping. Hence I like the simplicity of Prodibio. (I had been running many systems such as Zeo and Vodka in these years.....)

Been out of it for a while so my knowledge might be outdated. Suggestions are welcomed.

Nutrient:
1. Pohl's Xtra Special (Amino Acid and trace elements for pale corals)

Trace Element:
Do I still need to add trace elements? Does Xtra Special include the essential ones such as Potassium and Iodine? Or maybe add a bottle of those all in one type trace element?

Coral food:
1. Coral Vitalizer? Is it really food particles that corals can "eat"? Or another nutrient solution like AA?
2. I actually like plankton. Used to feed the Liquidlife Phytoplankton but couldn't find this stuff anymore. Tried some "power food" such as Reef bugs and Reef Pearls without significant result. Any better food now?

etc.:
1. Sponge Power. Tried before without significant result. Thinking if it's good to add this time.
2. Coral snow/Marine snow?

Thanks.

 

[reefmutt]

I can't help you with the zeo products as I've little knowledge about them.
But I'm not completely understanding your question..
Prodibio has a system that will give you all necessary trace elements .. are you already using that? Do you want to stop using Prodibio?
Why not just add a couple more fish to raise nutrients?
I have just begun using Biodigest and Bioptim and am beginning to like what I am seeing- 3 weeks in- not a huge nutrient reduction yet but good growth beginning.

 

[LordDarth Bane]

Hi Matt, Prodibio is slow,you will probably see its positive effects in 2-3 months. The rocks will look clean then you can see your tank is getting to lower nutrient level.

I only use Biodigest and Bioptim. They have strontium and iodine products but I never use as I dont like their "1 shot approach" for these elements. ie. concentration will be very high in the day after using, and getting low in day 14. Not stable. But for bacterial and carbon source (Biodigest and Bioptim), I think it is fine.

I used to have Brightwell Iodine and Strontium and dosed them every few days.

Reef Booster is fine. But my Skimmer would go crazy after using it. So I do not use it regularly as nutrient (AA) source.

I have 5 fish at the moment in my 3' tank and I do not intend to add too many fish (in order to feed my corals indirectly). I have some LPS and acans in my SPS tank so I would like to feed them as well.

I am thinking about of getting the above products (Xtra special, CV.......) but would like to know if there is any better new products that I have not been aware of.

 

[reefmutt]

Thanks for your comments on Prodibio.
It's funny you said you only use Bioptim and Biodigest. I feel the same way. I dose iodine and strontium separately as well.
Maybe someone else will chime in on the zeo products..
I use Polyp Lab's reef roids regularly. It is filled with omega fatty acids and aminos and other nutrients, as well. I'm sure it would help raise nutrients a bit and benefit the tank in general..
Many (including me) are playing with dosing vitamins, namely Aquaforest Vitality. Doesn't impact nutrient levels very significantly but may benefit the corals as they absorb the vitamins.

 

[Piper27]

People are now using stump remover to add nitrate to their tanks with pale corals and low nutrients. Works well and will help corals color up. But I would add an actual food source to get more nutrients going through the tank. Amino acids won't give the corals everything they need when they are pale. They can help though I would still use a good food to feed your fish much more often that once a month. Reef roids type products are an option though I prefer frozen types, and oysterfeast is great too. I don't think vitamins will help pale corals though they may give them a little of a healthier look since it's supposed to help feed the zoox in the coral. The problem is probably not a lot of zoox in the coral though so I would be curious to see what happens in that situation. Maybe some stump remover and vitamins and oysterfeast and pe mysis would help (joking but not, I like heavy feedings)

 

[LordDarth Bane]

Just ordered the Xtra Special, CV, and Two Little Fish coral food (the store has those 6 foods mixed and sell it in smaller bottle). Will see how it goes.

I'd definitely try Oysterfeast when I can get it.

 

[reefmutt]

Let us know what you see from using them..
Just out of curiosity what are your nutrients?

 

[LordDarth Bane]

Do you mean NO3 and PO4?

They have been undetectable with my Salifer kits for many years. I never bother to get a Hanna meter to have their true readings.

The NO3 has always been undetectable since day 1 even without Prodibio. I have good bacteria in my live rocks.:wave: