Tropic Marin Reef Actif

[kainic]

This is not intended to be an advertisment nor I'm in any way related to Tropic Marin. This thread is created to be a reference for all Reef Actif users abroad. There's a huge thread on a (german forum) (hope it's not a RC TOC violation to provide this link) where many people share their experiences with this product, but there's not a big thread in english.

For those who do not know the product, Tropic Marin's description is as follows:

For water care between water changes

REEF ACTIF contains marine biopolymers which bind excess nutrients and other pollutants and lead to their decomposition via specialized microorganisms. This promotes a natural marine microbiology environment in the aquarium and keeps the water extremely clear.

The activation of the microflora provides the water with numerous vitamins and other vital substances in a wholly natural manner. Corals and shells open better and display their full range of colors. Fishes, too, benefit from the stable bacteria flora and the probiotic effect; they become robust, displaying their vitality in the form of perfect coloration.

Benefits:
"¢ Ensures consistent water conditions between water changes
"¢ Has a double function as adsorber and valuable bacteria nutrition in the aquarium
"¢ Binds nutrients and encourages their utilisation through bacteria and other organisms
"¢ Promotes the removal of water contamination by binding contaminating substances
"¢ Slow decomposition of excess nutrients without oxygen consumption in the aquarium
"¢ Improves consistency and continuity of skimming
"¢ Enhances vitality and coloration of corals and reef mussels

And it's dosage instructions

How to use:
One measuring spoon of REEF ACTIF once a week per 500 I / 130 US-Gal. of aquarium system water volume. Stir REEF ACTIF into some aquarium water and then add it to the aquarium. Make sure it is blended as evenly as possible.

Maximum dosage: One measuring spoon for a 500 I (130 US-Gal.) aquarium, three times a week. For aquarium systems without skimmers: One measuring spoon for a 1000 I (260 US-gal.) aquarium.

REEF ACTIF can be used in combination with all other products of the BIO-ACTIF-SYSTEM. This does not result in overdosing of organic substances.

There's some RC users currently dosing Reef Actif: DiscusHeckel, Pife, illumnae and myself

I'd like this thread to be a compendium of experiences and questions about this product. Hope it helps.

 

[reefmutt]

I haven't started using it yet but have it in my cupboard. I will start trying it out eventually..
Following.

 

[Alfrareef]

Interesting... did you get the cons?

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I have been using this product since 25th May 2017 to complement my main nutrient export tool, Tropic Marin NP-Bacto-Balance.

I started to dose it because I was curious to find out its impact on my reef (positive or negative). I like experimenting. This is what keeps me going in this hobby. I am good at record keeping for future reference and to benefit wider community. You can find my diary on TM Reef Actif diary on my Facebook page.

Please feel free to post your comments or questions to my Facebook note or alternatively to my tank thread. I will do my best to share my opinion with you. I will also chip in any discussions in this thread.

Cheers

Bülent

 

[abhishek@1985]

2 questions as my very interested :-

1. Can this be used with other branded bacteria like Zeobak and Aquaforest Pro Bio S?
2. How do we dose in smaller tanks like 100 gallon or so (below 400 liters)?

Regards,
Abhishek

 

[kainic]

2 questions as my very interested :-

1. Can this be used with other branded bacteria like Zeobak and Aquaforest Pro Bio S?
2. How do we dose in smaller tanks like 100 gallon or so (below 400 liters)?

Regards,
Abhishek

As any other bacteria fuel its recommended to start slow and increase dose over time. My understanding is that its not counterproductive to use Reef Actif with any bacteria source.

For smaller tanks (like mine which is 90g) you can dose 1/2 or 1/4 as the spoon has the marks for it.

 

[Alfrareef]

Thanks Bülent.
I'll give it a chance and going to read more about it. At first it seems one more carbon source...
Thanks for the info.

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Thanks Bülent.
I'll give it a chance and going to read more about it. At first it seems one more carbon source...
Thanks for the info.

Yes, it is a carbon source in the form of biopolymers, which bind nutrients and release them only when they are "degraded by bacteria living on symbiosis with sponges, corals, mussels, tubular worms and most other filtering marine animals" (ref: Hans-Werner Balling)

 

[Alfrareef]

So I should stop NOPOX dosing while using it?

 

[plyle02]

If it were my reef, I would discontinue dosing of carbon source for a couple of days post water change, would not want to encourage a cyano bloom...

 

[DiscusHeckel]

So I should stop NOPOX dosing while using it?

I cannot give you a definite yes or no answer as it depends on your present PO4 readings, which in my opinion much more crucial to corals' health than nitrates. You do not want to lower PO4 to very low levels as it will shock your corals. If measurable phosphates are below 0.0246 mg/L, I would probably consider quitting NOPOX. If, on the other hand, it is higher than this value, then I would continue with caution and observe corals daily (colouration and polyp extension).

 

[reefmutt]

I cannot give you a definite yes or no answer as it depends on your present PO4 readings, which in my opinion much more crucial to corals' health than nitrates. You do not want to lower PO4 to very low levels as it will shock your corals. If measurable phosphates are below 0.246 mg/L, I would probably consider quitting NOPOX. If, on the other hand, it is higher than this value, then I would continue with caution and observe corals daily (colouration and polyp extension).

Bulent, did you mean .246 or .0246?
Maybe I'm mixing up my measures..

 

[DiscusHeckel]

Bulent, did you mean .246 or .0246?
Maybe I'm mixing up my measures..

You are right Matt. I have corrected my mistake.

 

[Rick55555]

I am interested in this product. Please keep the information coming.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Pife]

I am about to dose my first dose. It will be one level spoonful. My water system is now than double the recommended dose for a spoonful so I'm starting slow.

I am dosing bio digest too. And vinegar.

Nitrates at 5 and p04s at . 06

 

[reefmutt]

What's the rational for using both reef actif and vinegar?

 

[Pife]

What's the rational for using both reef actif and vinegar?

I am stuck at 5 nitrate. I have increased vinegar dosing and that did not lower then so I'm trying a different carbon source. I just don't get it. I also ordered and received a swabbie to try and increase my skimmers productivity. I have since dosing bio digest had a big up swing in skimmate production. Triple my normal amount with out the lowering of nitrate.

 

[illumnae]

I have a different interpretation of what Reef Actif is. I do not think that it is a carbon source similar to Nopox or vinegar. Tropic Marin actually has several other carbon source products including NP Bacto Balance, Elimi-NP and NP Bacto Pellets. On the Tropic Marin website, those 3 products are listed in the "Nutrient Control" category, while Reef Actif is listed in the "Minerals" category.

The description of the product states that they are "marine biopolymers", but while most/all carbon sources are polymers of some sort (some even being biopolymers), not all biopolymers are carbon sources.

The stated benefit of this product is to promote water stability by binding excess nutrients and pollutants in the water and aiding in their decomposition. The microorganisms that perform such decomposition (which includes bacteria) is supposed to create a better overall environment for our tank inhabitants.

I see this product as being similar to the Reef Vitality product from Fauna Marin.

 

[reefmutt]

I am stuck at 5 nitrate. I have increased vinegar dosing and that did not lower then so I'm trying a different carbon source. I just don't get it. I also ordered and received a swabbie to try and increase my skimmers productivity. I have since dosing bio digest had a big up swing in skimmate production. Triple my normal amount with out the lowering of nitrate.

Oh! I get it, so you've been using vinegar already..
So, reef actif is the next step. Ok.

I have a different interpretation of what Reef Actif is. I do not think that it is a carbon source similar to Nopox or vinegar. Tropic Marin actually has several other carbon source products including NP Bacto Balance, Elimi-NP and NP Bacto Pellets. On the Tropic Marin website, those 3 products are listed in the "Nutrient Control" category, while Reef Actif is listed in the "Minerals" category.

The description of the product states that they are "marine biopolymers", but while most/all carbon sources are polymers of some sort (some even being biopolymers), not all biopolymers are carbon sources.

The stated benefit of this product is to promote water stability by binding excess nutrients and pollutants in the water and aiding in their decomposition. The microorganisms that perform such decomposition (which includes bacteria) is supposed to create a better overall environment for our tank inhabitants.

I see this product as being similar to the Reef Vitality product from Fauna Marin.

100% agree

 

[DiscusHeckel]

I have a different interpretation of what Reef Actif is. I do not think that it is a carbon source similar to Nopox or vinegar. Tropic Marin actually has several other carbon source products including NP Bacto Balance, Elimi-NP and NP Bacto Pellets. On the Tropic Marin website, those 3 products are listed in the "Nutrient Control" category, while Reef Actif is listed in the "Minerals" category.

The description of the product states that they are "marine biopolymers", but while most/all carbon sources are polymers of some sort (some even being biopolymers), not all biopolymers are carbon sources.

The stated benefit of this product is to promote water stability by binding excess nutrients and pollutants in the water and aiding in their decomposition. The microorganisms that perform such decomposition (which includes bacteria) is supposed to create a better overall environment for our tank inhabitants.

I see this product as being similar to the Reef Vitality product from Fauna Marin.

Reef Actif is a carbon source. To quote Hans-Werner: "REEF ACTIF contains a carbon source in the form of the mentioned biopolymers. These, like most organic compounds, are mainly carbon."

There may, however, be a difference between biopolymers and carbon contained in Bacto-balance and possibly vinegar, vodka and sugars. Different carbon sources must feed different types of bacteria. I am currently studying this.

To quote Hans-Werner again " ... specialized marine bacteria, but they live in symbiosis with sponges, corals, mussels, tubular worms and most other filtering marine animals. This usually means that the filterers harbor these symbiontic bacteria and feed them food"

What I do not know is whether or not this type of bacteria are different from facultative heterotrophic bacteria that live on surfaces and also possibly in the water column. This is what I am studying. Once I know the answer I will be able to answer the question BigE posed in my tank thread. That is "I'm not sure I see what it [Reef Actif] offers that Bacto balance doesn't? Bacto balance contains a carbon source, correct?"