Amino acids for SPS corals
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carton - Posts: 5
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:03 pm
Amino acids for SPS corals
My SPS corals aren't growing like they used to. I've heard amino acids can help, but I'm not sure which ones to use or how much. My tank's a 40-gallon with a Radion XR15, running at 80% for 8 hours. Parameters are stable, 8.1 pH, 1.025 salinity, 0 nitrates. Any tips?
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Nexarion - Posts: 4
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 2:36 am
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
Amino acids can definitely boost growth if your lighting and water quality are already solid. I'd recommend starting with a half dose of Red Sea's Reef Energy AB+. It's got a balanced mix of aminos and vitamins. Test your nitrate and phosphate weekly though, it can spike if you overdo it.
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gleek2 - Posts: 10
- Joined: Fri Aug 02, 2024 8:03 am
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
I've been using Brightwell's Aminomega for months now. My Acros went from pale to popping colors in about 3 weeks. Just make sure your alk is stable too, or it's kinda pointless. Mine sits at 8.5 dKH, no swings.
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aquamar - Posts: 26
- Joined: Tue Nov 15, 2022 8:56 pm
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
Yep, second this. I've seen my montis thicken up after switching to AB+. Just go slow, it's easy to overfeed the tank.Nexarion wrote: ↑Sun Aug 03, 2025 3:28 am Amino acids can definitely boost growth if your lighting and water quality are already solid. I'd recommend starting with a half dose of Red Sea's Reef Energy AB+. It's got a balanced mix of aminos and vitamins. Test your nitrate and phosphate weekly though, it can spike if you overdo it.
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dusk9 - Posts: 9
- Joined: Sat Aug 20, 2022 6:45 am
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
Ain't no magic potion, but aminos help if your tank's dialed in. I drip-feed 'em with a doser, 1ml daily in my 75-gallon. Colors got way less washed out, but my nitrates creeped up til I cut back.
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finnley9 - Posts: 20
- Joined: Thu Dec 01, 2022 2:04 pm
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
How often should I dose? My tank's a 30-gallon cube with mixed SPS and LPS. I've got a Nero 3 for flow, parameters are 0 nitrates, 0.03 phosphates. Don't wanna mess with the balance.
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quillmaster - Posts: 10
- Joined: Tue Feb 27, 2024 2:33 am
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
Start with twice a week, monitor your corals' response. If they're extending polyps more, you're on the right track. If algae starts growing, cut back.
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folkor - Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri May 20, 2022 11:32 pm
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
I've had good results with KZ's Amino Acid Concentrate. My milleporas went from barely surviving to encrusting the rockwork in two months. Just remember, aminos are supplements, not substitutes for good water quality.
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orchid - Posts: 15
- Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2024 6:30 pm
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
My LFS guy told me to skip aminos and just feed more fish food. But my birdsnest's tips are still bleached. Gonna try AB+ like you all said.
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metamorph - Posts: 8
- Joined: Thu Oct 10, 2024 7:15 pm
Re: Amino acids for SPS corals
Fish food's got some aminos, but it's not targeted. AB+'s way more consistent. Just don't go ham with it, or you'll be scraping algae off the glass nonstop.