Was dead against dosing aminos but gave it a shot after my torch started receding

I've got a 75 gallon mixed reef tank that I've had running for about 2 years now. My torch coral started looking rough about 3 months ago, shrinking up and losing color. I kept hearing people swear by amino acid dosing but I was totally skeptical, thought it was just snake oil for reef keeping. Finally broke down and bought a bottle of Red Sea Reef Energy, started dosing half the recommended amount twice a week. After about 3 weeks I noticed new heads forming and the color came back strong. My nitrates actually stayed stable too which was a surprise. Anyone else have good luck with amino dosing or am I just lucky on this one?

2 comments

2 Comments

sam_anderson1mo ago

That comment about nitrates staying stable is actually what makes me the most curious. Were you seeing any nutrient issues before you started dosing, or was your tank already pretty dialed in? I've been on the fence about trying aminos myself because I've read some horror stories about people accidentally spiking their numbers and getting algae blooms. Also, how long did it take before you noticed the torch starting to bounce back? I've got a hammer that's been sulking for a month now, and I'm wondering if aminos might help or if I should just let it ride. The half dose starting approach sounds smart though, might have to give that a try.

margaret_flores171mo agoMost Upvoted

Wait, are you thinking nitrates are the same as aminos? (Not trying to be rude, just want to clear that up.) Nitrates are a byproduct of the nitrogen cycle, while amino acids are direct building blocks for coral tissue, so they're totally different things. I actually had the opposite problem as most people, my nitrates were sitting around 15-20 and phosphates at 0.08, so my nutrients were fine but my torch was still looking pale and shrunken. The aminos brought it back within two weeks, like the polyps started extending more at night first, then the color deepened. For your hammer, I'd say check your flow and lighting before dosing anything, mine started sulking once when a powerhead got turned and blasted it too hard. If everything else looks good, try a half dose of a basic amino supplement once a week, that's low risk for algae since aminos get used up fast by corals.