I will let @Hans-Werner give his input on this. But in the meantime (and I'll find out if I am correct about this or not) I would say that it wouldn't be unusual to see a slight increase in your skimmate from the use of Reef Actif, but I also would say that increase is not skimming the total effect of the poduct out of your system. I often see people using skimmers and Reef Actif together with gret success. It may be a pain to empty the skimmate more often. But the benefits are well worth it.
Looking for Reef Actif Experiences
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Skep18
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Thanks for the feedback. I always figured most people running tanks of any decent size use a skimmer as sort of default. Such a situation may or may not go hand-in-hand with being so committed as to considering a product such as this. I may be wrong. But as you touched on, I don't doubt there's still benefits but rather I'm curious how I maximize these benefits. Beyond that, maybe a bit more pragmatically, I don't want to skim a product I spent money on directly into my skimmer thus down the drain. So I guess this is sort of asking what the best practices might be.
Likewise, I had assumed all carbon dosing really relied on skimmers as sort of two-fold. First, to keep the water oxygenated. Second to skim off bacteria build up as a sort of nutrient export. I understand nutrient export is not a design consideration for this product so that might not be so much at play here.
All the same, I'm more and more intrigued by this product each day. The explained hypothesis/science behind carbon dosing and its effect on coral I find interesting. As such, I'd love to see the benefits of the theory unfold!
As always, thanks for taking the time to respond!
Hans-Werner
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1. It is normal that Reef Actif forms a visible cloudiness. Since it are biopolymers and not soluble sugars bacterial settling of the particles and bacterial breakdown take some time. After clearing up of the water it will be clearer than before because other small particles that form a very slight coudiness are precipitated with the Reef Actif particles.
2. Eating of the particles is no problem for fish or invertebrates in the tank. I even tried to feed filter feeders with Reef Actif with some success.
Reef Actif cannot be compared with soluble sugars in its effects. It is more of a prebiotic, insoluble fibers feeding the good bacteria in the fish intestines.
3. I have use Reef Actif in systems with and without skimmers, both with good results. In general skimmers do not take particles out of the water directly. Only indirectly skimming is enhanced after a few days due to the bacterial growth that Reef Actif feeds. Skimmers are taking out a little more of the typical dark brown skimmate.
4. Normally, when using saltwater like it is recommended, I have not observed a thickening effect of Reef Actif. It should mainly occur when using RODI water or freshwater. When using saltwater for suspending Reef Actif I expect no or little removal by skimming.
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Skep18
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Thank you for taking the time to respond. As relayed, if the skimmer does not pull it out like i mistakenly thought, I think that indirectly answers most of my questions.
Vested
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How exactly do the bio-polymers in reef actif work in the actual ocean? Just trying to understand the *specific* mechanics of this, can you be any more specific? What is a bio-polymer in reef actif and its function?
I think it would be more popular if you could explain its function in more detail. For example sunnyx’s diy coral snow is a flocculant (calcium carbonate) that is attracting actual particulates that can then be pulled out of the water with mechanical filtration from my understanding. This has a clear use and function with a clear reaction. I think everyone could point towards more specific effects of reef actif if we knew how it does what it does.
Personally I’ve been using reef actif regularly for a year or so now and like it. I cant say why though and would love to here a more detailed explanation.
@Hans-Werner
I think it would be more popular if you could explain its function in more detail. For example sunnyx’s diy coral snow is a flocculant (calcium carbonate) that is attracting actual particulates that can then be pulled out of the water with mechanical filtration from my understanding. This has a clear use and function with a clear reaction. I think everyone could point towards more specific effects of reef actif if we knew how it does what it does.
Personally I’ve been using reef actif regularly for a year or so now and like it. I cant say why though and would love to here a more detailed explanation.
@Hans-Werner
I have explained this many times in other threads. I will try to recap a short version here. The bio-polymers in Reef Actif, are long chain marine polymers from sea weed. Just like other forms of carbon dosing, they act to feed beneficial forms of bacteria that then consume PO4 and other nutrients. These bacteria are then consumed by the filter feeding corals, and as a result, get the PO4, and other nutrients, they desperatley need. These long chain marine polymers are a particlarly gentle, very natural, slow acting way to do this. I am not a chemist, so diggin further into the exact chemical process on the molecular level of this, is "above my pay grade" . But those re the basics.
Vested
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Thanks Lou, I think I've watched or read just about everything you've said surrounding reef actif. It's always slightly different though and fairly vague to be honest, this is a great summary though. I do notice a consistent small dip in po4 within 12-24 hrs after dosing, I use the product when I notice po4 "stalling".
But reading in here hans said he did not notice any po4 consumption which is weird to me as the only thing I can kinda put my finger on. I've tested this on maybe 10 different tanks now.
Hans-Werner
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Finally I discovered the effects of the ingredients in Reef Actif by chance. I did run trials with several substances that are already in use and new ones that seemed promising to me due to charged groups and adsorbant properties.
To be honest I did not see a very pronounced effect from the first things I tried like zeolithe powder although they are said to have a good effect.
In contrast I saw a very good effect after only a few days with the main ingredients in Reef Actif. Corals opened up much better. After a few weeks I saw improved growth and colors.
After starting selling, other users reported additional positive effects like more frequent mating behavior of fish.
I explained these effects with the growth of "beneficial bacteria" which is known now as prebiotic effect. I think this applies also to the effect on corals.
Bacterial activity may release phosphate from rocks and substrates and I think this is also what Reef Actif does. I think this is part of the positive effect to corals. I think the phosphate consumption and the phosphate release by bacteria are quite balanced, so usually we don't see much effect to water phosphate concentrations.
This is a lot of "I think" but I gave my best explanations and I am quite sure it works the way I have described it. The research on prebiotics, beneficial microorganisms an the role of microbiomes in organisms is still quite new and I think we have been and still are a kind of pioneers in this field.
Koty
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I have used Reef Actif for over a year (1 spoonful/week/420 liters). Corals do like it. I use it with Elimi-NP (about 10 ml/day with a dosing pump). Both seem to work, as my mixed reef no-water-change tank looks great (IMO). Phosphate clearance, however, is still an issue, and I am now facing an annoying GHA outbreak. My nitrates are nicely low, 0-5 ppm. I plan to add a bag of GFO to lower the phosphate to around 0.1 (from 0.5-6). I used to dose A and K elements with my 3-part but decided that it may have contributed to the GHA. I have Cheato growing well and a skimmer on 100% power. Still, all export methods keep my corals very happy, but phosphate is too high
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