Spirulina Dosing... Let's Discuss :)

[Perry]

As a long time health and nutrition maniac, I have been dosing a teaspoon a day into my body, as a total health amendment. If you go on to research the impacts of Spirulina as it relates to nutrition, I think most gurus consider it nearly a complete food. So, as I tend to go a bit extreme with testing, I decided to see if maybe the addition to the reef could bring similar benefits, perhaps a rich food source for small mouths including acros, but also micro critters. Perhaps the addition could inoculate the system with such a positive algae, that it could starve out and restore balance?
I have been putting an 1/8th of a teaspoon into the system daily(50g), of high grade, organic spirulina powder mixed with tank water and "coral dust" from FM, and well, the results on dinos specifically are encouraging. Spirulina is nothing new to the salty world, but could intentional dosing, regularly, perhaps balance the algae relationship, in essence, allowing marine and calcifying algae to thrive?
Lets discuss!!!

 

[ZoWhat]

i cultivate and dose my own Tetra and nanno phytoplankton. I'm mostly LPS.

can't say enough great things about dosing LIVE phyto

 

[Doctorgori]

I have a bag of the powder,
but IME the concentrated liquid stuff is better/less problematic

 

[Perry]

I have a bag of the powder,
but IME the concentrated liquid stuff is better/less problematic

Micro-Dosing Doc, lol... So far I am loving the dinos turning to dust ;)

 

[djf91]

Not sure about spirulina, but I know Isochrysis has been shown to be eaten by stony corals. Which makes sense as it’s a common phytoplankton from the tropical seas. As is the case without a lot of live foods, it seems to come down particle size, motile/nonmotile, etc..

 

[Perry]

Key Nutrients include: B Complex, beta-carotene, vitamin E, Manganese, Zinc, Copper, Iron, Selenium, and Gamma Linolenic Acid.

What role does Manganese play on photosynthesis? Is it crucial?

1 tablespoon is 4 grams of protein, and also high in Iron as well.

Could this nutrient dense algae aid in balancing the photosynthesis processes on the reef, as well as promoting positive bacteria?

In the plant kingdom, these key nutrients certainly play a key role in healthy plants, why of course, with corals being plant hybrids, would we not correlate their needs with those of corals?

Again, this may help tanks that struggle with NTS to overcome those early struggles and obstacles, with nuisance bacteria and algae. Food for thought, have a great day Acro Nerds!

 

[Perry]

For clarification and transparency, my designed slurry as follows, as a coral feed, 2x per week.
1. 1 tablespoon AF Life Source
2. 1/4 teaspoon FM Rebiotic
3. 1 pinch, (salifert spoon for ca test kit size) Organic Spirulina Powder-fine
4. 1 pinch, ("^") FM Coral Dust

40-50 gallons water volume to dose. Mixed with .25 liter of tank water, mixed throughly, and set for 1/2 hour seed time. Dose to tank only until clear, then engage return pump, roughly 1 hour saturation to reef. Skimmer off for a few hours.

 

[christyahumada]

For clarification and transparency, my designed slurry as follows, as a coral feed, 2x per week.
1. 1 tablespoon AF Life Source
2. 1/4 teaspoon FM Rebiotic
3. 1 pinch, (salifert spoon for ca test kit size) Organic Spirulina Powder-fine
4. 1 pinch, ("^") FM Coral Dust

40-50 gallons water volume to dose. Mixed with .25 liter of tank water, mixed throughly, and set for 1/2 hour seed time. Dose to tank only until clear, then engage return pump, roughly 1 hour saturation to reef. Skimmer off for a few hours.

What do you mean by seed time? Sorry I’m not up to date with some terms.