amino acid supplements... what's out there, how much and how often do you use them, and how do you add them to the tanks, and who benefits???

[Magnum Man]

so, 1st off what really are amino acids, and what are there purpose??? the only aquarium supplement I'm currently aware of, is Bacter AE, and as far as I know, it's produced for shrimp, it's in a powdered form, and almost all my fish go bonkers for it... I specifically add it to to all my tanks that contain bio film eaters... shrimp are said to benefit greatly from it's addition, and I think it greatly helps my Hillstream's, but also, my medium sized Kisser fish, can be seen sucking up as much as possible, when it's added to that tank... last night I added some to my South American Tetra tank, and the bulk of them seemed to be taking it in, and seemed to enjoy it... I haven't witnessed any detriments to feeding it, the way I do... how I add it, is one heaping scoop to approximately 10 gallons of tank, it's a fine powder, and I add 5-6 heaping scoops to the same protein shaker bottles that I feed the frozen shrimp bloodworm "cocktails", and split that up between tanks I have noticed some bigger fish like the gourami really like it, included are the silver dollars, and angel fish, but it's almost comical watching the gourami try to take in as much as it can... I only dose the tank, every couple weeks, and I add the cloud of Bacter to the tanks, as far away from the the filter intakes as possible... the water clouds, when it's added, but 5-6 hours later, all the tanks return back to crystal clear...

so, are there other similar products out there, that you use???

what benefits from amino acid dosing, if you use one???

how much, and how often do you apply it???

thoughts??? and is this fringe science, or a hoax???

 

[Rusty_Shackleford]

Fish also eat other fishes poop.

 

[Essjay]

1st off what really are amino acids, and what are there purpose?

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Proteins are very long chains of amino acids.

Bacter AE also contains micro-organisms and enzymes. Is this product supposed to build proteins in the tank? Their website does say it "provides a protein-rich food supply for the shrimplets". As to whether it works the way they say or not is anyone's guess. When I used it I just got a film on the water surface that was impossible to remove. When I tried the usual methods it just concertina'd up into white folds.

 

[gwand]

Do you think Bacter AE can be used to feed fry?

 

[Magnum Man]

I'm sure, my Endlers, and Guppy fry, that share the tank with different neo shrimp are eating it

 

[Magnum Man]

appears to be many choices , the bulk listed for corals

Amazon.com : aquarium amino acids