- Hey, it's Thomas here and today,
we're gonna be checking out Red Sea's Reef Nutrition AB Plus
and kinda look into what makes this the most popular,
arguably coral superfood out there.
Also, it glows, which is not only super cool and fun,
but also can be pretty useful,
but I'll touch more on that in just a bit.
While our photosynthetic corals can get upwards of 80%
of their nutritional energy from the algae,
living within their tissue, that still leaves a solid 20%
or more of their nutrition in our capable hands.
That means we absolutely should be feeding our corals,
just to make sure that a hundred percent
of their nutritional needs are being met.
When we provide our corals with physical foods,
full of vitamins, aminos, fatty acids and other nutrients,
we really help them go beyond surviving in our tanks
to thriving and also help give them resilience to imbalances
or swings, physical damage and help them recover
by providing the sustenance they need to regenerate tissue
when their symbiotic algae aren't able to.
Reef Energy AB Plus is a balanced proprietary blend
of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and carbohydrates
in an easy-to-dose form
that corals can easily absorb directly,
giving them quick access to that missing chunk
of their nutritional needs, so that they can thrive
and grow into colorful, robust,
fluffy, showstopping colonies.
It actually used to be a two-part system,
but Red Sea found a great way to combine it
into a single bottle.
So if it looks familiar, it's because it is.
It's just an enhanced version for ease of use.
When you open up the box, you'll find the bottle
of Reef Energy AB Plus with its dosing cap.
The 50 mil by four mil measuring cup.
As well as a quick set of guide for the dosing cap
and a paper copy of the information and dosing instructions.
Reef Energy AB Plus is available in 250 mil,
500 mil and one liter bottles, as well as a five liter jug.
Red Sea does a good job of providing clear guidance
on dosage amounts right on the bottle
and breaks it down based on what type of tank you have.
For SPS and mixed reefs,
they recommend four milliliters daily per 25 gallons.
For SPS-dominated reefs,
eight milliliters daily per 25 gallons.
And for ultra low nutrient systems
where corals have less symbiotic algae in their tissue
than normal, 12 milliliters daily per 25 gallons.
I did some quick math, risky business, I know
and your average hundred gallon mixed reef tank
would only cost about $13 a month to dose every single day,
assuming you're buying those bulk five liter jugs,
which is really great
and less than I spend on coffee every month.
Red Sea actually includes a great little 50 mil
by four mil measuring cup with the bottle,
so you can dose easily and accurately by hand,
as well as a really cool lid that is ready
to accept tubing for setting up the bottle on a dosing pump.
They also include a little quick start guide
for setting it up so you can't get it wrong.
It's one of those little details,
but something I can really appreciate as a reefer.
I don't have to out and spend money
on a separate dosing container or hack this bottle up
in DIY, then cap myself.
It's just right there.
You give it a little cut on the top
and attach some tubing on the outside and inside
and you're good to go.
They should all be like this.
Good job, Red Sea.
You do, however, wanna make sure that you're able
to refrigerate the bottle to keep it fresh.
Red Sea recommends using no more than one week's worth
at a time on a dosing pump, so it's always fresh.
A great workaround for using the full bottle
is to tuck it into a small mini-fridge near the tank
and make a port for the tubing to run in and out of.
Otherwise, you can grab a small 250 mil bottle
and one of the larger bottles to keep in the fridge
and just refill that little 250 mil every week
with the amount that your tank requires.
For best results, when you're dosing Reef Energy,
Red Sea does recommend that you turn off your return pump
or use the feed mode for at least 30 minutes.
That way the food stays in suspension in the aquarium
and doesn't go through your filtration section,
where it might get pulled out by the skimmer or carbon,
which would be a total waste because you want the superfood
in your corals to make super corals.
Oh my gosh, is that how you make super corals?
Is this it?
(chill music)
Yup.
You can also use a pipette or a turkey baster
to spot-feed your corals by mixing one part
of the Reef Energy AB Plus with two parts of aquarium water.
Just make sure to turn down the flow in your tank prior
to spot feeding so that it stays right near those corals.
And then give it 15 to 30 minutes
before turning the pumps back up.
I mentioned way earlier in this video
that this stuff flows a very cool, greenish yellow color
under our blue led lighting.
And beyond looking cool, it can also be a useful tool
for observing and adjusting the flow pumps in your tank,
while also feeding the corals at the same time.
As the Reef Energy moves throughout your tank,
you'll get a pretty good idea of where flow is strongest
or perhaps lacking and you can make small adjustments
to your pumps to optimize it.
Not the first thing you think of
when you're buying a coral food,
but it is a little cherry on top
whenever you're using these glowing additives.
So if you wanna round out
and round up your coral's nutrition
for the most possible color, resilience and growth
you can get out of them
and Red Sea's Reed Nutrition AB Plus matches
your reefing mantra, you can pick them up
by clicking right here.
(chill music)