- Enables controlled nitrate and phosphate reduction for optimal coral growth and coloration
- Reduces nuisance algae
- Reef-Safe, with no undesirable side effects
- Easy to use, reliable and cost-effective
The biological reduction of algae nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) occurs naturally in all anoxic areas of the aquarium, such as inside live rocks, porous filter media, and substrates.
Red Sea’s algae management program boosts and controls these natural processes by the regular measured dosing of NO3: PO4-X; a bacteria enhancing supplement, monitored by the use of highly accurate test kits.
The algae management program provides an easy and reliable method to control algae nutrient levels, which reduces the presence of nuisance algae and the population of the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae which are essential for most corals. To read more about the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae and their relationship with corals, click here.
Implementation Guide
| Aquarium Type | Recommended level of |
Recommended Test kit |
Average daily usage of NO3:PO4-X (25gal) |
|
| NO3 | PO4 | |||
| Mixed Reef | 1-2ppm | 0.08-0.12ppm | NITRATE | NITRITE PHOSPHATE |
2ml |
| SPS Frag | 1-2ppm | 0.08-0.12ppm | NITRATE | NITRITE PHOSPHATE |
2ml |
| SPS Dominant | 0.25-0.5ppm | 0.01-0.02ppm | ALGAE CONTROL PRO | 1-2ml |
| Ultra Low Nutrient SPS |
0ppm | 0ppm | ALGAE CONTROL PRO | 1-2ml |
| Marine Fish | <10 | <1 | NITRATE | NITRITE | 3ml |
Algae Management Products:
Test Kits:
PHOSPHATE PRO REEF TEST KIT
Red Sea’s Phosphate Pro Test Kit is an advanced colorimetric test with comparator, measuring the level of phosphate in your reef aquarium to an exceptionally high accuracy of 0.02ppm PO4 read more.
NITRATE PRO REEF TEST KIT
Red Sea’s Nitrate Pro Test Kit is an advanced colorimetric test with comparator, measuring the level of nitrate in your reef aquarium to an exceptionally high accuracy of 0.12ppm NO3 read more.
ALGAE CONTROL PRO MULTI TEST KIT
Red Sea’s Algae Control pro Kit includes high accuracy colorimetric comparator tests for the exceptionally high accuracy measurement of nitrate and phosphate read more.
NITRATE | NITRITE MARINE TEST KIT
Red Sea’s Nitrate | Nitrite Kit Provides 50 Nitrate plus 50 Nitrite advanced colorimetric tests for marine aquariums read more.
PHOSPHATE MARINE TEST KIT
Red Sea’s Phosphate Kit a User-friendly colorimetric test provides a quick and reliable measurement of Phosphate in your aquarium, with accuracy of 0.1ppm PO4 read more.
Watch Red Sea Algae control video introduction:
Symbiotic Zooxanthellae algae and their relationship with corals:
Understanding the role played by the symbiotic Zooxanthellae algae and their relationship with the coral is essential for successful implementation of the algae management program.
In nature, corals host Zooxanthellae populations at densities of 0.5 – 5 million/cm2 that are located inside the coral soft tissue. The corals derive approximately 85% of their energy from the Zooxanthellae and produce the remaining 15% in their soft tissue by metabolizing coral nutrients (carbohydrates, amino and fatty acids) that are available in the surrounding water. This energy fuels all of the corals’ metabolic processes such as protein production and skeletogenisis.
The Zooxanthellae use the strong sunlight on the tropical reef as their primary energy source and pass on up to 95% of their photosynthesis products (carbohydrates, amino and fatty acids) to their coral host, utilizing the balance for their own metabolic processes. The coral host provides the Zooxanthellae with nutrients, nitrogenous compounds, phosphates, and CO2.
It is this symbiotic relationship, involving the recycling of nutrients, that is the key to its ecological success.
Another aspect of this symbiosis relates to photo-protection from strong radiation. In nature, the Zooxanthellae protect the corals from intense ultraviolet (UV) radiation by absorbing the light energy and shading the delicate inner layers of the coral soft tissues.
In nature, the Zooxanthellae population is controlled by the algae nutrients (nitrates and phosphates) excreted by the coral, however, in an artificial reef aquarium the amount of algae nutrients accumulate rapidly and if left uncontrolled will induce an over-density of the Zooxanthellae populations.
The high nutrient induced over-density of the Zooxanthellae population disturbs the natural balance causing competition between the Zooxanthellae and the coral for the available resources. Without any additional nutrition, the coral may become undernourished. As well, the increase in Zooxanthellae population causes the corals to become darker with a deep brown tint that obscures the natural vivid pigments of the coral. Higher Zooxanthellae population densities within the acceptable range will however provide the coral with the energy required for accelerated coral growth.
Reducing the algae nutrients in the water will reduce the Zooxanthellae population to the level that can only be supported by the algae nutrients supplied directly by the coral.
Under these conditions the coral will receive less energy from the Zooxanthellae and will have less protection from the UV radiation. In this situation, if suitable coral nutrients (carbohydrates, amino acids and vitamins) are readily available in the water, the soft tissue of the coral can increase its internal production of energy. Assuming this and the necessary trace elements are available in the water, the coral will increase its natural UV protection by enhancing pigmentation of the soft tissue. This can be seen as an enhanced coloration.