The AquaForest Method – Nutrition Supplements for Dynamic Coral Health.

Special thank you to Aquaforest Poland and a beautiful ​Christmas Present.

Since the latter part of the 20th Century, nutritional supplements have become part of everyday life. From multivitamins to refined herbal packs designed to support the most niche bodily function, it’s hard to imagine a world without an endless array of supplementation options.

The rise of health supplements sparked not only an entirely new industry, but triggered interest in the relationship between living organisms and micronutrients. By isolating the biological importance of specific compounds, it’s possible to hack optimized health, growth and vitality. Basically, supplements are nothing more than refined hacks.

As it so happens, Reef Hacks is in the business of locating, confirming and providing the latest hacking trends, so when it comes to reef aquarium supplementation methods, we’re on the case.

Around the start of the new millennium, reef supplements rose to prominence. By that, I mean the evolution of this nutritional tactic began to advance faster than ever before. In my opinion, the reason for this sudden onslaught of saltwater aquarium supplements boils down to two reason.

First, advancements in reefing equipment and system setups increased its accessibility. Second, and most importantly, we began to understand more about the nutritional needs of this mysterious marine life. Moreover, science was now capable of isolating and reformulating individual compounds.

It’s now possible to care for a reef tank at the micronutrient-level. When it comes to replicating the chemical profile of natural seawater, few techniques are as impactful as supplementation methods.

Understanding the potential of reef supplements is one thing, but choosing a method and supplier is its own obstacle-filled path.

Based in Science and Passion - AquaForest Supplement Methods.​​​​

During my formative years as a reefer, my mentor believed the secret to a thriving tank ecosystem had less to do with equipment and more to do with the unseen world of seawater. Of course, I knew he didn’t mean system quality and setup efficiency wasn’t important. Rather, his sentiments meant to distill the invaluable nature of micronutrient fortification.

Just like the supplements lining my medicine cabinet, formula quality and accuracy is the most important factor of this type of product. Unfortunately, the reef supplement marketplace is notorious for overhyped claims and underwhelming, or potentially dangerous, results.

Throughout my years of researching, using and reviewing reef tank nutritional methods/products, I’ve come across more suppliers than I can remember. It was during one of my many research binges that my relationship with AquaForest began.

So, what was it about AquaForest that caught my attention? More importantly, why do I consider them to be one of the top supplement hacks in the market?

Here’s my story…

Built on the Rock of Passion and Knowledge - AquaForest Brand Review.

Experienced aquarists may be familiar with this brand before they became the leader in aquarium supplementation methods. For many years, AquaForest primarily manufactured aquatic plant fertilizers and substrates.

Founded in 1995, their presence was mainly in commercialized plant farms and zoos. Although their substrates and fertilizers were celebrated among hobbyists and professional aquarists, it wasn’t until 2011 that the AquaForest brand began to resonate within the consumer aquarium industry.

Based in Poland, this European manufacturer combined its years of in-depth research and involvement within the aquarium world to formulate its current product offerings. By catering to the specific needs of reef tanks, their products aren’t like other, more generalized, methods. The greatest skill any reefer can learn is micronutrient control.

After all, refined supplementation is key for human health, so why wouldn’t the same be true for any other living organism?

AquaForest takes the guesswork out of the complicated world of nutrition hacking. Let’s see how…

Important Note: As of June 2018, CoralVue is the exclusive dealer of all AquaForest products sold in the United States, which means CoralVue is responsible for supporting and honoring all warranties. I'm sure they'll do a great job.

Navigating the Many Paths of AquaForest - Introduction to Methods.

At first glance, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the product options and method protocols offered by AquaForest. Many novice reefers read the descriptions and simply don’t know where to start. This  is understandable. Trying to choose the ideal products when each offers a desirable outcome is like trying to choose only one french fry out of an overflowing basket. They all look so good!

Here’s a brief rundown of AquaForest methods and offerings:​

Methods Based on Aquarium Type.

AquaForest features specialized supplementation methods based on the type of saltwater aquarium you operate. This doesn’t mean these are the only products available to you, but are simply recommendations chosen to cultivate the ideal environment for primary tank inhabitants.

The four aquarium-based methods include:

Fish Saltwater Tanks - Is your tank predominantly used to house fish? While this method isn’t likely one any reefer will choose, it’s a solid option should you have a  fish-only aquarium. Composed of four products (Sea Salt , Bio  S, Phosphate Minus  and Carbon), these method prepares water during the 14 days prior to introducing fish into the aquarium.

Mixed Reef Aquarium - Designed for an aquarium with either LPS or soft corals and fish inhabitants, this four product method integrates reef-specific supplements, nitrifying bacterial strains and nutrient exporting/control compounds. After 14 days of dosing your aquarium with the recommended products, you’ll slowly introduce coral and fish into the newly established environment. The complete method also recommends dosing Calcium, KH and Magnesium, but only if water tests reveal a decrease in these elements. While AquaForest offers its own livestock feed, any high-quality food  source will work.

LPS Coral or Non-Demanding SPS Coral Tanks - Formulated to meet the unique nutritional and chemical demands of LPS and SPS corals, this method delivers a host of micronutrients coral require for optimum development. While optional, the Probiotic Reef Salt is a potent component. Crafted from synthetic marine salt, its formula includes valuable macronutrients, micronutrients and probiotic bacteria. When combined with the rest of the recommended products, this method inhibits harmful pathogenic  bacteria growth, while stimulating maximum pigmentation and growth.

SPS Dominant Aquarium - Manufactured to satisfy the expectations and needs of experienced aquarists, this method offers a similar approach to ULNS (Ultra  Low Nutrients Systems) setups. Before use, make sure you have a capable protein skimmer and an ability to give precise dosing of products. Founded by either the standard Reef Salt or Probiotic Reef Salt products, the initial 14 day protocol also introduces nitrification bacteria, phosphate and carbon into your system. Once established, maintenance involves a myriad of products based on water parameters.

Hacking the Hack - Tips for Using AquaForest Products.

After speaking with many reefers online and offline, it became obvious the biggest hurdle when it comes to adopting AquaForest products is simply not knowing where to begin. To help streamline this process, I’ve crafted several tips designed to breakdown essential information, so you can get started faster and easier.

Before diving into specific products and methods, I want to briefly let you know that AquaForest goes beyond major and trace element supplementation. They recently started offering lab water tests, and even home water testing kits. Moreover, they also offer an excellent calculator to help determine dosage levels, you can find this calculator here.

Here’s my hacks for this supplement method hack:

Simplifying the Salt Selection - How To Choose and Use Salt Products.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise, but the type of salt you use in your saltwater aquarium is, to put it gently, invaluable. In many ways, this product forms the foundation the rest of your tank is built upon. So, let’s make sure your foundation is strong enough to handle the stress of replicating natural reef seawater.

Sea Salt - Manufactured out of synthetic marine salt designed specifically for fish dominant tanks and less-demanding coral species, this phosphate and nitrate-free formula meets the macro and micro elemental needs of this unique environment.

Reef Salt - Obviously created for reef dominant aquariums, its formula is appropriate for ozone-assisted filtration methods. If you already use your own biofiltration media, such as live rocks or microalgae, then this is a solid choice as it doesn’t include probiotic bacteria strains or any other type of growth media. Follow the included dosage amounts to achieve your desired salinity levels.

Probiotic Reef Salt - The biggest difference between this formula and the standard Reef Salt product is its inclusion of probiotic bacterial strains, amino acids, vitamins and culture mediums. If you’re looking for a streamlined way to boost the living biological components in a newly established tank, then this may be your ideal product.

How To Increase Coral Pigmentation?

I’m often asked if it’s possible to boost coral colors with AquaForest. In the most simplified answer, yes, it’s definitely possible, but only if its execution is just right.

The coloration method uses three components products:

• Component 1+
• Component 2+
• Component 3+

Even though they don’t sound very impressive (not an imaginative branding method, that’s for sure), its chemical composition uses the fundamental principles of H. Balling. Essentially, this three-part supplementation method combines micro and macro trace elements specifically chosen due to its influence on coral coloration.

Yes, trace element supplementation is a potent pigmentation hack. Be warned, however, overdosing is easy and deadly. What I appreciate about AquaForest is its formula distribution. Its design as a three-part system minimizes the risk overdosing by splitting concentrations among different elements.

Along with this coloration-focused method, AquaForest also offers a regular three parts dosing solution Alkalinity, Calcium and Magnesium method. Each may be used to replenish these major elements on their own, which is perfect for reefers who aren’t looking for an all-in-one solution.

The Method of Beautiful Coral Health - AquaForest Final Thoughts.

Since we’ve uncovered and isolated the many macro and micro elements required by marine life, the market has flooded with unscrupulous brands. Just like human supplements, it’s not simply the compound that matters. It’s how these microscopic elements are formulated that really matters.

In my experience with AquaForest, I’ve learned two things. The first, and foremost, is its ingredient purity. Along with integrating the latest nutritional breakthroughs for coral and other inhabitants, elements are precisely crafted for maximum absorption and environmental safety. Secondly, achieving brilliance within your reef tank is easier than many of us think, as long as you have the right supplements.

Is AquaForest the best in the game? I’m not here to make that assumption. What I can say, with absolute certainty, is this brand delivers quality products from a place of passion. Whether you’re just starting off or are an experienced aquarist, AquaForest is definitely worth your attention.

As a complete solution provider, this means AquaForest offers a solution for almost every supplementation need. This includes nutrient control options, such as ZeoMix, Life Bio Fil, AF Life Source, Phosphate Minus and Carbon. Want to keep your entire tank under a single brand? Then you’ll really appreciate how AquaForest even provides media reactors. This truly is an all-inclusive brand.

What’s your experience with nutritional supplement methods? Have you used AquaForest before? Head on over to our Facebook Page and let us know your thoughts, questions or ideas. As always,

Happy Reefing!

by Yuliya Ivanova for ReefHacks.