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EP348: Feeding Green Water To Your Reef Tank with David Dinkin of Dinkin’s Aquatic Gardens

⏱️ 50:48 🎤 Eric Triplett, David Dinkin
AUDIO EPISODE
EP348: Feeding Green Water To Your Reef Tank with David Dinkin of Dinkin’s Aquatic Gardens
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Chapters

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  • 0:00
    Introduction to Dinkin's Aquatic Gardens
    Eric introduces David Dinkin, who shares the accidental beginning of his business from a home reef tank experiment.
  • 0:05
    The Origin Story
    David recounts how his wife's fascination with his initial phytoplankton culture led to a business venture, initially from their dining room table.
  • 0:12
    Passion for Aquariums
    Eric and David bond over their shared history and passion for various aquariums, including frontosa cichlids and their current reef tanks.
  • 0:19
    Phytoplankton and Copepod Importance
    David explains how phytoplankton and copepods form the essential base of the reef tank food chain, contributing to overall ecosystem health and reducing nuisance algae.
  • 0:23
    Overcoming Green Water Concerns
    David addresses the psychological barrier of adding 'green water' to a tank, explaining that his product is beneficial microalgae that helps with nutrient binding and doesn't cause algae blooms.
  • 0:28
    Water Quality and Salinity
    David details the RO system and salt used for his products, emphasizing the importance of precise water parameters for reef tanks.
  • 0:35
    Refugiums and Ecosystem Building
    The discussion touches on the historical popularity of refugiums and how Dinkin's products help build a robust ecosystem even without traditional setups.
  • 0:47
    Dosing and Coral Benefits
    David provides clear dosing instructions for phytoplankton and explains the visual benefits for corals, comparing light to 'pizza' and phytoplankton to essential 'fruits and veggies'.
  • 0:54
    Nitrate, Phosphate, and Dinoflagellates
    They discuss how phytoplankton helps manage nitrates and phosphates, and the risk of dinoflagellate outbreaks if nutrient levels drop too low.
  • 0:57
    Product Recommendations and Reproduction
    David summarizes the benefits of his products, including the self-reproducing nature of copepods in a healthy tank, and provides contact information.

Speakers

E
Eric Triplett
Host — The Pond Digger
D
David Dinkin
Dinkin's Aquatic Gardens

Key Takeaways

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Phytoplankton and copepods are crucial for a healthy reef tank, forming the base of the food chain and supporting coral health.

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Dinking's Aquatic Gardens products are designed to be contamination-free, ensuring only beneficial organisms are introduced to the tank.

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Correct dosing of phytoplankton (1ml per gallon daily, starting with half) can significantly improve coral coloration, polyp extension, and growth.

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Phytoplankton helps to bind nitrates and phosphates, reducing their levels in the tank and converting them into beneficial animal tissue.

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Copepods are living organisms that reproduce in the tank, establishing a self-sustaining population that feeds fish and other tank inhabitants.

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It's important to avoid zero nitrate/phosphate levels, as extremely low nutrient environments can lead to outbreaks of harmful dinoflagellates.

✦

To maximize copepod efficacy, add the entire bottle to the tank at night with pumps off for 30 minutes, allowing them to settle and reproduce immediately.

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