OC-K Microbe Nutrient
OC-K Microbe Nutrient
Microbes are only as good as their core nutrition.
OC-K is the next evolution of our most advanced, stoichiometrically engineered formula. Through extensive re-balancing and optimization, we have created the ultimate high-purity fuel source for heterotrophic bacteria. It provides a massive dose of organic carbon (~220.0 mg per 1 mL) while its internal nutrient core is now perfectly balanced to the ideal microbial uptake ratio of 147N:1P. This ensures the product is consumed completely, leaving no residual nutrients to cause imbalances. OC-K is a complete prebiotic, designed to fuel and nourish your microbiome with unparalleled efficiency.
Key Benefits:
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Re-Engineered for Purity & Potency 🔬 OC-K is now one of the most potent and efficient carbon sources available:
- Maximum Potency Carbon Source: (Organic Carbon: ~220.0 mg per 1 mL dose) to fuel extreme bacterial growth and rapid nutrient reduction.
- High-Purity Formula: The re-balanced formula focuses on delivering pure carbon energy, supported by a lean and effective dose of essential amino acids (~2.69 mg per 1 mL dose).
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Stoichiometrically Perfect Core ⚖️ The nutrient base is precisely engineered to a 147N:1P molar ratio. This means the bacteria consume the product's own nitrogen and phosphorus completely and efficiently, preventing any residual nutrient build-up from the product itself.
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Organic & Alcohol-Free 🍃 Unlike simple carbon sources, OC-K is entirely organic and does not contain alcohol-based compounds, ensuring it is a safe, complex, and comprehensive food source for your entire aquatic ecosystem.
Recommended Dosing:
- 1 mL per 100L of water daily.
Important Dosing Instructions:
- This is a highly potent, re-engineered formula. Dosing should be done slowly and with caution. Start with 25% or less of the recommended dose and gradually work up to the full dose over several weeks, closely observing tank inhabitants and water parameters.
- Note that OC-K is an extremely potent source of organic carbon, providing approximately 220.0 mg of organic carbon per 1mL dose, making it significantly more potent than other common carbon dosing methods.
Want to Know More? / Overview
While the original OC-K was a powerful tool, we saw an opportunity to optimize it further for the optimum nutrient reduction and Pre-Biotic support. Traditional carbon dosing methods, like those using simple alcohols and sugars, provide a fast-acting carbon source, but it's like giving your system a sugar hit—it lacks the balanced nutrition for sustained health.
The re-engineered OC-K elevates this concept entirely. It delivers a significantly higher organic carbon input (~220.0 mg per 1 mL) while introducing a leaner, more efficient, and perfectly balanced spectrum of essential nutrients. The key innovation is its stoichiometrically perfect 147N:1P core, which ensures the product "cleans up after itself." This creates a powerful and precise engine for nutrient export, supporting a resilient microbial ecosystem without the risk of adding unbalanced residuals.
Dosing Strategy
- Typical Simple Carbon Source: ~1 mL per 100 L delivers around 120–140 mg of organic carbon.
- OC-K (Re-Engineered): 1 mL per 100 L delivers approximately 220.0 mg of organic carbon.
Comprehensive Nutrient Breakdown of OC-K
The table below summarizes the estimated nutrient contributions per 1 mL dose of OC-K.
- Organic Carbon: 220.0 mg
- Amino Acids: ~2.69 mg
- Nitrogen (Total): 3.10 mg
- Phosphorus (Total P): 0.047 mg
- Potassium (Total K): 45.14 mg
- Sulphur (Total S): 3.20 mg
- Calcium (Total Ca): 1.38 mg
- Magnesium (Total Mg): 0.52 mg
- Iron (Total Fe): 3.21 mg
- Silicon (Total Si): 0.134 mg
- Manganese (Total Mn): 0.028 mg
- Zinc (Total Zn): 0.015 mg
- Boron (Total B): 0.014 mg
- Copper (Total Cu): 0.010 mg
- Cobalt (Total Co): 0.0024 mg
- Molybdenum (Total Mo): 0.0015 mg
- Selenium (Total Se): 0.00012 mg
Note: These values are based on the formulation. Due to the inherent variability of organic supplements, actual nutrient compositions may differ slightly between batches.
Nutritional & Metabolic Advantages of OC-K
High Potency Organic Carbon Input
OC-K delivers a massive level of organic carbon (220.0 mg per 1 mL dose), ensuring that heterotrophic bacteria are never carbon-limited and have overwhelming energy for rapid metabolism and nutrient consumption.
Stoichiometrically Perfect for Nutrient Export
This is the core of the re-engineered formula. OC-K is scientifically designed with a C:N:P molar ratio of approximately 12,210:147:1. This provides an immense surplus of "free" carbon that is immediately available to fuel the reduction of unwanted ambient nitrate and phosphate in your aquarium, long after the product's own perfectly balanced nutrient core has been consumed.
Enhanced Nutritional Support with OC-K
OC-K provides a lean, targeted, and complete suite of nutrients:
- Amino Acids: Supplies ~2.69 mg per dose, providing essential building blocks for microbial growth.
- Nitrogen (Total): Provides 3.10 mg per dose.
- Phosphorus (Total P): Provides 0.047 mg per dose.
- Potassium (Total K): Supplies 45.14 mg per dose, a critical element often depleted in low-nutrient systems.
- Macro & Micro Minerals: Includes a rich profile of naturally-sourced minerals like Iron (3.21 mg), Calcium (1.38 mg), and Sulphur (3.20 mg) per dose, vital for enzymatic activity and cellular metabolism.
Special Note on Nitrogen and Phosphorus in OC-K:
The nitrogen and phosphorus in OC-K are from organic food sources and have been precisely balanced. The elemental nitrogen to phosphorus molar ratio has been optimized to 147:1, mirroring the ideal Redfield ratio for complete microbial uptake. This ensures that when dosed, the product does not contribute to a system's nutrient imbalance.
Overall Ecosystem Benefits
By delivering a potent, precisely balanced, and scientifically re-engineered nutrient profile, OC-K:
- Fosters a powerful and highly efficient microbial community.
- Maximizes the rate of biological nitrate and phosphate reduction.
- Prevents residual nutrient build-up from the product itself.
- Acts as a complete prebiotic, nourishing organisms from bacteria upwards for enhanced overall ecosystem health.
Conclusion
OC-K offers aquarists an unparalleled dosing strategy that provides a maximum-potency organic carbon input with unmatched precision. With its stoichiometrically perfect 147N:1P core, and a broad spectrum of essential minerals, this re-engineered formula fuels rapid heterotrophic metabolism while ensuring total system balance and clarity.
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