Anyone stopped dosing daily bacteria??

[LovinlifeinGuam]

What makes you think that the stuff in the bottle is A) beneficial and B) of the variety that will take hold and multiply and C) if B then why keep adding it?

You know they have no idea.. thryre resorting to using laughing faces instead of responses now haha...its like a clown laughing at people...everyone else is laughing at them...

 

[danlechem]

Did anyone checked the bottle for organic carbon yet? It would definitely make this conversation a little more interesting.

I believe it does contain organic carbon, I dose carbon additionally as I think most others do

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I've said it before, regularly dosing bacteria to an established tank is separating a fool from their money.

Does that stop people from dosing it? Of course not, is there a level of the placebo effect? Maybe. I think we're on the frontier of trying to understand bacteria and how to manipulate it to our tanks advantage. We are far from that point, but it doesn’t stop companies from taking advantage of that unknown to market.

Most of us has fallen victim to these tactics and at least gave bacteria a try. Is the lack of change enough to say, it's a sham? Is a tank in the upward swing able to take credit for the dosing of bacteria?

Whether or not bacteria is the key to making reefing easier, I don't think we are going to be able to get it from a bottle that sits on a shelf and contains a handful of strans of bacteria.

If we were to benefit from adding bacteria, it would need to be from the type that can multiply in our tanks when added.

 

[sixty_reefer]

I believe it does contain organic carbon, I dose carbon additionally as I think most others do

That’s the only benefit you may find in that bottle, the type of organic carbon that it provides not the bacteria in itself.

 

[Troylee]

I've said it before, regularly dosing bacteria to an established tank is separating a fool from their money.

Does that stop people from dosing it? Of course not, is there a level of the placebo effect? Maybe. I think we're on the frontier of trying to understand bacteria and how to manipulate it to our tanks advantage. We are far from that point, but it doesn’t stop companies from taking advantage of that unknown to market.

Most of us has fallen victim to these tactics and at least gave bacteria a try. Is the lack of change enough to say, it's a sham? Is a tank in the upward swing able to take credit for the dosing of bacteria?

Whether or not bacteria is the key to making reefing easier, I don't think we are going to be able to get it from a bottle that sits on a shelf and contains a handful of strans of bacteria.

If we were to benefit from adding bacteria, it would need to be from the type that can multiply in our tanks when added.

And would you not agree that zeobak does just that? It doesn’t take much and we all know it creates a ulns if used as directed.. I can’t say what it does or doesn’t do but it def has effects on tanks.. on another note for people that ammonia dose to get nitrates up doesn’t that make your nitrifying bacteria population grow? Thinking out loud on that one cause I don’t know the answer but it makes sense in my mind and maybe Randy could answer that lol..

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

And would you not agree that zeobak does just that?

I don't know. In my mind, ulns is a dying fad. I'm sure destined to make it's rounds again.

For a short period circa 2010 I went the ulns route based on Marc Levensons experience. Point being we all blindly follow.

on another note for people that ammonia dose to get nitrates up doesn’t that make your nitrifying bacteria population grow?

I think the hypothesis for this is to provide corals the chance to take in ammonia before bacteria gets a chance to convert it to nitrite >> nitrate. In theory the reliance for nitrifying bacteria transfers to the corals to take up ammonia, thus lowering the need for nitrifying bacteria in the tank.

 

[alindell]

What makes you think that the stuff in the bottle is A) beneficial and B) of the variety that will take hold and multiply and C) if B then why keep adding it?

Just from watching YouTube videos and reading various articles. I also have had Instances of dinos and crysophytes and after increasing nutrients and adding bacteria they went away. Also I think acros consume bacteria. Mainly just anecdotal and experimenting. I don't have solid scientific evidence much like a lot of things in this hobby. Just trial and error

 

[alindell]

What makes you think that the stuff in the bottle is A) beneficial and B) of the variety that will take hold and multiply and C) if B then why keep adding it?

Also I think various strains of bacteria will outcompete the original bottled bacteria overtime so readding some of the original bacteria that established the tank cycle might effectively increase diversity and create a healthier tank. Maybe I'm just wasting my hard earned money

 

[rtparty]

I wonder if it is the staph or strep strains of bacteria in the KZ stuff that does so well :thinking-face:

 

[danlechem]

Also I think various strains of bacteria will outcompete the original bottled bacteria overtime so readding some of the original bacteria that established the tank cycle might effectively increase diversity and create a healthier tank. Maybe I'm just wasting my hard earned money

I've just ordered another bottle. I can't bring myself to take it off line. I read all these stories about nuisance algae - it's not worth risking.

It should last me a few months, tank will be nearly 1 year old and perhaps I'll give it a rest then and try and decide if I notice a difference.

 

[Danroo]

I think it’s okay to add bacteria sometimes we can lose a colony if we’re not aware and can have Dino’s start creeping up. Every two months is fine if you’re suspecting Dino’s.

 

[Troylee]

I wonder if it is the staph or strep strains of bacteria in the KZ stuff that does so well :thinking-face:

I’d love to see a full blown zeo tank, test result to see.. it works what ever it is haha!

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

I think it’s okay to add bacteria sometimes we can lose a colony if we’re not aware and can have Dino’s start creeping up. Every two months is fine if you’re suspecting Dino’s.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, the bacteria in the bottles (not accounting for nitrifying) isn't able to reproduce in the tank.

As far as adding bacteria in the form of live rock, sand, mudd etc is a different story.

 

[Monad]

Just to answer OP’s question, I do not dose bacteria anymore now that the tank is cycled.

I may add some “cleaning” bacteria at some point, but that’s up in the air.

Bottled bacteria definitely helped cycle the tank.

 

[Danroo]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, the bacteria in the bottles (not accounting for nitrifying) isn't able to reproduce in the tank.

As far as adding bacteria in the form of live rock, sand, mudd etc is a different story.

It is you just lose different species. Brs did a video series on this.

 

[FUNGI]

 

[sixty_reefer]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, the bacteria in the bottles (not accounting for nitrifying) isn't able to reproduce in the tank.

As far as adding bacteria in the form of live rock, sand, mudd etc is a different story.

It is if that bottle also contains organic carbon and phosphate.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi all. I've been dosing microbacter7 daily and Nyos bac bi weekly. MB7 is expensive and I need to buy more but I'm wondering if I should bother. I also dose kalk, afr and bacto balance as carbon source.

Tanks looking good, parameters stable - no. 3 10, po4 0.1, ph 8.2, dkh 8.2 and corals seem to be thriving so I'm thinking if it's not broke don't fix it and keep up the same dosing schedule. I'd be interested to know if anyone's noticed a positive or negative difference moving away from daily bacteria dosing?

Save your money.

I stopped all the magic potions in a bottle and never noticed any difference except to my wallet.

 

[Reef Puncher]

Here's my basic reasoning for daily dosing and although this tanks only 6 months old I've not had any problems with algae....

Adding beneficial bacteria to your tank helps create a competitive layer on the rocks, effectively outcompeting algae for space and resources. This bacterial coverage can prevent algae growth by ensuring that the available nutrients are utilized by the good bacteria instead, leading to a healthier, more stable environment. By promoting this beneficial microbial community, you can help maintain clear water and reduce the chances of unwanted algae taking hold in your aquarium.

Other main benefits are believed to be coral feeding on the additional bacteria.

a study came out that corals actually need and eat bacteria with their food. They consume it. It must do something for them like aid digestion or something. Another benefit is it can assist in lowering of nitrates/phosphates. but do you HAVE to dose it? probably not. Is it helpful? yes. so i think there is a fine line. personally what i do is dose a capful of microbacter inside my redsea AB+ / reefroids mixture. once every 2-3 days ill feed my corals and they will get that capful of microbacter too. that way your not burning through the MB7, but they still get some.

 

[danlechem]

a study came out that corals actually need and eat bacteria with their food. They consume it. It must do something for them like aid digestion or something. Another benefit is it can assist in lowering of nitrates/phosphates. but do you HAVE to dose it? probably not. Is it helpful? yes. so i think there is a fine line. personally what i do is dose a capful of microbacter inside my redsea AB+ / reefroids mixture. once every 2-3 days ill feed my corals and they will get that capful of microbacter too. that way your not burning through the MB7, but they still get some.

Yeah I agree - as the replies on this thread allude to, you certainly don't have to dose it but there seems to be anecdotal evidence at least that there are some benefits to water clarity, algae control and coral health. Probably just a small part of the puzzle that can't do any harm.