Anyone stopped dosing daily bacteria??

[PharmrJohn]

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.

Your reasoning is sound, but one has to consider the availability of waste products to feed what bacterial balance you have in there. If you add bacteria, yes, for a small amount of time you're gonna have more of a competitive edge, but it won't last long. If I were to have an algae, Dino or Diatom outbreak, I'd use Fritz, but wouldn't expect anything to come of it. It MAY help, but there isn't data to support it (that I can find anyway).

 

[gbroadbridge]

Your reasoning is sound, but one has to consider the availability of waste products to feed what bacterial balance you have in there. If you add bacteria, yes, for a small amount of time you're gonna have more of a competitive edge, but it won't last long. If I were to have an algae, Dino or Diatom outbreak, I'd use Fritz, but wouldn't expect anything to come of it. It MAY help, but there isn't data to support it (that I can find anyway).

'may help' -the weasel words of advertising :)

 

[danlechem]

Your reasoning is sound, but one has to consider the availability of waste products to feed what bacterial balance you have in there. If you add bacteria, yes, for a small amount of time you're gonna have more of a competitive edge, but it won't last long. If I were to have an algae, Dino or Diatom outbreak, I'd use Fritz, but wouldn't expect anything to come of it. It MAY help, but there isn't data to support it (that I can find anyway).

Makes sense - I presume that's why simultaneous carbon dosing is recommended to maximise the impact and possible lifespan of the added bacteria. I'm guessing clearly but it seems like most people in this area are. As you say there doesn't seem to be any concrete data so could all be placebo as others are suggesting!

 

[BriDroid]

I am dosing MicrobactorClean daily. When I stopped for a few weeks, I got some really nasty ugly stage stuff going on. I started back up, and it's keeping the rocks and sand cleaner. I know most people say that it's placebo, but it seems to be doing something?

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

Makes sense - I presume that's why simultaneous carbon dosing is recommended to maximise the impact and possible lifespan of the added bacteria. I'm guessing clearly but it seems like most people in this area are. As you say there doesn't seem to be any concrete data so could all be placebo as others are suggesting!

Carbon dosing fuels the reproduction of bacterioplankton (the bacteria in the water column) because it's generally the limiting nutrient which limits reproduction. Biofilms, on the other hand, arent necessarily affected to the same extent. Thats why if you carbon dose excessively by mistake, you can have a severe bacterial bloom which can suffocate livestock.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Makes sense - I presume that's why simultaneous carbon dosing is recommended to maximise the impact and possible lifespan of the added bacteria. I'm guessing clearly but it seems like most people in this area are. As you say there doesn't seem to be any concrete data so could all be placebo as others are suggesting!

Hey.....I'm an RPh. We dig the placebo effect! Whatever works man! Back before my time (the late 80s when I was a snot nosed Intern), I heard of MDs prescribing Obecalp. They would tout the drug as life changing......Read it backwards......

 

[schooncw]

I have not been through this thread yet but my 2 cents.....At 64, a life-long hobbyist and in the aquatic industry-sales at the distributor level for many years-I dose bacteria in my heavily rocked, 32 year old LPS dominant 120.
I use Fauna Marin Bacto Blend, Bacto Therapy and Organic. I have also used Rebiotic, whose purpose is to "revitalize" old rock.
I also run a biopellet rector AND carbon dose every day with FM Bacto Energy. I am not in aquatic sales any more but someone referenced a thread, which I will add here.
Does this work? Is it worth the cost? I could not say 100% but I absolutely believe in a "bacteria driven system" and my simple tank does just fine, tho my PO is a constant 1.0 and NO3 usually around 45 or so.
A note on carbon dosing.....It is not just for nutrient reduction but it feeds the corals. It helps them with the uptake of PO and NO3.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-driven-system-a-recipe-for-success.918102/

 

[danlechem]

I have not been through this thread yet but my 2 cents.....At 64, a life-long hobbyist and in the aquatic industry-sales at the distributor level for many years-I dose bacteria in my heavily rocked, 32 year old LPS dominant 120.
I use Fauna Marin Bacto Blend, Bacto Therapy and Organic. I have also used Rebiotic, whose purpose is to "revitalize" old rock.
I also run a biopellet rector AND carbon dose every day with FM Bacto Energy. I am not in aquatic sales any more but someone referenced a thread, which I will add here.
Does this work? Is it worth the cost? I could not say 100% but I absolutely believe in a "bacteria driven system" and my simple tank does just fine, tho my PO is a constant 1.0 and NO3 usually around 45 or so.
A note on carbon dosing.....It is not just for nutrient reduction but it feeds the corals. It helps them with the uptake of PO and NO3.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacterial-driven-system-a-recipe-for-success.918102/

I'm surprised your no. 3 is that high with all that bacteria and carbon- I think you're doing well to maintain it.

The link you posted has been referred to a few times and is the inspiration for why I continually dose bacteria and carbon.if you read the thread A lot of members disagree with the method and believe it's a waste of money pedalled by sales pitches.

I'm not sure we'll ever know how effective it is but your eyes don't lie!

 

[schooncw]

I'm surprised your no. 3 is that high with all that bacteria and carbon- I think you're doing well to maintain it.

The link you posted has been referred to a few times and is the inspiration for why I continually dose bacteria and carbon.if you read the thread A lot of members disagree with the method and believe it's a waste of money pedalled by sales pitches.

I'm not sure we'll ever know how effective it is but your eyes don't lie!

The system is 32 years old! I have a biopellet reactor, a Tunze Macro Algae reactor, a UV sterilizer

I'm surprised your no. 3 is that high with all that bacteria and carbon- I think you're doing well to maintain it.

The link you posted has been referred to a few times and is the inspiration for why I continually dose bacteria and carbon.if you read the thread A lot of members disagree with the method and believe it's a waste of money pedalled by sales pitches.

I'm not sure we'll ever know how effective it is but your eyes don't lie!

The system is 32 years old! I have a bio pellet reactor, a Tunze Macro Algae reactor, a UV sterilizer, skimmer and run GFO, Phosguard and carbon 24/7 and also do reg water changes with Reef Crystals.
Admittedly, the 120 is overstocked and over fed.

View attachment 3878513

 

[danlechem]

You've got room for at least one more zoa head in there!

 

[schooncw]

You've got room for at least one more zoa head in there!

Those are pics across my "bare bottom" tank. Removing substrate was the best thing I ever did. My Sleeper Goby remains fat and happy; I forget how many years I've had it.

 

[56longroof]

Never have and have zero plans to. I'm a firm believer in using real live rock and sand cultivated from the ocean. Has all the baterial diversity you could ask for.

 

[twentyleagues]

Never have and have zero plans to. I'm a firm believer in using real live rock and sand cultivated from the ocean. Has all the baterial diversity you could ask for.

Thats good. Sunnyx is also a firm believer in LR but still cultivates and adds bacteria. Its not a live rock vs dry rock issue. Corals consume bacteria thats one of the principals of a bacteria driven system.

 

[Doctorgori]

Adding tothe sample:
Ive soaked biopellets in MB7…supposedly works, also works without it
I used MB7 long ago for dinos or something, but I also pray alot
…no I dont normally use it

 

[Sisterlimonpot]

Thats good. Sunnyx is also a firm believer in LR but still cultivates and adds bacteria. Its not a live rock vs dry rock issue. Corals consume bacteria thats one of the principals of a bacteria driven system.

I'm curious to see his tank in person when it's not camera ready.

I think what people like about his tank is his preperation and post processing for photos.

@Troylee I know that you guys are buddies and you defend his process. But a conversation rooted in reality might be in order.

If you say that his tank looks that pristine 24/7 365, then I'll bow out.

 

[Troylee]

I'm curious to see his tank in person when it's not camera ready.

I think what people like about his tank is his preperation and post processing for photos.

@Troylee I know that you guys are buddies and you defend his process. But a conversation rooted in reality might be in order.

If you say that his tank looks that pristine 24/7 365, then I'll bow out.

I don’t know if it does or not mine pretty much does.. no algae problems at all besides the glass turning white from bio film or the green comes in if I wait several days.. I clean my glass daily thou cause I’m ocd like that haha! Rocks sparkle! The weirdest thing about it is my rocks were purple and all died off once I did the bacteria thing! Sunny said the same thing he’s never been able to grow corraline which is a huge plus for me! I hate scraping that stuff lol

 

[LovinlifeinGuam]

This thread got too sad for me to visit too frequently...I mean look, just for example...this poster seems to be stating that the member he responded to was incorrect based on someone else who isnt even posting on the thread adding bacteria (unspecified bacteria) to their tank. Thats a tough argument...
I want to tell him that hes correct when he repeats that corals consume bacteria (which he almost certainly heard from someone else and thats why he belives it), however, a WHICH BACTERIA? Do they even add bacterioplankton to MB7 when they squirt kt in the bottle at the factory? Who knows? It could absolutely (and likely) be made up of bacteria which only live on surfaces. The guy here forgot the role carbon dosing plays (the extremely important role if the system works as believed).
I dont really discuss scientific based topics with people who use someone elses explanation for a phenomenon and incorrectly repeat it.

It just got too sad for me in this thread...

Thats good. Sunnyx is also a firm believer in LR but still cultivates and adds bacteria. Its not a live rock vs dry rock issue. Corals consume bacteria thats one of the principals of a bacteria driven system.

 

[twentyleagues]

I'm curious to see his tank in person when it's not camera ready.

I think what people like about his tank is his preperation and post processing for photos.

@Troylee I know that you guys are buddies and you defend his process. But a conversation rooted in reality might be in order.

If you say that his tank looks that pristine 24/7 365, then I'll bow out.

I dont remember the year range maybe 05-10 something like that. Sunny was on another forum and was at that time running the same type of system. He was posting a lot more frequently at that time and his tanks pretty much always looked great. I know he believes in live rock, water changes and routine maintenance including blowing off the rock surfaces before water change and coral snow. So I am sure his husbandry has a lot to do with his success and the overall looks of his tanks. I mean I dont typically take pics of my tank when it needs the glass cleaned.

 

[twentyleagues]

This thread got too sad for me to visit too frequently...I mean look, just for example...this poster seems to be stating that the member he responded to was incorrect based on someone else who isnt even posting on the thread adding bacteria (unspecified bacteria) to their tank. Thats a tough argument...
I want to tell him that hes correct when he repeats that corals consume bacteria (which he almost certainly heard from someone else and thats why he belives it), however, a WHICH BACTERIA? Do they even add bacterioplankton to MB7 when they squirt kt in the bottle at the factory? Who knows? It could absolutely (and likely) be made up of bacteria which only live on surfaces. The guy here forgot the role carbon dosing plays (the extremely important role if the system works as believed).
I dont really discuss scientific based topics with people who use someone elses explanation for a phenomenon and incorrectly repeat it.

It just got too sad for me in this thread...

You in your high and mighty position maybe just have not seen that I have been posting in this thread. I am probably beneath your recognition. You also have no clue as to my competency in this hobby or my qualifications or how long I have been doing it. I did say I do not follow sunnys way of reefing to a T I do dose bacteria occasionally. I do weekly coral snow and sometimes I follow his "recipe" and some times I just dose the calcium carbonate. So maybe if you paid better attention to the threads you are disrupting....I mean participating in you wouldnt sound the way you do.

Edit I also didnt say that poster was wrong at all. I was agreeing that live rock is good if you have the means to do it or the want or are in that frame of mind. I dont think live rock is necessary. I do think bottle bac will get you cycled. I also am of the opinion that bottle bacteria can have a place in my hobby.

 

[Troylee]

This thread got too sad for me to visit too frequently...I mean look, just for example...this poster seems to be stating that the member he responded to was incorrect based on someone else who isnt even posting on the thread adding bacteria (unspecified bacteria) to their tank. Thats a tough argument...
I want to tell him that hes correct when he repeats that corals consume bacteria (which he almost certainly heard from someone else and thats why he belives it), however, a WHICH BACTERIA? Do they even add bacterioplankton to MB7 when they squirt kt in the bottle at the factory? Who knows? It could absolutely (and likely) be made up of bacteria which only live on surfaces. The guy here forgot the role carbon dosing plays (the extremely important role if the system works as believed).
I dont really discuss scientific based topics with people who use someone elses explanation for a phenomenon and incorrectly repeat it.

It just got too sad for me in this thread...

Here ya go… this is what’s in the bottles of most bacteria..

https://humble.fish/community/threads/bottled-bacteria-results-main-thread.20944/