Bacteria in a bottle choices

Spar · Apr 27, 2019

I recently tested out a product called Seed by Aquavitro (https://www.aquavitro.com/seed.php). I setup a 10g with freshly mixed saltwater, put in a couple sponge filters w/ air tube, and a cocktail shrimp.

I set this up on April 7, so I am 20 days in to it now. I added the Seed product per the instructions on the bottle.

I tested ammonia, nitrite and nitrate today. You would assume by 20 days that I would at minimum have some nitrite build up, and possibly/likely nitrate, given the bacteria would have already consumed some of the ammonia buildup.

I was however surprised to find significant ammonia (>8 ppm), but 0 nitrite and 0 nitrate.

How can this be? Shouldn't the added bacteria have done its job by now? Or is the product snake oil?

If it is the latter, what product actually does work?

trmiv · Apr 27, 2019

I’ve always had the best luck with Biospira. I used it on my quarantine tank recently and it cycled in about four days. I then used it on my new reefer 350 setup with dry rock/sand and it also cycled in about four days. After day four I was able to put 2ppm ammonia into the tanks and have it be 0 24 hours later. Did that three days in a row on both tanks and they were able to process the ammonia every time.

nezw0001 · Apr 27, 2019

I had the best luck with Dr. Tims products both for my 450g SPS system and my 70g frag/QT system.

High ICP · Apr 27, 2019

Never heard of that brand

It’s only a 10g tho

Why not get a few different known brands?

Ldc3000 · Apr 27, 2019

I got the same product this past Saturday from my LFS, for my QT setups. Not impressed at all. Wish I would have stuck with Bio-Spira. I’ve also used MicroBacter7 with good results.

Rhodes87 · Apr 27, 2019

I also have never heard of that brand. I just set up a 65 gallon almost a month ago and used IO biospira. I put my first fish (2 clowns) in about 3 days after. I now have them along with 32 frags in it and it’s doing awesome. I will never set up a tank without biospira. Used it on 3 different tanks setups and have never had nothing but success with it. Might want to get a more proven brand.

Purpletang92 · Apr 28, 2019

Prodibio is excellent but can be costly

Hemmdog · Apr 28, 2019

That’s a shame, Aquavitro is the “Ferrari” line of seachem, so their stuff should be cleaner & better than seachem. To find out it doesent work makes me question the entire aqua vitro product line.

Dr. Tim’s is really good. I use it on all my tanks now. I used stability(seachem) in the past and it didn’t work well.

Orm Embar · Apr 28, 2019

For more than you ever wanted to know about bacteria in a bottle . . . https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/bacteria-in-a-bottle-myth-or-fact.403226/page-86!

Short version - get Fritz Turbo Start and make sure that it's been refrigerated at all points; some other products work but are slower, and some don't work at all.

Justfebreezeit · Apr 28, 2019

Likely to high of ammonia. You want to keep it around 2ppm or the cycle will stall from what I understand.

DSC reef · Apr 28, 2019

Hemmdog said:
That’s a shame, Aquavitro is the “Ferrari” line of seachem, so their stuff should be cleaner & better than seachem. To find out it doesent work makes me question the entire aqua vitro product line.

Dr. Tim’s is really good. I use it on all my tanks now. I used stability(seachem) in the past and it didn’t work well.

As far as bacteria goes, fritz has had good results with the turbo start. While some of the aquavitro line is questionable like balance, most of their products are top notch. I really liked the alk, calcium and mag supplements. Very few companies I'd ever trust with bacteria no matter the name.

Spar · Apr 29, 2019

I had always used Fritz in the past and liked it but my LFS swore by Seed so I figured worth trying. Really no harm in it not working at this point (for my purpose).

I will do a large water change in the meantime to manage ammonia a bit lower. Hadn’t heard that matters before but makes a little sense not to overwhelm or kill the bacteria growth.

Thanks all!