Probiotics for our tanks?

[inktomi]

I read this super interesting paper on creating a mixture of beneficial bacteria (aka probiotics) that would help Pocillipora resist both disease (Vibirio) and warming temperatures. I also made a video (below if you're interested) on the paper, but I would highly recommend just checking out the paper if you can.

Marine probiotics: increasing coral resistance to bleaching through microbiome manipulation

I'm surprised that there isn't more probiotic type products out on the market for our corals. It seems like they had a clear beneficial effect based on the findings in the paper! We add a bunch of bacteria to help with algae and water chemistry - but nothing really targeted at our corals and their health.

We have products like AcroPower and Marine Snow/etc which are targeted at feeding our corals, which I don't reaaalllllyy count as a probiotic.

Any ideas on why this hasn't really been explored in our hobby? It doesn't seem like it was hugely difficult for the team in the paper to find a mix of bacteria that could impart a benefit onto their study corals. Why hasn't a company done the same for the hobby?

I'd dose a bacterial product into my tank if it could make my coral stronger and more resistant to disease, for sure!

 

[jsker]

Zevit and Aquaforest are two systems that use probiotics methods that I know of. I have use the Aquaforet product for years now.