bacteria

[Gools]

Been in the hobby for 20+ yrs and have kept successful sps reefs. However I have never ventured outside of the KISS formula. Maybe its bordem but now I'm trying to figure out all this Bacteria additive thing. I see you can purchase Bio filter plates and bacteria additives (portobio. Micro7) but I guess I'm not really getting why? I read an article on vingar dosing. And looking for more reading on Bacteria. My searching didn't really lead me to any articles more dosing info. Just wondering if you could direct me to some good reading for newbies on this area?
Thanks

 

[sghera64]

Congratulations on your success.

I’ve been on the road you are contemplating now. Not bacteria, but other trends.

If you do go beyond research and try to do something, I would think there are two basic outcomes - one of which can be stratified endlessly. One outcome is that you observe no difference. The other is it makes a difference. The second option can be stratified to observing a positive difference or a negative difference.

With that premise I would like to know if there is a problem you are addressing, or are you just hoping to see a positive difference (faster coral growth, more color, increased polyp extension, reduced nusance algae)?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I'm not generally convinced that adding bacteria is necessary or even desirable unless you are cycling (bacteria of the right type can speed it up) or have cyano (which the bacteria you add may help outcompete).

I do think that bacteria are a good food for filter feeders, which is a substantial part of the reason I dosed vinegar.

That said, I don't hav any particular articles that I recommend specifically on bacteria.

 

[Gools]

I really have no reason for trying it, maybe a new challenge. right now trying to gather the information. Also curious if maybe I am missing something, perhaps my colours/growth are good but trying something new could make it amazing, but also it could lead to more problems. I am a KISS kind of person, and sometimes need to remind myself of that.

 

[recess62]

Please define “KISS”

 

[Gools]

KISS For me: good skimming, turf scrubber, calcium reactor, kalk reactor and water changes(when I feel like it, not often). Ive never added any sore of additives other then fish food. Has Worked for me in the past.

 

[recess62]

I thought is was a fancy acronym for something lol

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I doubt it will do any harm or good to add a commercial bacteria product.

 

[Gools]

Thanks. Maybe I'm trying to figure out the hype, why so many people are doing it? Ill continue my research. Thanks

 

[Dj24680]

KISS- keep it simple stupid

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Thanks. Maybe I'm trying to figure out the hype, why so many people are doing it? Ill continue my research. Thanks

FWIW, I don't think many people are dosing commercial bacterial products unless they have a specific issue they are trying to fix.

 

[sghera64]

I doubt it will do any harm or good to add a commercial bacteria product.

High probability it will be good (for a while) for the vendor selling the bacteria products. [emoji857]

But I’m sure you are referring to his reef tank.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

High probability it will be good (for a while) for the vendor selling the bacteria products. [emoji857]

But I’m sure you are referring to his reef tank.

lol

 

[rkpetersen]

I guess I'm not really getting why?

I believe the main reason many people use carbon dosing, biomedia reactors, etc is to encourage bacteria that will reduce nitrate and to a lesser degree phosphate. The growing bacteria incorporate the nutrients into their biomass, which is then removed from the system by skimming. Possibly also some direct bacterial reduction of nitrate to nitrogen gas in microanaerobic areas of the system?

I am somewhat interested in these products myself, in particular Prodibio, based on the recommendation of a couple of successful hobbyists I know, although I'm not in any particular hurry to try them out.

You, otoh, hardly have a 'simple' system, with a turf scrubber, kalk reactor and calcium reactor. If your turf scrubber in particular controls your nutrient levels, there's probably no great reason to add carbon/bacteria.

 

[BCSreef]

Been in the hobby for 20+ yrs and have kept successful sps reefs. However I have never ventured outside of the KISS formula. Maybe its bordem but now I'm trying to figure out all this Bacteria additive thing. I see you can purchase Bio filter plates and bacteria additives (portobio. Micro7) but I guess I'm not really getting why? I read an article on vingar dosing. And looking for more reading on Bacteria. My searching didn't really lead me to any articles more dosing info. Just wondering if you could direct me to some good reading for newbies on this area?
Thanks

In a healthy tank, I don't think adding bacteria will do any good or harm. Your established reef tank is already be loaded with a wide variety of bacteria which are constantly being replenished with food (non-irradiated), new livestock/live rock and whatever else finds its way into your system. also, the bacteria in your system can reproduced very fast with a generation time of 20 minutes for E. coli under ideal conditions. I can think of 3 situations where adding bacteria may help:

• As Randy stated, when cycling a new system
• After a die-off
• After medication (especially antibiotics), which will induce a selective die-off of something