Bio diversity

[Isiah1820]

So my tank is about 4-5 months old and doing well. Got some GHA issues and maybe Dinos, I’ve been battling it and doing all the right things like manually removing, water changes every week, less feeding, and so on. And it’s been helping and keeping it at bay for sure. But was told to try adding more Beneficial bacteria, so I know about dr times and all the reefers favorites but I got what’s in the photos because they are readily available to me. My question is any one have experience with the nite out product? I’ve seen enough about bio spira to trust it. And last question should I just add the whole bottle? I know I can’t OD on beneficial bacteria.

 

[FSP]

So my tank is about 4-5 months old and doing well.

Not that it'll hurt but I don't see the value in adding bottled bacteria at this point. The critters already in the tank have contributed more than the bottle stuff can

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

It says on the bottle it is to "remove ammonia and nitrite", it won't do anything to get rid of algae.

Your tank looks good, small amount of algae is normal in a 4-5 month old tank, just keep doing what you're doing and maybe increase the clean up crew a little, and keep tight control of the phosphate level.

 

[Isiah1820]

It says on the bottle it is to "remove ammonia and nitrite", it won't do anything to get rid of algae.

Your tank looks good, small amount of algae is normal in a 4-5 month old tank, just keep doing what you're doing and maybe increase the clean up crew a little, and keep tight control of the phosphate level.

Thanks for the reply and I’ll most def keep up the maintenance. But you don’t see any benefit from adding more or different bacteria? I started with a different brand to get the tank going I forget the name. It worked well lost no fish in a fish in cycle and haven’t lost anything other than a few snails and a fish that went carpet surfing.

 

[Rick's Reviews]

I have to agree with @LordofCinder

Hands on maintenance is far better then any chemical additives

 

[mermaid_life]

Best management imo is always manual and then critters to help with maintenance. I would take out that frag and scrub it. Scrub and remove the algae on the rock before it gets out of hand.

 

[Isiah1820]

Best management imo is always manual and then critters to help with maintenance. I would take out that frag and scrub it. Scrub and remove the algae on the rock before it gets out of hand.

Did that already it’s a old picture. And that one rock specifically get the most growth of algae and it gets thick as you can see in the picture. But again I will keep up on maintenance just looking for other options to add to what I’m already doing. And as far as CUC I have a good amount of snails and hermits, but the snails tend to stay on the glass and back wall of the AIO. I even went as far as grabbing like 3 snails and putting them on the rocks lol like get to cleaning please lol.

 

[Isiah1820]

I kinda hate I have so many corals on the rock that’s pictured makes it hard to brush clean without annoying them or knocking them off.

 

[FSP]

If bacterial diversity is your goal, you should be looking at things like ocean rock, stuff from IPSF or a scoop of sand/rock from an established tank more than the bottled stuff. I don't have an issue with the bottled stuff per se, I just don't think it's the right tool for your particular situation

 

[Isiah1820]

If bacterial diversity is your goal, you should be looking at things like ocean rock, stuff from IPSF or a scoop of sand/rock from an established tank more than the bottled stuff. I don't have an issue with the bottled stuff per se, I just don't think it's the right tool for your particular situation

Gotcha. I can do that from a local reefer I buy corals from. And ask some of the shops I go to.

 

[tgrab]

If bacterial diversity is your goal, you should be looking at things like ocean rock, stuff from IPSF or a scoop of sand/rock from an established tank more than the bottled stuff. I don't have an issue with the bottled stuff per se, I just don't think it's the right tool for your particular situation

IPSF is great for adding biodiversity

 

[taricha]

And last question should I just add the whole bottle? I know I can’t OD on beneficial bacteria.

some bacterial products deliver bacteria along with chemical media in the bottle. These require that dosing instructions be followed carefully (or O2 will be depleted, etc) these will say "do not overdose" or something similar.

 

[Pntbll687]

You can add those bacteria no problem, mainly after a good cleaning of the tank. I add some bacteria after I vacuum the sand bed of my tank, but who knows if it does anything at this point.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

IMO, the only significant utility of bacteria additions in an established system is to help out compete pests that are taking up spaces on surfaces that the bacteria might grow on, such as dinos or cyano.

 

[Isiah1820]

IMO, the only significant utility of bacteria additions in an established system is to help out compete pests that are taking up spaces on surfaces that the bacteria might grow on, such as dinos or cyano.

This is one of the main reason I wanted to try it.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Why not add several hundred or thousand strains of bacteria at once by adding some live ocean rock instead of only a small handful in bottled bacterial additives? If biodiversity is your goal, i don't think you're gonna find it on a shelf in any bottle.

 

[Isiah1820]

Why not add several hundred or thousand strains of bacteria at once by adding some live ocean rock instead of only a small handful in bottled bacterial additives? If biodiversity is your goal, i don't think you're gonna find it on a shelf in any bottle.

That’s not my only goal. But it’s been said and a website recommended where they sell things like that. Ipsf I believe is the site. Not about to add random ocean rock lol

 

[Dan_P]

So my tank is about 4-5 months old and doing well. Got some GHA issues and maybe Dinos, I’ve been battling it and doing all the right things like manually removing, water changes every week, less feeding, and so on. And it’s been helping and keeping it at bay for sure. But was told to try adding more Beneficial bacteria, so I know about dr times and all the reefers favorites but I got what’s in the photos because they are readily available to me. My question is any one have experience with the nite out product? I’ve seen enough about bio spira to trust it. And last question should I just add the whole bottle? I know I can’t OD on beneficial bacteria.

There Is hardly any good science available that supports the addition of commercial bacteria to aquaria. There is simply no reason to do it other than the ones the guy selling the stuff is telling you. On the other hand there does not seem to be any harm either in using these products. Using bottled bacteria seems like a safe myth to believe in.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

That’s not my only goal. But it’s been said and a website recommended where they sell things like that. Ipsf I believe is the site. Not about to add random ocean rock lol

Why's that? The second best product i can think of would be AF Life Source but that's mud collected from the ocean so I guess that would be out?

 

[Isiah1820]

Why's that? The second best product i can think of would be AF Life Source but that's mud collected from the ocean so I guess that would be out?

main thing i can think of is pest that maybe added. Plus I don’t have experience with doing that. So you tell me the best way to go about that. And check Out the site I mentioned in my last reply yea they charge and collecting yours self from the ocean is free. And I am in Florida so I could do it lol