Dealing container dosing bacteria?

[Clownfishy]

For those that are using a doser to dose bacteria such as MicroBacter7, does the container have to be 100% sealed to ensure the bacteria does not go off and die (for want of a better phrase!)? I assume using an open customer will not do be a good idea.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

You are using it with an automatic doser?

 

[Clownfishy]

Yes, I was going to drill a hole into the bottle the bacteria comes into and run some airline tube to my auto doser but I know I will not be able to seal the hole 100% and concerned warm air entering the bottle will react with the bacteria. I assume the bacteria are in a "dormant" state in the bottle and the possibly interaction with air and/or water activates them?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I do not know much about how that bacteria are packaged up in mb7, but I personally wouldn’t bother to connect to an automatic doser. It need not be dosed very frequently. I’m not sure I ever heard anyone say they are doing this.

 

[Clownfishy]

Interesting, I was going on the theory that dosing every other day with a regular dosing off carbon would help sustain bacteria levels?

 

[JonB]

Interesting, I was going on the theory that dosing every other day with a regular dosing off carbon would help sustain bacteria levels?

This is an interesting thought but not sure how helpful it would be. How long has your tank been set up? Is it cycles and established? If so, I would say let it be.

I do think dosing daily is an interesting idea and reminds me of how it is recommended that if you take a probiotic supplement you have to do so daily because the bacteria do not live for long and must be replaced (and I am not saying the human digestive system is the same as our aquariums but there is a correlation with the idea). I looked up this product because I am not familiar with it and I want to dig deeper. I cannot find anywhere that states what bacteria are actually in it. And the way they give the concentration of the bacteria is very odd to me. I might try to get my hands on this product and take a closer microbial look at it... Lots of claims by the manufacturer but I don't see a good explanation of the product or constituents.

 

[Clownfishy]

My tank has been running for 2 years so don't need it for cycling just wondering if it would increase bacteria population and diversity. I would be interested in what is in these bottles we buy as I struggle to understand how bacteria stays dormant in these bottles.

 

[JonB]

Good to hear it is cycled. It may or may not increase diversity because we have no idea what is in the product. Just by introducing new coral and/or fish to the tank would be an effective way to increase microbial diversity.

There are several ways the bacteria could be dormant but I am not convinced because they ar suspended in water and not refrigerated. Usually, bacteria need to be lyophilized (freeze dried) and kept dry to stay dormant. Like I said, I might get my hands on this product and do some investigating of their claims and take a close look at some of the claimed microbes that are in it.