Dr. Tim's or MicroBacter 7?

ubiq · Nov 9, 2020

Dr. Tim's is $60.00 for a 100 gallon tank; Brightwell's is $18.00.

MichaelReefer · Nov 9, 2020

I dosed Microbacter7 for a month or so and saw no beneficial effects. If you're talking for a tank start up, go Dr.Tim.

tankstudy · Nov 9, 2020

Both work. Get what's cheaper and easier to access for you.

intricate_reefer · Nov 9, 2020

For a fast cycle bio spira off Amazon is the cheapest and has worked for me everytime

SMSREEF · Nov 9, 2020

Honestly, after doing both these and ZEObac too, I would just spend my money on good live rock with a bunch of hitchhikers and bacteria that they cannot bottle.

daybreaksky · Nov 9, 2020

Got microbacter7 which had great reviews and after a week it didn't do anything. Got biospira and it cycled in 4 days. Must have got a bad batch. Also you don't need the recommended ammount , you can get the smallest one UNLESS you are adding fish with it without cycling. That's what the rating is for

intricate_reefer · Nov 9, 2020

daybreaksky said:
Got microbacter7 which had great reviews and after a week it didn't do anything. Got biospira and it cycled in 4 days. Must have got a bad batch. Also you don't need the recommended ammount , you can get the smallest one UNLESS you are adding fish with it without cycling. That's what the rating is for

I had similar results with microbacter 7 so just went back to using biospira for cycling. I do add microbactor from time to time just to boost bacterial population though. Now I believe brightwell just came out with a quick cycle version of it but I haven’t tried it yet. Apparently it can live through being frozen one time which is nice now that it’s entering the winter.

Fritz turbo start 900 is suppose to be really good but Is pricy. Someone did a test here on R2R awhile ago for what cycled the quickest and fritz turbo start 900 was the best with bio spira not far behind.

SMSREEF · Nov 9, 2020

I may have interpreted this wrong. If you are looking for a bottled bac for cycling a tank Fritz 900 and biospira worked for me.

ReefHomieJon · Nov 9, 2020

I used dr. Tim’s one and only and live rock. Cycled my parents tank for bio-spira and live rock. My cycle went smoother. I guess Every set up is different. But I would do one of those 2 and only use microbacter7 like I would seachem stability. For population boost.

schuby · Nov 9, 2020

Brightwell's product is Microbacter Start XLM, not Microbacter 7.

Myself, I use Dr Tim's One and Only. I used if for my DT and each time I start up my QT for new fish. Has always worked well.

Lasse · Nov 9, 2020

As I understand - microbacter 7 is a combined bacteria product - with both heterotrophic breakdown bacteria and autotrophic nitrification bacteria. IMO - it is not a product that should be used in a start up of the nitrification cycle. In a start up of the nitrification cycle from scratch - only pure nitrification bacteria products should be used IMO.

Sincerely Lasse

Sebastiancrab · Nov 9, 2020

Seachem Stability and a pinch of fish flakes each day worked very well for me. Cycled in two weeks. It's also a lot less expensive.

Trey · Nov 9, 2020

MB start Xlm had my tank cycled in 9 days

vetteguy53081 · Nov 9, 2020

microbacter xlm or Tims
Bacter7 good for supplemental additions

ubiq · Nov 9, 2020

Thanks, all.

bigjgmac · Nov 9, 2020

Elaine123 said:
Seachem Stability and a pinch of fish flakes each day worked very well for me. Cycled in two weeks. It's also a lot less expensive.

Yep. I did the same thing and it worked well for me. I’ve had good experiences with Seachem products.

leighla wolf · Nov 9, 2020

intricate_reefer said:
For a fast cycle bio spira off Amazon is the cheapest and has worked for me everytime

Bio Spira is owned by Dr. Tims. They’re made the same, but it’s just dormant dr. Tim’s! Bio Spira and Fritz have been my go to depending on availability