Dr tims waste away GOOD OR BAD?

[ddc0715]

I just order 64 oz of waste away by dr tims. I feel this may aid my tank, after all, it has been running solid for 3.5 years I'm sure it is in need of a cleaning........do you all like this stuff?. why did I order so much? well, the min dose of 10mL per 10 gallons. for my (180 TG of water) tank would be 180 MLS weekly, or 6ish oz. a week. I figure I would have enough to go at least 8-10 weeks no stop. BUTTTT here's my questions:

WHEN DO YOU KNOW it RAN ITS COURSE AKS done its job? I don't want to run it for several weeks if I do not need to. i want to use until its done its job.

also, do any of you run it as a maintenance option? if so how much and how often...

also there is a warning -------Caution: When using in a tank with a large amount of sludge, consider a half-dose initially as the sludge reducing bacteria in Waste-Away may cause the oxygen level in the water to temporarily drop........

would a 3.5-year-old tank fit the definition of a "TANK WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE"

tank is a 180 mixed reef with the following in it (historical there has been many other fish in the tank some quit large) these are the ones that have out lasted all the rest.
1 yellow tang
1purple tang
1 fire tang
1 mimic tang (black)
large engineer goby
filefish
2 pep shrimps
one yellowtail damsel
black spinny urchin
several snails
hermit crab

 

[Spare time]

I just order 64 oz of waste away by dr tims. I feel this may aid my tank, after all, it has been running solid for 3.5 years I'm sure it is in need of a cleaning........do you all like this stuff?. why did I order so much? well, the min dose of 10mL per 10 gallons. for my (180 TG of water) tank would be 180 MLS weekly, or 6ish oz. a week. I figure I would have enough to go at least 8-10 weeks no stop. BUTTTT here's my questions:

WHEN DO YOU KNOW it RAN ITS COURSE AKS done its job? I don't want to run it for several weeks if I do not need to. i want to use until its done its job.

also, do any of you run it as a maintenance option? if so how much and how often...

also there is a warning -------Caution: When using in a tank with a large amount of sludge, consider a half-dose initially as the sludge reducing bacteria in Waste-Away may cause the oxygen level in the water to temporarily drop........

would a 3.5-year-old tank fit the definition of a "TANK WITH A LARGE AMOUNT OF SLUDGE"

tank is a 180 mixed reef with the following in it (historical there has been many other fish in the tank some quit large) these are the ones that have out lasted all the rest.
1 yellow tang
1purple tang
1 fire tang
1 mimic tang (black)
large engineer goby
filefish
2 pep shrimps
one yellowtail damsel
black spinny urchin
several snails
hermit crab

For a while I used it as a maintenance thing. Every few months I'll use a bottle until its empty. I make sure to watch nitrate and phosphate just in case. The only reason I stopped was because I needed to watch my budget a bit more and I was away from my tank. These sorts of products are essentially scavenging bacterias that help to consume waste and crud into biomass before it gets the chance to become nitrate and phosphate. I like these as its impossible to manually remove all detritus and crud in the tank (this is especially difficult with lots of corals or rocks)


You only really need to do half a dose if your tank is littered with detritus, filthy sand, etc. (i.e. a neglected tank).

 

[MnFish1]

Your questions are impossible to answer completely accurately.

1. No I would not use it - instead I would siphon the 'sludge out'
2. Everything that the bacteria 'eat' - is going to be a waste product in your tank - so Nitrates and PO4 could be a problem and cause other problems.
3. It is really a little unclear - why you're asking everyone whether a 3.5 year old tank has sludge - and whether you should use this? What do you think? (I..e I could see someone asking I have this tank thats gunky - here is a picture - should I use this product. I don't understand why you bought a product you're not sure you need.

Based on your post - I would return the product, not use it - unless you have a clear reason (yourself) for using it

 

[SPR1968]

It might be worth trying it on the maintenance dose option, and I would be very interested to read your thoughts on the results.

I’ve never used it, but have old reef tanks and I can only imagine the amount of ‘sludge’ they might produce

I think at 3.5 years it will have a lot of sludge so I would be very interested to see how you get on with it

 

[BanjoBandito]

If you want to use it for maintenance just buy the time release gel packs. They last a month. I had a bad run with dinos and was running the gels for a month or two after it cleared up.

 

[ddc0715]

Somebody deleted my post. Hmm.

 

[Spare time]

If you want to use it for maintenance just buy the time release gel packs. They last a month. I had a bad run with dinos and was running the gels for a month or two after it cleared up.

I know some people who avoided the ugly phase while using the gels.

 

[JimmyV]

Somebody deleted my post. Hmm.

How is waste away working out for you?

 

[robbous]

I am going to try this product on my 500 Gallon tank ( 750 ) Total soon

 

[Doctorgori]

well either way I’m guessing it does at least contain bacteria (as claimed) ha ha
….save your cheese,

 

[GARRIGA]

I emailed the company inquiring if this is just heterotrophic bacteria but never received an answer. Why I asked is because if it’s heterotrophic bacteria then wouldn’t they replicate and therefore why would one need to continue dosing it unless these bacteria can’t replicate which I’ve only heard that with Vibrant and that seems to be false.

In general, I use MB7 sporadically and not exactly sure if I need to but it’s not costly and I feel better having done it. Especially post carbon dosing.

What I do know about sludge removers, which isn’t isolated to reef tanks, is that heterotrophic bacteria are utilized to break down detritus which just becomes ammonia and goes through its natural cycle.

Those incorporating denitrification, as I do, should see that process completed and this can also be accomplished via carbon dosing which I’ve found works very well when combined with a filter containing enough media and an anoxic zone to complete the nitrogen cycle.

Perhaps one day I get a response and can start a dialogue to better understand the bacterial mix and exactly why this needs to be administered more than once. Not like you need to administer the One and Only more than once unless adding more fish and then just as a booster as it might take the existing population more time to catch up to the new load.

BTW, Nassarius snails, copepods and amphipods are optional decomposers that can be employed to help with sludge (detritus).

Researching decomposition would be helpful (I believe) in understanding how these product might help. Might also help dispel some ideas of what might occur.

 

[Spare time]

I emailed the company inquiring if this is just heterotrophic bacteria but never received an answer. Why I asked is because if it’s heterotrophic bacteria then wouldn’t they replicate and therefore why would one need to continue dosing it unless these bacteria can’t replicate which I’ve only heard that with Vibrant and that seems to be false.

In general, I use MB7 sporadically and not exactly sure if I need to but it’s not costly and I feel better having done it. Especially post carbon dosing.

What I do know about sludge removers, which isn’t isolated to reef tanks, is that heterotrophic bacteria are utilized to break down detritus which just becomes ammonia and goes through its natural cycle.

Those incorporating denitrification, as I do, should see that process completed and this can also be accomplished via carbon dosing which I’ve found works very well when combined with a filter containing enough media and an anoxic zone to complete the nitrogen cycle.

Perhaps one day I get a response and can start a dialogue to better understand the bacterial mix and exactly why this needs to be administered more than once. Not like you need to administer the One and Only more than once unless adding more fish and then just as a booster as it might take the existing population more time to catch up to the new load.

BTW, Nassarius snails, copepods and amphipods are optional decomposers that can be employed to help with sludge (detritus).

Researching decomposition would be helpful (I believe) in understanding how these product might help. Might also help dispel some ideas of what might occur.

A lot of bacterial products that we can dose will initially do their work but don't survive long term (be that they get take up by the skimmer, corals, or other organism).


It's also important to note that they don't simply just turn detritus into ammonia. They take in matter to create their biomass. I would guess that this means a much smaller amount of the detritus becomes ammonia. Energy gain decreases as you move up the food chain

If it helps, he has tons of videos and interviews and such about waste away

 

[GARRIGA]

A lot of bacterial products that we can dose will initially do their work but don't survive long term (be that they get take up by the skimmer, corals, or other organism).


It's also important to note that they don't simply just turn detritus into ammonia. They take in matter to create their biomass. I would guess that this means a much smaller amount of the detritus becomes ammonia. Energy gain decreases as you move up the food chain

If it helps, he has tons of videos and interviews and such about waste away

Yes. Skimmers remove pelagic bacteria. So does emptying the filter sock but these are supposedly heterotrophic bacteria that multiply quickly. Why he recommends cycling autotrophs first as they may not be able to compete and thereby take longer.

As for the comment on ammonia. I’m just referring to decomposition in general. Everything that lives will die and return to nitrogen.

I’m still assuming these are heterotrophic bacteria. Every video or topic I’ve seen doesn’t divulge exactly what it is. Specifically trying to ascertain if these are a unique type of bacteria that doesn’t naturally replicate in our aquariums. Don’t see that being likely. Why I question the need for more dosing.

BTW, I’m constantly dosing MB7. Come to think it’s more of a placebo than need for me. Don’t see myself not doing the same with waste away. Do it with Stability as well. Thinking is I’m adding different strains. Don’t see how it hurts anything.

Current build has no skimmer or socks. Only way I’d be removing any bacteria is carbon or Purigen with the latter not something I run often and not even sure either would really make a debt in the bacterial population. Don’t syphon detritus out either. That and WC never made sense. Assuming filtration is adequate.

 

[monkeyCmonkeyDo]

Tropic marine makes a phosphate eater...
You have cyano.bacteria?
Fts please
-d

 

[vtecintegra]

I've used it and saw no visible change in the tank. Not saying it doesn't have value, I just didn't see anything visually.

 

[Spare time]

Yes. Skimmers remove pelagic bacteria. So does emptying the filter sock but these are supposedly heterotrophic bacteria that multiply quickly. Why he recommends cycling autotrophs first as they may not be able to compete and thereby take longer.

As for the comment on ammonia. I’m just referring to decomposition in general. Everything that lives will die and return to nitrogen.

I’m still assuming these are heterotrophic bacteria. Every video or topic I’ve seen doesn’t divulge exactly what it is. Specifically trying to ascertain if these are a unique type of bacteria that doesn’t naturally replicate in our aquariums. Don’t see that being likely. Why I question the need for more dosing.

BTW, I’m constantly dosing MB7. Come to think it’s more of a placebo than need for me. Don’t see myself not doing the same with waste away. Do it with Stability as well. Thinking is I’m adding different strains. Don’t see how it hurts anything.

Current build has no skimmer or socks. Only way I’d be removing any bacteria is carbon or Purigen with the latter not something I run often and not even sure either would really make a debt in the bacterial population. Don’t syphon detritus out either. That and WC never made sense. Assuming filtration is adequate.

Hopefully they respond to say what species it it and such. I asked then whats in eco balance and I got a response.

 

[GARRIGA]

Hopefully they respond to say what species it it and such. I asked then whats in eco balance and I got a response.

I’m mostly looking to confirm it’s heterotrophic bacteria and reproduces in reef tanks. I’ll then decide how much I need to use. Seems like purely profit driven to claim it must be dosed at specific frequencies as they suggest with the gels that indicate when change is needed.

This hobby has a tendency to put time stamps on how often one must rebuy their products. I’ve noticed that since the 70s with HOB cartridges. I’m sure it’s been around longer than that.

 

[bnord]

Somebody deleted my post. Hmm.

What was it?