Drastic ORP Drop When Dosing MicroBacter7

Clownfishy · Jul 13, 2020

Does anyone know why ORP drops when dosing MicroBacter7. As you can see at the graph below, I dosed it at 08:00 and saw an immediate drop in ORP. Not sure what is is doing but I dont see this with other bacteria dosing.

Dan_P · Jul 13, 2020

Immediate but small response, but interesting. These bacteria in a bottle products contain bacteria spores and enzymes In a solution of organic carbon. How does this ORP drop compare to the drop you see when you add fish or coral food? For fish flakes, I would not expect as quick a response as with fresh or frozen foods.

Clownfishy · Jul 13, 2020

Hi,
I have found -

Food Pellets: No significant drop in ORP
Newly Hatched Brine: A very small drop when washing brine shrimp with saltwater. A much bigger drop when not washing it.
Frozen food: Small drop in ORP (not draining the liquid e.g. just dropping in the cube directly into the aquarium)
BioDigest Bacteria: No drop in ORP
Fritz Bacteria: No drop in ORP

What is interesting, over the last 1.5 years, I have dosed 3 different bottles of MicroBacter7 and every dosing from all the bottles results in a substation ORP drop. I also refrigerated the bottles as well.

I have attempted to ask Brightwell the question but not sure their website took my question as it did not send me a confirmation.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jul 13, 2020

Clownfishy said:
Hi,
I have found -

Food Pellets: No significant drop in ORP

Newly Hatched Brine: A very small drop when washing brine shrimp with saltwater. A much bigger drop when not washing it.

Frozen food: Small drop in ORP (not draining the liquid e.g. just dropping in the cube directly into the aquarium)

BioDigest Bacteria: No drop in ORP

Fritz Bacteria: No drop in ORP

What is interesting, over the last 1.5 years, I have dosed 3 different bottles of MicroBacter7 and every dosing from all the bottles results in a substation ORP drop. I also refrigerated the bottles as well.

I have attempted to ask Brightwell the question but not sure their website took my question as it did not send me a confirmation.

I am fairly confident they will not have an answer.

it might be as simple as the formulation the bacteria are in is a low ORP solution. If you add any reducing compounds to a reef tank (say, ferrous iron or ascorbic acid) the ORP can drop a lot.

taricha · Jul 13, 2020

Echoing others, this is an effect from the media in the bottle. The actual bacterial activity would take much longer.
There are many possible reducing compounds (preservatives etc) that could be in the media. The liquid media in MB7 is thick and viscous. What it contains, I don't know.

Clownfishy · Jul 13, 2020

Many thanks the replies. That makes sense that it is the solution itself rather than the bacteria itself

reefluvrr · Jul 16, 2020

I also notice my ORP drop when I dose Dr. Tim's waste away. I also wondered if it was from whatever is in medium since they claim ORP will go up from using Waste Away.

rebels23 · May 12, 2021

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
I am fairly confident they will not have an answer.

it might be as simple as the formulation the bacteria are in is a low ORP solution. If you add any reducing compounds to a reef tank (say, ferrous iron or ascorbic acid) the ORP can drop a lot.

I noticed the same drop with Microbacter 7 and always attributed it to the bacteria consuming a large portion of O2?

Randy Holmes-Farley · May 12, 2021

rebels23 said:
I noticed the same drop with Microbacter 7 and always attributed it to the bacteria consuming a large portion of O2?

The ORP drop shown in the first post is not likely O2 consumption since it is too fast and ORP is not especially sensitive to O2.

Looks like addition of low ORP molecules to me, such as ferrous iron.

rebels23 · May 12, 2021

Randy Holmes-Farley said:
The ORP drop shown in the first post is not likely O2 consumption since it is too fast and ORP is not especially sensitive to O2.

Looks like addition of low ORP molecules to me, such as ferrous iron.

Thanks Randy!