Microbacter Clean: Before Vs After

[Newb_reefer1]

How far apart in time were these set of pics taken? 4 days like you mentioned?

That is correct. First set of pictures were taken on Sunday of last week & the second set were taken on Thursday of this week

 

[jmoney7]

I do agree with you and believe tanks can develop their own biome to combat algae without the need of bottled bacteria supplements but like a lot of advancements in reefing they just help the process along. It's like the products that help you speed cycle a tank now. None of this stuff is a fix all though and natural tank maturity is still the best overall. I am currently a big proponent of PNS probio which is heterotrophic bacteria and I wish I had before and after pics to show how it improved certain aspects of my tank. I still dose it twice a week now.

Would pns probio help with gha?

 

[Clownfishy]

I have also used this product and after years of hair algae and not being able to grow Coralline algae, this was the one product that cleared it all. It seems to scrub the rock clean. I have now crystal clean rocks allowing Coralline algae to take hold.
I now just add a capful each time a so a water change.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I have also used this product and after years of hair algae and not being able to grow Coralline algae, this was the one product that cleared it all. It seems to scrub the rock clean. I have now crystal clean rocks allowing Coralline algae to take hold.
I now just add a capful each time a so a water change.

Can you clarify which product you are referring to?

 

[Clownfishy]

Can you clarify which product you are referring to?

Yes apologies, Microbacter Clean. I followed the instructions and it took several weeks before I saw much difference. I had been battling hair algae for years and I mean years. The reason is I brought some old rock taken from another aquarium and it was continually leaching phosphate. I tried Rowaphos but the algae was still there. I pretty much gave in and just got into a routine of removing as much as I could with every water change when I heard the owner of Brightwell being interviewed on one of the reef podcasts. He was talking about this product and another one called Razor. I am not one to fall for a sales pitch but thought hell, I will give it a go (Microbacter Clean, not Razer).
I now dose a small amount with each water change and and very happy with the results.
I am not saying it is a miracle cure for all algae and for every tank as one thing I think we have all learnt over the years is that no two tanks run the same. However for me, this is one of a very few products that I have used that I would recommend for people with hair algae growing on their rocks.
Hope this is useful.

 

[Clownfishy]

Forgot to add. Why do I believe this works? Well once all the algae went, I stopped dosing it. After a few months, I started to see the patches of algae return. I put this down to my phosphate still leaching from the rocks. I started dosing it again and after several weeks, the algae has once again gone.

 

[Salty_Northerner]

Yes apologies, Microbacter Clean. I followed the instructions and it took several weeks before I saw much difference. I had been battling hair algae for years and I mean years. The reason is I brought some old rock taken from another aquarium and it was continually leaching phosphate. I tried Rowaphos but the algae was still there. I pretty much gave in and just got into a routine of removing as much as I could with every water change when I heard the owner of Brightwell being interviewed on one of the reef podcasts. He was talking about this product and another one called Razor. I am not one to fall for a sales pitch but thought hell, I will give it a go (Microbacter Clean, not Razer).
I now dose a small amount with each water change and and very happy with the results.
I am not saying it is a miracle cure for all algae and for every tank as one thing I think we have all learnt over the years is that no two tanks run the same. However for me, this is one of a very few products that I have used that I would recommend for people with hair algae growing on their rocks.
Hope this is useful.

Have you noticed any decrease in nutrients when dosing clean?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Forgot to add. Why do I believe this works? Well once all the algae went, I stopped dosing it. After a few months, I started to see the patches of algae return. I put this down to my phosphate still leaching from the rocks. I started dosing it again and after several weeks, the algae has once again gone.

Weeks to work and months to see a problem by not dosing it seems to allow for a lot of ether explanations for these effects, since these sorts of things happen in tanks not dosing for no clear cut reason, but it may be related, IMO.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Weeks to work and months to see a problem by not dosing it seems to allow for a lot of ether explanations for these effects, since these sorts of things happen in tanks not dosing for no clear cut reason, but it may be related, IMO.

That's actually exactly what I'd say from the information given as well as from the lack of an in-depth analysis...maybe it has something to do with the observed effects, maybe not. Personally, I wouldn't conclude that it's directly related without more supporting evidence (strong, more scientific-based evidence in all honesty). However, I don't know if any exists for this particular product or not, and if so, how strongly it would support the hypothesis that it does lead to the results claimed by the previous poster as of dosing it. Just for example, if they actually list the bacterial strains in the product (and there does exist at least some supporting evidence that they work synergistically to produce these effects more effectively than other blends/products), I'd be more inclined to believe anecdotes reporting it's high efficacy.

Again, I don't know if there is information such as this available for this specific product or not... I doubt there is because it's rare in the industry to disclose that information, but I'm admittedly not sure.
If this information is absent, I'd personally believe one of the innumerable other variables is far more likely to be playing a part (to what degree I don't think anyone can accurately measure).
That's simply my thinking process.

 

[skey44]

I’m using microbacter clean to help speed the cure of old dirty dry LR in a Brute. Seems like $20 worth it for me to get to play with my pet rocks every day (aggressive dosing) and feel like I’m progressing the curing process. Will see how it goes. I plan to add a small amount of high end Aussie rock to my display after I cure this old rock and get it in there. Hoping to prevent phosphate leaching and ugly phase in my new tank once we get the water in starting with “cured” live rock.

 

[skey44]

Double post

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m using microbacter clean to help speed the cure of old dirty dry LR in a Brute. Seems like $20 worth it for me to get to play with my pet rocks every day (aggressive dosing) and feel like I’m progressing the curing process. Will see how it goes. I plan to add a small amount of high end Aussie rock to my display after I cure this old rock and get it in there. Hoping to prevent phosphate leaching and ugly phase in my new tank once we get the water in starting with “cured” live rock.

Let us know how things progress!

 

[skey44]

Will do. It definitely is less stinky and the water has gotten clearer, but I’m attributing that to the bag of carbon I put in there at this point. Today is day 3 of dosing, started with 30ml day one and now going to do 5ml per day for two weeks. Lots of rock in a 32ga brute. Guessing there’s 25ga of water or less in there. Will see how it goes! Hopefully ready to put in my tank soon after it gets here next weekend.

 

[skey44]

Definitely noting improvements, smells like fresh ocean now. I added more rock (10-15lbs) the day I started dosing. The activated carbon is definitely helping, but after today’s dose of microbacter clean I’m really seeing a difference. Started rock on may 4 started dosing on may 7 also added more old live rock that day. So far I’m impressed with microbacter clean. I have no reason to test until my tank gets here and and I add some premium live rock that I’m not going to cure. Will add this rock to display once it’s cured. I’ll have extra but that will be great for aquascaping.

 

[Illinoisreefkeeper21]

i added acro after a month. I’ve got 7 in my 3 month old tank — the oldest ones are encrusting. I’ve also got coralline growth.

It’s not impossible, it’s just not a good idea for people with no prior experience.

Yea I added acros day after I filled and never lost one and tank is now 2years flourishing

 

[skey44]

Really happy with the microbacter clean so far. I went ahead and did a 100 percent water change due to visible floating organic matter and discoloration and it seems perfectly clear and smelling good now. Rock seems almost “scrubbed” clean. I’ll try and take some pics tonight to share.

 

[Sophie"s mom]

You stuck all those acros in a one month old tank? I wish you and your wallet best of luck with that challenge. You did not mention your tank age in your first post but for new tanks there is nothing wrong with introducing biodiversity via bottled bacteria. What you should have done is left your lights off for the first 4 months before adding corals so your tank builds biodiversity and microfauna then your ugly phases would be much more manageable the first year and your coral survivability would greatly increase. Typically only very advanced reefers using live ocean rock will have the ability to keep a tank stable enough in the first few months for acros.

My tank? It's actually thriving beautiful right now. I have 25 acros now and have been fortunate to only lose one due to shipping stress over the past 9 months. I waited till about 10 months to add acros when my coraline was kicking in. Tank went through a night and day change at one year with much more predictable stability now.

Good luck with your tank but tough times are a coming the first year.

Well said.

 

[skey44]

Here’s a pic after almost two weeks in a brute dosing microbacter clean aggressively. 2 days after 100 pct water change. I’m very happy with the progress at this stage. You can see how dirty the old dried out LR was from my initial post. Looks quite inhabitable now.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

So the bandaid helped but have you identified the source behind your nuisance algae?

And note that I am a fan of brightwell products too

Prove that it is a band aid. It is bacterial cultures and enzymes.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

I used it weekly for maybe the first 5 or 6 months. Can't really say it helped anything or didn't help. My ugly phases were relatively mild compared to some horror stories. Now at about 8 months I started using PNS probio which is also a natural bacteria supplement. With this product I had significant tank improvement. My filter socks used to turn black with gunk after 4 days now they stay white and I change them every 10 days now. Sand noticeably cleaner too because it helps eliminate organic waste which keeps my nitrates and phosphate in check. Corals love it also.

so essentially, you use the same stuff.