Microbacter7 question

[saltyhog]

I just started dosin Microbacter7 today to try and expand my bacterial filtration types and populate my two Marine Pure 4x4x8 blocks that have been in my sump since mid Jan. I followed the directions which also stated a noticeable improvement in water clarity would be evident within 30 minutes of dosing. I kind of laughed but I be darnded if it wasn't true!

What is the mechanism by which dosing this bacterial culture improves water clarity?

Has anyone had this product improve their nitrate levels (without other changes)?

 

[StrangeDejavu]

I never noticed a water clarity effect when dosing MB7. I use it to quickly cycle QT tanks (average time seems to be 6 days) and I dose my DT after each water change. Even when I was dosing the high nutrient dose every day for 14 days (dinoflagellate battle) I never saw a change in nitrate outside of water changes.

 

[brandon429]

Floc and settle is my first guess at the mechanism

If the effect is repeatable it could be that, but you are dealing with aerobes in that mixture and the goal of your marine pure inoculation is opposite. Doser not indicated but also not harmful IMO

 

[maksim serebro]

I never noticed a water clarity effect when dosing MB7. I use it to quickly cycle QT tanks (average time seems to be 6 days) and I dose my DT after each water change. Even when I was dosing the high nutrient dose every day for 14 days (dinoflagellate battle) I never saw a change in nitrate outside of water changes.

Did it help you with the Dino battle?

 

[StrangeDejavu]

Did it help you with the Dino battle?

Not single hand handedly, but I believe it contributed to the bigger picture. I did a blackout to knock the numbers down to low levels then did a "biobomb". I dosed 3,000+ copepods and dosed MB7 and phytoplankton daily for 2 weeks, did the trick.

 

[maksim serebro]

Not single hand handedly, but I believe it contributed to the bigger picture. I did a blackout to knock the numbers down to low levels then did a "biobomb". I dosed 3,000+ copepods and dosed MB7 and phytoplankton daily for 2 weeks, did the trick.

Thanks. I'm battling them right now. Thinking of starting a copepod nursery. Got some live rock from Florida. All in attempt to increase biodiversity. Will get microbacter as well. Have any tips for me?

 

[maksim serebro]

Which phytoplankton did u use?

 

[StrangeDejavu]

Thanks. I'm battling them right now. Thinking of starting a copepod nursery. Got some live rock from Florida. All in attempt to increase biodiversity. Will get microbacter as well. Have any tips for me?

Grow your pod population while shrinking the dinos, that's what worked for me. The initial blackout hit them hard and brought them down to a level playing field against copepods, which feed on them. My thought process behind MB7 dosing was similar to dosing phyto for the pods as food source. Ciliates are also grazers of dinos, but they also eat bacteria. Whether the kind of bacteria found in MB7 is the same kind they eat, I wasn't sure, but I dosed anyway. I watched pod population explode and dinos dwindled day by day until gone. I ordered pods and phyto from AlgaeBarn at the time.

http://www.scienceisart.com/dockbook/a2012-09-Sep/a2012-09.html

@op, sorry for the hijack! Any other questions, feel free to message me maksim.

 

[Fate]

How are you dosing OP?

 

[saltyhog]

How are you dosing OP?

I'm dosing per the high nutrient protocol in my sump, turning off the skimmer for 4 hours as directed. I was assuming (we all know what that can do) that at least some of the bacteria in the product were anaerobic since it claimed to help lower nitrates. According to brandon it doesn't contain anaerobic bacteria. Which makes me wonder about the instruction to dose with a pipette under the surface of the water.

I'm going to continue to dose for the 2 week course as my tank seems to be very happy since starting. No reduction in nitrates yet (holding about 12 per Red Sea) but just started on Friday.