Microbactor 7 frozen

[Chrisz]

Hi all, I just got a delivery last night of Microbactor 7 and it’s frozen and some of the contents are leaking out through top, the seal broke from being frozen. Think I know this answer but... it’s junk right? So is it worth my effort to try and get a refund? Anyone had this issue before?

Got the product from Marine Depot I’ll call them when they open up

 

[taricha]

since MB 7 says they have nitrifiers, then freezing would likely kill those.
It also has other bacteria - spore formers - that ought to survive the freeze.

 

[Chrisz]

Any suggestions on who I could get this product from and get it delivered not frozen. I’m in Duluth Minnesota, I might be just out of luck till spring it was -13 below this morning

 

[Brett S]

I suspect that you’ll have the same issue unless you can find a vendor who would put a heat pack or something in the shipment and ship it overnight, otherwise the heat pack would stop working before it was delivered, but that would be pretty expensive. I know BRS is somewhere in MN and they do allow orders to be picked up at their warehouse, so depending on how far you are from them you might be able to pick it up. You could also try calling around. Several of my local fish stores carry the brightwell products.

 

[JGT]

Extreme heat or cold will kill the bacteria. I’d go to your LFS if you have one nearby. Will pay a bit more but will be assured the bacteria will be alive.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Wait a minute...doesn't Microbacter 7 have dormant -- and not live -- bacteria? Before you throw it out, you might give it a chance, as freezing may not effect the product as seriously as you think.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Wait a minute...doesn't Microbacter 7 have dormant -- and not live -- bacteria? Before you throw it out, you might give it a chance, as freezing may not effect the product as seriously as you think.

Yes but cannot be frozen
There are cases where bacteria can be refrigerated to make them dormant

 

[davidcalgary29]

The BRS video on bacterial starters specifically mentions "freezing temperatures" (and "130 degrees") as a reason to buy this product instead of something like Dr. Tim's or Microbacter XLM...

FWIW, I just bought a bottle of Microbacter XLM at a store (not a LFS, as it's a ten-hour drive away). When I brought it home, I saw that the cap was cracked in half. :mad: Sometimes it's quite difficult to tell if a product has problems even if you buy it yourself.

 

[davidcalgary29]

Here's some of the storage instructions for the Microbacter XLM from Brightwell's website. Granted, Microbacter 7 is a different product, but still:

"Do not freeze! Freezing can kill the bacteria. (This product will usually withstand a freeze or two in transit in the winter, but do not freeze, thaw, freeze thaw and keep from freezing if at all possible.) If the product arrives frozen, then thaw at room temperature,"

 

[Chrisz]

Thanks for the responses, unfortunately up north here its hard to get any reef supplies not much for local stores and none carry the microbacter 7.

Best shot I have is the 2.5 hour drive to Minneapolis, well maybe its time for a road trip

 

[fairbanksakreef]

The BRS video on bacterial starters specifically mentions "freezing temperatures" (and "130 degrees") as a reason to buy this product instead of something like Dr. Tim's or Microbacter XLM...

FWIW, I just bought a bottle of Microbacter XLM at a store (not a LFS, as it's a ten-hour drive away). When I brought it home, I saw that the cap was cracked in half. :mad: Sometimes it's quite difficult to tell if a product has problems even if you buy it yourself.

Do you remember what the video was titled?

 

[davidcalgary29]

I believe that this is it.