Putting new bacteria in my tank

[Just John]

My a/c broke this summer while I was at work and the temperature went into the 90's. Fortunately there were no fish in there but almost all of my coral died. Afterwards dinos tried to get a foothold even with high nutrients and good water parameters. It has made me wonder if some of the bacterial variety that would discourage dinos had died too. Is it worth trying to add something more than what comes in bottled bacteria? If it is, what is the best way to do it? Maybe a frag and a little water from the LFS?

 

[Rtaylor]

My a/c broke this summer while I was at work and the temperature went into the 90's. Fortunately there were no fish in there but all of my coral died. Afterwards dinos tried to get a foothold even with high nutrients and good water parameters. It has made me wonder if some of the bacterial variety that would discourage dinos had died too. Is it worth trying to add something more than what comes in bottled bacteria? If it is, what is the best way to do it? Maybe a frag and a little water from the LFS?

Best way to add biodiversity would be to add aquacultured live rock.

 

[Just John]

Any other thoughts from anyone?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Any other thoughts from anyone?

Wild live rock if you can get a hold of some or aquacultured would be the next best thing...or I'll mail you some water from a reef in Thailand haha

 

[bushdoc]

Any other thoughts from anyone?

No, I second Rtaylor.
Your bacterial biodiversity will increase even if you will be gradually adding frags or fish from various sources, but it will take time. Water column doesn’t harbor much bacteria, substrate is much better. Suggest “Pico Package” from tbsaltwater.com
Well, I didn’t notice that you live in Florida, just pick some stuff from tidal pools yourself.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

If you're looking for a supplement that may help, maybe try AF Life Source...

 

[Just John]

No, I second Rtaylor.
Your bacterial biodiversity will increase even if you will be gradually adding frags or fish from various sources, but it will take time. Water column doesn’t harbor much bacteria, substrate is much better. Suggest “Pico Package” from tbsaltwater.com
Well, I didn’t notice that you live in Florida, just pick some stuff from tidal pools yourself.

I have thought about picking up things from tidal pools, but am concerned about bringing something bad into my tank. Maybe that wouldn't be an issue, but I don't know.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I'm not so sure it's correct to say that the water column does harbor much bacteria...they're just different bacteria with different roles

 

[bushdoc]

I have thought about picking up things from tidal pools, but am concerned about bringing something bad into my tank. Maybe that wouldn't be an issue, but I don't know.

That’s the dilemma and I understand you. It is your personal choice. If you pick small rubble and mud, you are a bit safer though. You can also keep it in some container and watch for few days for bad hitchhikers.

 

[Pkunk35]

When I tried to add biodiversity I used (over the course of a year and not all at once!):

microbacter7
CyanoClean by KZ (a bacteria product)
Some kind of small piece of live rock, I bought a small Xmas tree rock that was new at LFS bc I knew it could not be dipped
One of those 5 species pod mix
Live/dead phyto
PNS probio and yellow snow (very small amounts of both at beginning of the tank life)
Live Amphipods
Small cup of miracle mud + chaeto for pod/invert breeding ground

I don’t know if any of this helps with Dinos tho, but my microfauna seems very healthy.

edit: I started tank also with Fritz bacteria