What are the difference between each bottled bacteria?

reefinginBD · Jan 24, 2022

Hey there,
I was just wondering what is the difference between MicrboBacter 7, MicroBacter Start XLM and MicroBacter Start XLF. I just wanted to know what is the difference between these three products and which one to use. I want to mix them, but I want to know what is the difference and which one I should use to cycle the tank. I will also dose this once a month whenever I do a water change. So please let me know which is better.

PokeFish · Jan 25, 2022

probably all similar. Not a huge fan of bottled bacteria tho. also u don't have to replenish you bacteria after a wc... unless you are gravel vacuuming you entire sandbed and blowing off the rocks aswell, since the bacteria doesn't live in water column

reefinginBD · Jan 25, 2022

PokeFish said:
probably all similar. Not a huge fan of bottled bacteria tho. also u don't have to replenish you bacteria after a wc... unless you are gravel vacuuming you entire sandbed and blowing off the rocks aswell, since the bacteria doesn't live in water column

So, I'll do water changes once a month and I will blow off the things from the dirt and also vacuum the sand bed, so I will dose any one of the bacteria once a month. I know you said you are not a fan of bottled bacteria, but which one would you suggest I use to cycle and also dose once a month.

PokeFish · Jan 25, 2022

reefinginBD said:
So, I'll do water changes once a month and I will blow off the things from the dirt and also vacuum the sand bed, so I will dose any one of the bacteria once a month. I know you said you are not a fan of bottled bacteria, but which one would you suggest I use to cycle and also dose once a month.

any of those should be fine really

PokeFish · Jan 25, 2022

maybe microbacter xlm but mixing them isnt useful

reefinginBD · Jan 25, 2022

PokeFish said:
any of those should be fine really

Okie thanks!

reefinginBD · Jan 25, 2022

O

PokeFish said:
maybe microbacter xlm but mixing them isnt useful

Oh really? I was just going to mix the bacteria to increase the bio diversity. But, if it doesn't help, there is no reason for that.

PokeFish · Jan 25, 2022

reefinginBD said:
O

Oh really? I was just going to mix the bacteria to increase the bio diversity. But, if it doesn't help, there is no reason for that.

yeah lol no real benefit

damsels are not mean · Jan 25, 2022

Yeah it's the same kind of bacteria also it'll grow with or without the bottle. Bottle just speeds up the process. Buying 2 bottles is silly.

These bacteria don't live in the water at all. You could do a 100% water change and the cycle is not reset at all.

Don't have to replenish the bacteria ever even if you do vacuum the whole sand bed and blast your rocks. They only get removed really if you scrub all surfaces really hard or rinse in freshwater. Even then not all the bacteria is gone. Once the cycle is complete it is pretty much complete unless you make the water inhospitable to bacteria which is something you would have to try hard to do.

mdb_talon · Jan 25, 2022

PokeFish said:
any of those should be fine really

Each has a purpose, but assuming this is for a reef tank the XLF (ie freshwater version) would be a poor choice.

reefinginBD · Jan 25, 2022

mdb_talon said:
Each has a purpose, but assuming this is for a reef tank the XLF (ie freshwater version) would be a poor choice.

Oh, now it makes sense why it ends with 'F' T-T. Thanks

mdb_talon · Jan 25, 2022

reefinginBD said:
Hey there,
I was just wondering what is the difference between MicrboBacter 7, MicroBacter Start XLM and MicroBacter Start XLF. I just wanted to know what is the difference between these three products and which one to use. I want to mix them, but I want to know what is the difference and which one I should use to cycle the tank. I will also dose this once a month whenever I do a water change. So please let me know which is better.

XLM is for marine tanks. XLF is for freshwater.

Standard Microbacter7 can be used for either and it is lower concentration and i believe different mix of bacteria.

Do not mix them. Brighterll makes clear that mixing them(even their own products like 7 and XLM) actually prolongs the cycle.

reefinginBD · Jan 25, 2022

mdb_talon said:
XLM is for marine tanks. XLF is for freshwater.

Standard Microbacter7 can be used for either and it is lower concentration and i believe different mix of bacteria.

Do not mix them. Brighterll makes clear that mixing them(even their own products like 7 and XLM) actually prolongs the cycle.

Oh Ok, thanks! So, which one do you think I should use? I will use one to cycle the tank and then use the same one once a month after I do water changes because I will vacuum the whole sand bed and also blow off any dirt from the rocks with an ac pump.

mdb_talon · Jan 25, 2022

I have never used the XLM , but always had good luck with the 7. However presumably the XLM is a better choice for initial cycle if we listen to manufacturer.

Also to clarify they do say that after the initial cycle is complete you can switch from XLM to 7 without issue. They just say it causes issues that prolongs the cycle if you start a tank with both.

Personally i am not a believer that continual replinishment is necessary at all you should have more than enough bacteria in your rocks(siphoning sand will not make a real difference in bacteria anyway) but it shouldnt hurt.

reefinginBD · Jan 25, 2022

mdb_talon said:
I have never used the XLM , but always had good luck with the 7. However presumably the XLM is a better choice for initial cycle if we listen to manufacturer.

Also to clarify they do say that after the initial cycle is complete you can switch from XLM to 7 without issue. They just say it causes issues that prolongs the cycle if you start a tank with both.

Personally i am not a believer that continual replinishment is necessary at all you should have more than enough bacteria in your rocks(siphoning sand will not make a real difference in bacteria anyway) but it shouldnt hurt.

Alright, thanks! Really appreciate the help.

PokeFish · Jan 25, 2022

mdb_talon said:
Each has a purpose, but assuming this is for a reef tank the XLF (ie freshwater version) would be a poor choice.

oh.... i saw in a post that someone use that an it work

PokeFish · Jan 25, 2022

nvm ignore what i just said im high rn

trevorhiller · Jan 25, 2022

I used the Microbacter Start XLM for my initial cycle with Ammonium Chloride. It seemed to work just fine, I had a ton left over since I only have a 15 gallon tank, so now I am going to dose some of it in attempt to combat the dinos that seem to be growing in my tank. I think it would be interesting to see a breakdown of what bacteria are in each bottle, but I haven't seen anything like that.