What is the Best Bacteria Additive

-Logzor · Nov 28, 2012

I'm currently doing some carbon dosing and I want to add bacteria to help keep things diversified. What is the best one to use? I'm kind of concerned it's a bottle that does absolutely nothing....but I bet there are a few really good products out there. Thoughts on which brands I should consider?

Downbeach · Nov 28, 2012

-Logzor said:
I'm currently doing some carbon dosing and I want to add bacteria to help keep things diversified. What is the best one to use? I'm kind of concerned it's a bottle that does absolutely nothing....but I bet there are a few really good products out there. Thoughts on which brands I should consider?

I use Prodibio's BioDigest and Bioptim.

-Logzor · Nov 28, 2012

We need someone to compare all the different bacteria additives under a microscope or something.

Also, could you in theory culture your own bacteria using the stuff you buy? People culture phyto so why not bacteria?

robby2782 · May 22, 2013

any update on this???

stlcard · May 22, 2013

special blend is pretty good stuff. Sell it at petco too.

robby2782 · May 23, 2013

I was thinking about switching from Continuum, but will continue since I just paid for them. Wanted to try something different.

beaslbob · May 23, 2013

-Logzor said:
I'm currently doing some carbon dosing and I want to add bacteria to help keep things diversified. What is the best one to use? I'm kind of concerned it's a bottle that does absolutely nothing....but I bet there are a few really good products out there. Thoughts on which brands I should consider?

IMHO none.

By starting the tank with macro algaes there will be no dangerous spikes and all the bacteria you need we grow and expand and no charge to you.

Paul B · May 23, 2013

I go to a muddy bay, grab a handful of mud and throw it in my tank. That is how I dose bacteria. :biggrin1:

montethemoster · May 23, 2013

Haha, Paul B's miracle mud...would be a nice option but I live in the midwest.

RaysReef · May 23, 2013

TLC SmartStart, google it.

chort55 · May 23, 2013

beaslbob said:
IMHO none.

By starting the tank with macro algaes there will be no dangerous spikes and all the bacteria you need we grow and expand and no charge to you.

Sometimes thats just not enough, and sometimes macro algaes don't grow in a low nutrient systems

beaslbob · May 23, 2013

chort55 said:
Sometimes thats just not enough, and sometimes macro algaes don't grow in a low nutrient systems

then there's no need for the macro algaes. :wink:

IMHO and IME the macros will make the system low nutrient without any other help.

Still just my .02

robby2782 · May 23, 2013

Thanks for you .02, but this isn't a thread for alternatives. Macro algae won't keep your system ultra low in nutrients if you feed multiple times a day with several fish. Maybe if you do multiple water changes per month, but that's much more work.

beaslbob · May 23, 2013

robby2782 said:
Thanks for you .02, but this isn't a thread for alternatives. Macro algae won't keep your system ultra low in nutrients if you feed multiple times a day with several fish. Maybe if you do multiple water changes per month, but that's much more work.

I simply disagree.

I had a yellow (4-5") tang, regal ('dory") tang (4-5'), yellow watchman gobie, purple pseudochromis, 2 clowns, a 5" coral catfish plus a mix of "easy" corals in a 55g for 5 years with unmeasureable nitrates (api) and phosphates (salifert) with no water changes using tap water.

still just my .02

shellynjason · May 23, 2013

I add alittle 'special blend' every 10 days, as I work to achieve a low po4/nitrate system.

lakeviewink · May 23, 2013

+1 on the Microbe Lift Special Blend. Also their Nite Out boosts other kinds of bacteria for a good diversity

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2013

Just curious, but why do you need diversity in the bacteria? Isn't that like saying you should have several different species of tangs? Wouldn't a monoculture (well, it's not likely to truly become a monoculture but you would have one dominant strain) do the job as effectively? Not trying to be smart. I'm really curious as I've seen several people with this concern but I've never seen why.

Daniel@R2R · May 23, 2013

Also, wouldn't dosing two different types of carbon (i.e. vodka and vinegar) keep the bacteria diverse?

jduck · May 23, 2013

I've used zeobak and MB7

robby2782 · May 23, 2013

lakeviewink said:
+1 on the Microbe Lift Special Blend. Also their Nite Out boosts other kinds of bacteria for a good diversity

Who makes the microbe lift special blend? Do you know if it's been tested by anyone other than a company rep? I've read from multiple sites that MB7 has mainly dead strains of bacteria.