What is the Best Bacteria Additive

[robby2782]

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.

For me, it's important because I aggressively feed my fish and coral and DON'T do water changes, period. I keep my water's phos at .06 with continuum brand bacteria with my shot RO unit producing water at .1 phos. I'll be changing it next month, but have a feeling there's better quality bacteria out there to use.

 

[chort55]

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

Yes to an extent, I personally use both vodka and vinegar. I used in the past MB7 for a while then LFS stopped stocking it so I stopped using it. I decided to give special blend a shot starting today so we will see how that goes. The bacteria's are different with each product and the carbon sources work a little differently and use different bacterias as well. I just like to have an extra tool to help get the job done.... and be able to feed like crazy while keeping excess nutrients low

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Thanks! That does make sense.

 

[lakeviewink]

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.

Special blend is made by microbe lift. I've seen it work many times in my tanks by clearing up a cyano or nutrient imbalance issues.

I don't know anything about MB7

 

[lakeviewink]

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.

What I mean by diversity is, Special blend lists exactly what cultures it has for reducing mainly nitrates and Nite Out has listed exactly what cultures it has to convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. All of them are already in the nitrogen cycle in a "cycled" tank but you can boost the numbers by adding these products and of course fueling the new cultures in your tank by whatever carbon source you prefer.

At least this is my experience with them.

 

[Paul B]

I personally use both vodka and vinegar. I used in the past MB7 for a while

I only use Balsamic vinnegar, in my salad and put my vodka in orange juice, sometimes I add a little Galliano to make a Harvey Wallbanger. I have no idea what a MB7 is but I do have an IPod.
I also don't know what kind of bacteria I collect under my boat but I would imagine it has some PCBs in it. Maybe that acts as a coral stimulator.
I realize many people add all these things so I guess they do something. It just sems odd to me that in all these years, I never had to add any of that stuff.
An MP7 sounds cool, I drove an M-60 tank for a while, I don't know if that is the same thing although I think it would rust in a saltwater aquarium. So what exactly is a MB7 and is there an MB6 and 5?:spit:

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I only use Balsamic vinnegar, in my salad and put my vodka in orange juice, sometimes I add a little Galliano to make a Harvey Wallbanger. I have no idea what a MB7 is but I do have an IPod.
I also don't know what kind of bacteria I collect under my boat but I would imagine it has some PCBs in it. Maybe that acts as a coral stimulator.
I realize many people add all these things so I guess they do something. It just sems odd to me that in all these years, I never had to add any of that stuff.
An MP7 sounds cool, I drove an M-60 tank for a while, I don't know if that is the same thing although I think it would rust in a saltwater aquarium. So what exactly is a MB7 and is there an MB6 and 5?:spit:

Ha ha funny guy. Glad you're doing good without dosing. Guess there are lots of ways to do this hobby.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

 

[kuyatwo]

i use zeovite zeobak and dr tims

Zeobak as they were one of the originals in developing ULNS

Dr Tims (his phd is in marine biology and major study has been in marine bacteria)
About | DrTim's Aquatics

 

[Paul B]

i use zeovite zeobak and dr tims

Zeobak as they were one of the originals in developing ULNS

Great. More initials and weird things that I have no idea what they are. I hope my tank don't crash by not adding all this stuff. :doh:

 

[beaslbob]

Great. More initials and weird things that I have no idea what they are. I hope my tank don't crash by not adding all this stuff. :doh:

+1

you go Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the rest:

Have anyone of you maintained a reef tank for 40 + years of continuous service?

Ya'all might want to consider Paul's methods. Even if you are in the midwest.

 

[robby2782]

What are you trying to accomplish here? Everyone knows this isn't a necessity to keep a reef flourishing. It's just another methodology that people including myself use with the demands of certain systems.

Once again, this thread isn't about using versus not using an additive. It's simply suggesting which types of bacteria supplement are better than others.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

+1

you go Paul!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To the rest:

Have anyone of you maintained a reef tank for 40 + years of continuous service?

Ya'all might want to consider Paul's methods. Even if you are in the midwest.

Paul apparently has had some great success. Others have had success in other ways. Again, there's more than one way to maintain a tank in this hobby.

Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk 2

 

[robby2782]

i use zeovite zeobak and dr tims

Zeobak as they were one of the originals in developing ULNS

Dr Tims (his phd is in marine biology and major study has been in marine bacteria)
About | DrTim's Aquatics

I'm actually adding a little of the Dr Tim's I got from MACNA last year since I'm low on my regular type. I like Zeobak too, but I think it's overpriced and I really think a lot of the zeo products are much of the same and snake oil to an extent. I quit using it and noticed zero side effects in color or water quality. I remember you also wrote somewhere about mb7 being mostly dead bacteria too.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Great. More initials and weird things that I have no idea what they are. I hope my tank don't crash by not adding all this stuff. :doh:

Edit: Removed comment because of my misunderstanding

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[Paul B]

Please don't knock something you're not using just because you haven't needed/wanted it. Others are using these things and getting good results. ...sarcasm is disrespectful to those who are replying to this thread and have had success with these products. There's no reason to look down on others who don't keep their tank the same way you do...this is a hobby with lots of different methods for success.

I think you got the wrong idea from my 2 posts. I meant no disrespect and I really don't know what those abreviations mean. I said this:

Great. More initials and weird things that I have no idea what they are. I hope my tank don't crash by not adding all this stuff. :doh:

I also realize that I don't have any where near the nicest tank on here. I didn't think I knocked anyone's tank or even eluded to it or mentioned anyones tank. I thought my post was just innocuous and meant nothing. But I will shut up now. Sorry for the confusion.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Paul, it sounds like I misunderstood what you were trying to say. I apologize.

 

[Paul B]

Mdbannister, no need to apologize. I do sometimes (often) talk to much. But I already took Anthrax and in 12 minutes I will croak :frown:

 

[gmoney243]

Mdbannister, no need to apologize. I do sometimes (often) talk to much. But I already took Anthrax and in 12 minutes I will croak :frown:

Still alive?

 

[Paul B]

Yes, I forgot we are having people over tonight since it is raining and boating is cancelled. I will have to croak tomorrow.

 

[gmoney243]

K cyanide works better anyway.