Reef Discussion

[rosechaser]

Was at the LFS getting some RO water and started chatting and was talked into buying Aquasonic Pro_Bac which is a concentrated pro-biotic bacteria.

Instructions are use 7-10 days, turn off skimmer 48hrs......all my chemisrty is fine but was suggested this would make things better.....what are the thoughts?

 

[Joshwaaaa]

if everything is fine, then there is just one question. Why? Seems a little pointless to me

Could it just be another case of an LFS trying to sell you things you don't need?

 

[Dr. Schell]

Remember that is you are setting up a tank, there will be a lage in the chemistry - Ie. amonia spike, followed by a Nitrite spike, followed by elevated nitrates. If you have an established tank, I would thing that the added bacterial concentrate would just end up as food for filter feeding animals. HOWEVER, if you are just setting up a tank, the added bacterial will help to reduce the length of the cycle period by boosting bacterial numbers.
I am sure that all this background information is contained on the bottle's label.

 

[MTG]

i use prodibio bio digest. one vial weekly for the last 2 years ;) i stoped dosing a carbon food source around a month ago but before that i allways did.

 

[jashay]

I used a bacteria starter when starting up my tank, think it was bio booster, I beleive it worked reasonably well as the cycle didn't take a huge amount of time, maybe saved 2-3 weeks possibly.

I would be cautious using it in an established tank just on the fact it could restart the cycle and cause spikes like the Doc has said.

once cycled I wouldnt think it would need more bacteria as the filter should be matured enough to develop what it needs.

 

[Luke]

bio digest for me as well , I use the biopellets as a carbon source

 

[jashay]

do the bio pellets need a reactor? or can they go into the filter?

 

[Luke]

What filter ?
Fluid bed filter yes
Canister filter No

 

[jashay]

got ya! I aint got a fluid bed filter lol. mine is more like a canister.