Brightwells MB7/biofuel VS Probidio Biodigest/Bioptim

[BowieReefer84]

Please let me know which one you would go with, and the reason why. Brightwells seems less expensive, but Prodibio seems to have rave reviews all over the web. Either way my tank is small and cost is not a concern. I want to know what product is better. I am NOT going to use vodka or mix any sugar up to put in my tank with vinegar. I do not trust myself, and do not want to mess with diy dosing.

 

My main goal is to get nitrates as close to zero as possible. Right now they are about 10-15...

 

Thanks,

Mike

[BowieReefer84]

here is a very good thread on dosing bacteria/carbons sources in low nutrient systems - http://www.michiganreefers.com/forums/water-chemistry/92365-starting-brightwell-microbacter7-today.html

[zygote2k]

magic potions are no match for time.

 

As your tank matures, it will get to near zero N03 as long as you do regular water changes.

[BowieReefer84]

I am pretty sure they are not magic potions. There are reviews all over the web with success stories about already nice tanks doing even better. I don't think the idea of adding beneficial bacteria and feeding it with a carbon source is really magic. Is it?

[Der ABT]

I have now used prodibio and have started biopellets with mb7....i went with mb7 because of the luck people had with seeding the pellets and the fact that i was out of prodibio. so far mb7 has been working well and the water has been very clear.

I really like the prodibio and i really liked the results. definately can see more polyp extension after the addition and i definately saw some annoying algea that was built up on my rocks go away. (yes i had tried to give it time with just water changes etc) but when i started the prodibio on Seans from F&F suggestion (they also carry it) i saw the algea start receding in about 3 weeks. You could also see less film on the glass so i definately liked it. oh yeh i was just using the bioclean kit with biodigest and bioptim

 

I still have a NO3/PO4 problem (my tests wont tell me but the algea i do have does) that im battling but it was much more in control with the Prodibio and MB7

 

hope this helps

[Mando77]

Smaller tanks have a harder time with nitrates in my opinion because they are limited in skimmers and filtration, plus they tend to get to much livestock. Prodibio offers 2 products that help with this issue. Biodigest acts as a nitrate reducer and Bioptim enhances this by feeding the bacteria much like VSV. The Bioptim is a safer route and will not have as bad side effects as is if you over dosed VSV. I dose VGV and Biodigest, but if I had to do it over agian I would replace VGV with Bioptim. The products do work and it really isn't that expensive. The small package really packs a punch. Zygote2k is right a mature tank does help and I would only recommned this product if you have continued problems keeping Nitrates low. I just used it because I was tired of seeing my nitrates above 20 ppm consistently. That problem is now old news.

[BowieReefer84]

Smaller tanks have a harder time with nitrates in my opinion because they are limited in skimmers and filtration, plus they tend to get to much livestock. Prodibio offers 2 products that help with this issue. Biodigest acts as a nitrate reducer and Bioptim enhances this by feeding the bacteria much like VSV. The Bioptim is a safer route and will not have as bad side effects as is if you over dosed VSV. I dose VGV and Biodigest, but if I had to do it over agian I would replace VGV with Bioptim. The products do work and it really isn't that expensive. The small package really packs a punch. Zygote2k is right a mature tank does help and I would only recommned this product if you have continued problems keeping Nitrates low. I just used it because I was tired of seeing my nitrates above 20 ppm consistently. That problem is now old news.

 

 

Thank you, and thank you for all the PM's you have been sending me too on this issue. My tank was about 3 years old when I transferred all the LR and fish to the biocube. I consider this the same system. The only difference is I did not transfer the sand. I was going to, but it SMELLED REALLY NASTY. I thought it best not to transfer. I think the extra help these products provide is worth it. I know 3 years is not that long, but I feel it is sufficient time for a tank to be established (even with the transfer of stock).

[Chad]

magic potions are no match for time.

I wholly agree.

 

As your tank matures, it will get to near zero N03 as long as you do regular water changes.

 

I wholly disagree. It depends too much on setup, equipment and stocking to make a blanket statement like this. If your regular water change do not beat the nitrate production rate, nitrates will rise over time. In other words (using a not quite realistic example, but it illustrates what I mean), if your nitrates double in a week and you do a 50% water change weekly, nitrates will stay constant over time.

 

In most cases, nitrates can be held in check by water changes, but it has little to do with tank maturity (after the cycle anyway).

 

Edit: I apologize for the OT sidebar. I voted.

Edited November 18, 2010 by Chad

[BowieReefer84]

To clarify one thing. I only have 2 fish and a fire shrimp. The tank is NOT overstocked. If anything it is understocked as the two fish are a clown and a chromi. So overfeeding and fish waste is not a contributing factor imo.

[Jan]

I had a nitrate problem with my 24 gallon bio cube up until I knocked it down. The only thing that brought the nitrates down, I never got rid of them, was when I set up a refugium and started to use chemi pure elite. The skimmer didn't do a thing for my system. My 3 gallon never had a nitrate problem. I set that one up based on my experience with the 24 gallon. I made a refugium out of a HOB filter and used chemi pure elite. The HOB filter I used was fairly larg compared to the tank itself and held a lot of macro. My point being that macro algae and a decent carbon really helped with nitrates in the little tanks. my 75 has never had a problem with nitrates and I feed that tank like crazy. I attribute the no nitrates to tank size, more water volume, using chemi pure elite and a well stocked refugium.

 

I did use Brightwells biofule for a little while to help reduce phosphates and control algae. It worked great! I also use Restor by Breightwell. The colors in my corals have gotten brighter since I've been dosing amino acids.

Edited November 18, 2010 by Jan

[BowieReefer84]

I had a nitrate problem with my 24 gallon bio cube up until I knocked it down. The only thing that brought the nitrates down, I never got rid of them, was when I set up a refugium and started to use chemi pure elite. The skimmer didn't do a thing for my system. My 3 gallon never had a nitrate problem. I set that one up based on my experience with the 24 gallon. I made a refugium out of a HOB filter and used chemi pure elite. The HOB filter I used was fairly larg compared to the tank itself and held a lot of macro. My point being that macro algae and a decent carbon really helped with nitrates in the little tanks. my 75 has never had a problem with nitrates and I feed that tank like crazy. I attribute the no nitrates to tank size, more water volume, using chemi pure elite and a well stocked refugium.

 

I did use Brightwells biofule for a little while to help reduce phosphates and control algae. It worked great! I also use Restor by Breightwell. The colors in my corals have gotten brighter since I've been dosing amino acids.

Than you for the tips Jan. I do have some chemi-pure (not elite) and purigen in the tank on a stevie T media rack. Like I said the nitrates are only at like 10-15, which is not bad. I just want to get that last kick to lower them as close to zero as possible. I will try the elite when it is time to replace the chemi.

[CHUBAKAH]

If you do a little searching on some of the larger sites it is pretty clear MB7 is more widely used. It's also a lot easier to find, and as you said much cheaper. I have had undetectable nitrates since Aug 08. I have also used the Prodibio with good results. Just costs wayy too much on a 400+ gallon system.

[angel not fish]

I used prodibio and it is good, but for a small tank like yours, I would use nitrate reducer (purple bottle) - you can find at petco.

Just add one cap a week. Its like food for good bacterias. It reaallyy work.