Re: Nitra-Guard Bio-cubes from Orca Labs promises denitrification free of Redfield's

[RegalAngel]

I am curious as to where yeast fits in on the nitrogen cycle. Since it requires an aerobic environment then I am thinking it oxidizes fish crap to ammonia or ammonia to nitrites?

Here is the explanation I received
Re: Nitra-Guard Bio-cubes from Orca Labs promises denitrification free of Redfield’s

Other companies are trying to use bacteria to do the work for them. What makes these cubes so unique? I am using yeast cells to do the work and not bacteria. Yeast is so much easier to work with and they are so easily manipulated. This is how I am able to break / bend the laws of nature like Redfield's Ratio. What I have done there is I used a nano particulated substrate that is titanium based. The yeast are able to take the titanium into the cells and they basically become "Cyborg" yeast. Half living biological organism and half synthetic nano particulated inert metal. Put the 2 together and you have an organism that behaves like a synthetic chemical, but, reproduces like a living biological organism. It also has a very basic "Artificial Intelligence" built into it because all organisms are programmed to survive. If there is enough nutrients to support the colony, they will grow the colony to that size, if the nutrient levels drop, the colony will die off to a size that can be maintained. This "Artificial Intelligence" control system is what makes the cubes last so long. Unlike pellets that get eroded through micro-abrasion in the reactors, cubes only erode through yeast cell consumption. This means that the product will grow or shrink according to your needs and they do this automatically without you needing to do anything and without any waste. Very basically put, within 11 days the cubes become self aware and start learning what your needs and habits are. After 11 days they assimilate the colony to what you need them to be. Unlike other products where we have to adjust ourselves and our systems to what that product requires in order for it to work, this is a product that will become what you and your system needs it to become. To do this with bacteria is almost impossible and you have to be really smart...and I have never been that smart to begin with! This is also the reason that the cubes need so much oxygen (apart from the gentle scrubbing action it provides) because yeast cells need oxygen, they do not operate very well under anaerobic conditions. This is why I stress the oxygen part so much and also where people make the mistake of using reactors to operate this product in. As long as you can feed oxygen into that reactor you will be fine, but, all reactors that are produced do not have this option. This was when the bomb method was born.

The above highlighted information indicates that bacteria are not the primarly means to achieving nitrate reduction, and then this from their web site:

"Bacteria consume the high carbohydrate source found in the BIO-Cubes and form a biomass that absorbs nitrates and phosphates from the water in the aquarium. This biomass is then skimmed out with a protein skimmer or is consumed as a food source by corals and clams."

Seems to be in conflict with one another? Perhaps one is about the Bio Cubes and the other about the Titanium product.

 

[fortress]

I'm feelin ya reefmut, if I was distributing "the best" of anything I would be giving samples to all major retailers. If they have and the retailers aren't pushing the product, speaks volumes to me. I am all for using new and the best technology available but have suffered enough from unproven products. In fact this is pretty much the whole reason I finally joined RC after lurking for the last 2 years.

 

[Aquarist007]

The above highlighted information indicates that bacteria are not the primarly means to achieving nitrate reduction, and then this from their web site:

"Bacteria consume the high carbohydrate source found in the BIO-Cubes and form a biomass that absorbs nitrates and phosphates from the water in the aquarium. This biomass is then skimmed out with a protein skimmer or is consumed as a food source by corals and clams."

Seems to be in conflict with one another? Perhaps one is about the Bio Cubes and the other about the Titanium product.

Wow--I agree with you. Thanks for pointing that out.

 

[reefmutt]

Welcome fortress!
I have seen it around a bit. It's a very new product from South Africa. There are people using it there and a few retailers in North America seem to have it as well... I think.. Not really for sale, but to try it out.
I think we will see it more and there will be more info about it in a few more weeks..

 

[bertoni]

Titanium doesn't seem very likely as a chelator, since it's a metal, and I'm not sure what it would be catalyzing. The definition of "chelation" excludes the concept of chelating nitrogen.

 

[nemo's janitor]

A little further info on Bio Cubes

http://www.mysaltyreef.com/forum/content.php/323-Orca-Labs-Cubes-Explained

 

[mofro]

I am the person who wrote some of the reviews on the priduct. As stated on the threads on marine aquariums south africa, I have no affiliation to the profuct ir company. Have paud for all stock used at retail prices. Anyway, i used the product and having been in the hobby for many years, it is not often that one comes across a product which does as stated, and in this case a bit more.... My comments might seem bias, which admittedly they are... Simply because I have wasted and spend loads of cash on products which dont perform as advertised, or at least as well as expected... Now I have found one which simply just works, plug and play, no reactors, no fiddling, no dosing and for less than a hundred dollars a year, awesome!!

During my sceptical research into the biocubes, i had various discussions with the developer to clarify a lot of what the doubters are questioning here. This stuff has taken off in SA and i am yet to see a user who is not wowed with its nitrate removal abilities when employed correctly!
Regarding the titanium version, whether the product actually contains titanium, i really dont know, actually suspect it doesnt. I suspect it is just a bit of creative freedom in choosing a name.... Titanium as in extra strong in terms of nitrate assimilation potential?
In recent discussion with developer, who I will ask to join this big forum and comment, he did mention that he is busy putting tigether samples for the US market.
Please near in mind we are in Africa and things do take a bit of time here. It is the third world, even though we have some phenomenal scientists here, it will take time.
Its quite a step from supplying a few snall countrys to the massive leap to the big u s of a.
To my jnowledge, samples has been sent to the states and to reef builders for testing....
So in essence, watch this space..

 

[reefmutt]

I'm very much looking forward to trying this product in my next system. I'm even tempted to leave out the DSB from my design..

 

[RegalAngel]

A little further info on Bio Cubes

http://www.mysaltyreef.com/forum/content.php/323-Orca-Labs-Cubes-Explained

I am the person who wrote some of the reviews on the priduct. As stated on the threads on marine aquariums south africa, I have no affiliation to the profuct ir company. Have paud for all stock used at retail prices. Anyway, i used the product and having been in the hobby for many years, it is not often that one comes across a product which does as stated, and in this case a bit more.... My comments might seem bias, which admittedly they are... Simply because I have wasted and spend loads of cash on products which dont perform as advertised, or at least as well as expected... Now I have found one which simply just works, plug and play, no reactors, no fiddling, no dosing and for less than a hundred dollars a year, awesome!!

During my sceptical research into the biocubes, i had various discussions with the developer to clarify a lot of what the doubters are questioning here. This stuff has taken off in SA and i am yet to see a user who is not wowed with its nitrate removal abilities when employed correctly!
Regarding the titanium version, whether the product actually contains titanium, i really dont know, actually suspect it doesnt. I suspect it is just a bit of creative freedom in choosing a name.... Titanium as in extra strong in terms of nitrate assimilation potential?
In recent discussion with developer, who I will ask to join this big forum and comment, he did mention that he is busy putting tigether samples for the US market.
Please near in mind we are in Africa and things do take a bit of time here. It is the third world, even though we have some phenomenal scientists here, it will take time.
Its quite a step from supplying a few snall countrys to the massive leap to the big u s of a.
To my jnowledge, samples has been sent to the states and to reef builders for testing....
So in essence, watch this space..

So, the bio-cubes do in fact utilize bacteria to perform the job of reducing nitrates in the water. Based upon the very first post in this thread there was some wording that dismissed that fact.

Great! if this is a better bacteria method for performing nitrate reduction, ie better mousetrap then that is what we all want to see. Time will tell if it is more economically feasible vs. existing methodologies.

Lets hear from the developer about the latest version of the bio-cubes, namely the "Nitra-Guard Titanium" product.

 

[Haksar]

Interesting article,would like to test this product but dont know where can I buy this product.

 

[fortress]

This product seemed somehow familiar while following along I keep flashing back to Tri-Base Pelletized Carbon and Right Now Bacteria. Has anybody else used these products? This may be a refined version, an evolution of the science being applied to aquarium use.

 

[Belgian Anthias]

The same

The same

So, it is just the same as all the others? Another kind of carbon source to accelerate uncontrolled populations of heterotropic bacteria. Same problems as other carbon based products, the same results?

 

[carlosdeandrade]

well crap! I was planning on lowering my vodka dosage! lol

but do they actually work? THAT is the question!

I live in South Africa, so had the pleasure of using the product for the last few months before it was found in your country. I was using Red Sea's NO3-PO4-X, but could never get my NO3 below 4ppm and my phosphates stayed around 0.1ppm. These days, I have close to undetectable levels of PO4 and NO3. Very happy with product.

 

[bertoni]

I'd guess this product is just a carbon source. Carbon sources do vary some in their side effects, though. Some tanks do better with vinegar than vodka, in terms of microbial blooms, for example.

 

[megadeth72]

but these dont need to tumble, that means a cheaper/simpler setup for those with small tanks

 

[eric.f]

I'd guess this product is just a carbon source. Carbon sources do vary some in their side effects, though. Some tanks do better with vinegar than vodka, in terms of microbial blooms, for example.

Vinegar can cause pH issues (vodka to a lesser extent) - these cubes are much simpler to use!

 

[reefmutt]

The one thing that the bio cubes need is good oxygenation. So, although they do not need to tumble, they probably need to be aerated with an airstone.

 

[megadeth72]

I've been dosing vodka on my cube as soon as the water clouded, like day 4 after setup. I would like to switch to the cubes to ease maint, anyone know if they are available in the US yet?

 

[Aquarist007]

The original statement was forwarded to a colleague of mine who has been in the dry goods business for a very long time from the inventor of the product. He has been instrumental in setting up a purchaser for the cdn market and the product is to arrive shortly.

From the onset of a discussion on another form the product consists of marine yeast, not bacteria. This is what has caught my interest
Bertoni. Am I allowed to post the link to the information on the other site

 

[bertoni]

A link to another site is fine, in this case.