thinking of trying prodibio biodigest any experiences

[adtravels]

I am thinking of trying this product but only have a 29 gall tank
any experiences or opinions also anyone know how long an ampole keeps once opened as I will only use a small amount

 

[bertoni]

I personally don't think that the bacterial additive products are useful, so I wouldn't recommend that product. They certainly are not necessary, and I am skeptical that they offer any real benefit even in the short term.

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

I would say spend the money and form your own opinion . I for one wouldn't take the word of anyone that hasn't used it for themselves or anyone that has .

If we listened to people that were afraid to try we would still think the world was flat .

DST

 

[bertoni]

And if we listen to everyone selling snake oil we'd all be broke.

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

I really don't want to get into a big argument with you .

If you havn't tried it how can you call it snake oil ? There are many test tanks going right now . One by a well know reefer . I for one hope his test shows that this isn't snake oil . But if it does at least he gave it a try before telling someone else not to use it .

DST

 

[bertoni]

I call it snake oil because it's not a new idea, and because bacteria products in general seem useless. Over the long term, I don't see how they can make a difference, since the bacteria population will sort itself out by selection. Over the short haul, it theoretically might help some, but not enough to justify the cost, and I really haven't seen anything like positive results from the countless other basically identical products, one of which I tried myself.

 

[lovethereefer]

ive used it before and i really didnt see any difference. it was kinda expensive too. if i had it to do all over again i would have just bought a couple more pounds of live rock and waited another month

 

[adtravels]

Decided not to buy it, bacteria reproduce so fast under the right conditions that I decide it would be of little value and my tank is already cycled and I dont agreee with killing snakes!

 

[GTR]

Bacteria and photosynthetic bacteria
Ocean researchers have only recently recognized that bacterioplankton make up a significant amount of carbon fixation in the sea, since they make up about 11% or more of the microbes found near the surface in seawater (Kolber et al ., 2003). This fact suggests that their importance as a food source for coral reefs has probably also been underestimated, though early and recent work on the subject does recognize bacteria as a food source (Sorokin, 1973a and b Bak et al., 1998).

Extracted from:
The Reef Aquarium. Science, Art, and Technology
Delbeek and Sprung, p 585, 2005

Bacteria as Coral Food
Given the importance of bacteria as a food source in marine ecosystems, it might not be surprising to learn that they are also a primary food source for corals. It has been found that bacteria alone can supply up to 100% of both the daily carbon and nitrogen requirements of corals. All corals studied consume dissolved organic material, bacteria, and detrital material. This is more than can be said for any other food source, including zooplankton and light.

Extracted from:
The Food of Reefs, Part 5: Bacteria
Reefkeeping Online, Jan. 2003
http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2003-01/eb/index.php

I view these systems, methods or additives not so much for their ability to reduce nutrients and processing abilities but instead to increase the diversity in the bacterioplankton available. Just as some see the need to replenish meiofauna for a deep sand bed where I think it's accepted that the diversity will be reduced with time I believe the idea of "replenishing" the bacteria available may have considerable merit and providing an added food source for those cultures may extend the time between those additions.

SteveU

 

[bertoni]

That's an interesting theory, but considering the cost, I don't think Prodibio or any other bacterial supplement are a practical food source. As far as increasing biodiversity, I think bacteria spread quite well on their own.

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

Cost ? A one year supply on my 135 gallon tank total water volume of 165 gallons is only about 140.00 .That doesn't seem to high . I spend more on carbon .

I have been using this method sense Jan 1 2006 and trust me its not a snake oil it really works well in my system . I have the pics to prove it . Great coral growth and color .

DST

 

[GTR]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7332506#post7332506 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bertoni
That's an interesting theory, but considering the cost, I don't think Prodibio or any other bacterial supplement are a practical food source. As far as increasing biodiversity, I think bacteria spread quite well on their own.

Considering the cost of the hobby I don't see this (Prodibio) or any similar (or not) making much of a differnce in the cost of running a tank.

I'm not sure that all species will flourish in our systems without suppling them with a specific need. This isn't just about your "Nitrogen Cycle" anymore.
Many of the corals we feature on display do feed on bacterioplankton as do many of those we commonly call hitchhikers as well as animals sold in the trade which up to this point have been sentenced to an early death by collection and captivity such as many sponges and tunicates. This altered/enhanced bacterioplankton could in fact be adding to the food chain in ways we've yet to even consider no less discover.

SteveU

 

[bertoni]

Well, to each, his own. I don't think the cost of the product allows much use of food, since I'd be expecting to feed at least a few times a week. That's not the advertised purpose, though.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I would say spend the money and form your own opinion . I for one wouldn't take the word of anyone that hasn't used it for themselves or anyone that has .


...


There are many test tanks going right now .



DARKSILENTTYPE:

Do you have any involvement with this product in any fashion?

What test tanks? Who is running them?

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

No I have know involvement in this product .

I am running it on my tank and mevels is running a test tank on his site .

I was running a zeovit tank but didn't like the price of the stones and that I had to pump them twice aday .

Now I run the zeovit start 2 and the aafc and coral vitalizer
plus the prodibio reefdigest and reefoptium instead of the zeovit stones . I also am using the reefbooster from prodibio .


I have had great grow and color from my coral sense changing to these style of reef keeping .

I just hate to see a product dismissed as snake oil before it is tested to see if it really works is all .

There is a thread of people testing it .

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=809340


I hope you set up a tank and test it for yourself before calling it something that it isn't .

You guys are the ones we come to for questions and answers about almost everything and I would hope you would at least test a product before dismissing it .

I bow to your superior knowledge on everything reef related and I thank you for all the help you guys have given all us reefers in the past and in the future .

Please let me know what you come up with on this product would love to hear your results .

DST

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

I hope you set up a tank and test it for yourself before calling it something that it isn't .


I don't think you need to be quite so confrontational. Science is about understanding how things work, not about every man for himself.

Ever try injecting heroine? If not, do you feel qualified to say that someone shouldn't?

What do you hope that product will accomplish?

Is the test tank being comapred to a similar tank not adding it?

Now I run the zeovit start 2 and the aafc and coral vitalizer
plus the prodibio reefdigest and reefoptium instead of the zeovit stones . I also am using the reefbooster from prodibio .

How could you know which of those might be having a particular effect in a test tank?

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

I am not trying to be confrontational at all . My wife says I come across bad ( sorry ) . I have nothing but respect for you .

If I knew the first thing about the process of setting up a test of this product I would . I can only go by the results in my tank and I am hoping to see the results of other happy reefers from the use of products that seem to work as well .

I can see some very good things coming from the use of these type of products . The savings on equipment that is not needed is a large some . I know longer need a Mud sump , calupa , large sand bed in the tank . One day soon I'm hoping I will be able to run my tank without a sump at all ..

Sorry again if you felt I was trying to be comfrontational


DST

 

[GTR]

Randy... I just like the idea of maybe supplying an additional source of bacteria which "might' in turn add to what "could" become food for corals and other difficult animals we keep. I'm sorry this is somewhat OT from what adtravels (thread starter) had asked.

That's not the advertised purpose, though.

bertoni...
Yes I think you are correct Prodibio makes no such suggestion or claim. I just allowed myself to get involved in the thread because of the bakterioplankton idea. I truly think that we will unlock the mysteries in husbandry of some species with this added food source.

For me it's not about nutrient reduction but nutrient addition without the negative side effects.

SteveU

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Anyone have a product link so I can see what it is and what it claims to do?

Sorry again if you felt I was trying to be comfrontational

No problem. I mostly wanted to be sure you were not shilling. We've had manufacturers and ressellers do that in many cases where they claimed a new product was good.

 

[DARKSILENTTYPE]

This is the home page

http://www.prodibio.fr/


Interesting reading

DST