Microbe-Lift PL or Microbe-Lift PL Professional Blend?

[smithvillemike]

thanks Don... I appreciate the help.

[MCA]

compare all you want....


Ecological Laboratories

[MikeM]

Jomoma: I agree with the comments that these products should not be needed in a well-designed pond system with full filtration. For those who do not have such a system, they serve a purpose while waiting to do the appropriate upgrades. Among the bacteria in the bottle (which are alive in a suspended state) are those that consume organic debris in the pond.... debris that a well-designed system would capture in the filter system for discharge to waste. It is preferable, IMO, to use the 'sludge' consuming bottled bacteria than to allow the organic build-up. Better still is the well-designed system that, unfortunately, many do not have. Use of these sludge consumers can affect oxygen levels, etc. The instructions should be followed with care. If anything, use less than recommended. Do not use more. These bottled bacteria are harmless except for the oxygen consumption issue.

Another class of 'bottled bugs' are those intended solely for supplying nitrifiers. The worth of these products is much debated, and few users have found any increase in the speed of cycling a pond. The few who think it cycled more quickly have not been able to make their case effectively. This class of product causes no harm, other than the koikeeper misunderstanding that cycling is not instantaneous.

So, my advice is a little different. I do not suggest you throw the product away. It will not hurt to use it. If you have organic debris in the pond, there will be a benefit. The worse the pond design, the more the benefit. However, I do join the others in recommending that you look for the root causes of the issues that caused you buy the product and focus on how to fix the problem for the long term. A well-designed pond with proper filtration will deliver better water quality and long term koi health. The bottled bacteria is not a substitute for continuous effective systems.

In regard to the two products, I believe they are the same. Different labels. Check the instructions.

[saratogatan]

Quote: Originally Posted by jomoma they don't answer the question either. so of course you guys wouldn't know. they say on there site like they advertise that the "bugs" are alive. So there not dead like someone sugested. is this product bad to use???? whatever, no need to answer i already bought it i will use it. unless someone claims that it is bad for the fish.

please don't get to upset about what we said, or will be saying. We are just trying to provide some of our knowledge or experiment. Maybe we failed to explain it well. But most of us have concluded that the products are a waste of money, simply put.

If you have bought the product, use it. I for one will never pour it down the drain, it stinks very bad. Personally, I used it, maybe 10 G or so, in my early koi-hobby days. It made no difference. A guy I know who used this stuff regularly in the past has a mishap with this product: massive koi bacteria infection, so be careful.

Personally, I don't know what is in it. I paid my due, and I don't care to know as the claim of the having only the benificial bacteria in the bottle is beyond me. I guess the bottler talks bacteria, and he commanded the benifical ones to line up and walk into the bottle.

stan

[jomoma]

I don't have a ammonia problem but i thought with my fish growing one mite arise, and thought this is what you do. thanks for correcting me.

There must be some benifit that would deserve a differnt response than i don't do what these bugs, products do. people use these type of bugs to process waste in septic tanks and all sewage plants. not to say koi ponds are septic tanks-i'm gonna get flak for that- but, they do have waste.

[jomoma]

years ago. about how you don't need to add ben. bac. to a good pond but i didn't no it was not a used practice in the hobbie side.

lol, i thought if i started useing the stuff i'de be more like everyone else. i mean you hobbiest. lol, man i was off.

[aquitori]

What is your filter setup first off to make you want to use the stuff?

[jnorth]

Quote: Originally Posted by jomoma portland, and the pond will freeze for 1 week a year usaully. you guys use "this is a serious koi hobbie site" like you are gay. It's like if i went on some site and talked about chicks but there was all these gay dudes going this is a seriousely gay site! I am a serious koi hobbiest, or learning to be. but, i will never be saying hey this site is for serious hobbiest because thats just.... Am i going to get kicked off for abuse now? I don't no the limits of this forums tolerance. this message is ment to be a lol, message.

Not funny and you just went flying by the limits of this forum.