Two months worth of nitrate and phosphate eating bacteria, bacteria food, a coral food, strontium and iodine all in one little box!

This method is not unlike Zeovit or Polyp Labs Reefresh or Ultralith or even DIY method with vodka dosing or even using bio-spira/cycle. These methods seek to reduce nutrients in the form of dissolved organics, nitrate, phosphate to very low levels. These methods introduce beneficial bacteria into the system or introduce a fuel source for the bacteria presently in the system to consume nitrates, phosphates and organics. These create a water born bio-mass that can be removed by your skimmer. This allows increased feedings and hopefully results in better coral coloration with a cleaner environment for your reef animals.

 So how much of this stuff do I need to use and what do I hope it accomplishes?

Prodibio Overview
Prodibio for saltwater reef tanks is a range of products that is almost a system or method for maintaining aspects of the chemisty in your saltwater. The BioKit Reef I started with comes with the following:

• BioDigest (bacterias)
• BiOptim (trace element - bac food)
• ReefBooster (phospholipids, amino acids, omega-3 marine fatty acids, vitamins, carotenoids)
• Stront+ (stontium - coral supplement)
• Iodi+(iodine/iodide - coral supplement)

Here are my dosing rates for each:

Total cost per month: $26.94
This seems cheaper than using Zoevit? I think that prodibio is also more gentle than some of the other methods. I am actually starting slow and only using a partial doses of the Bioptim as it seems to fuel the bacteria. The first dose I only used one amp, next dose two weeks later I will use two and then finally the full dose of three amps on the following doses.

My Goals with Prodibio
I have read results from hobbyists on various message board threads about their experiences with Prodibio. One of the recurring themes was a virtual wipeout of macro algae and other algaes in the aquarium because of the lowered nutrients. They even complained that their attached refugiums were depleted of macro algae "like it just starved". This is exciting news! This is exactly what I hope to accomplish!

I have also been lowering my CA and Alk to around NSW levels at 400ppm CA and 8dKH Alk. This seems to be the popular values for use along with the probiotic methods. The lower Alk seems to be easier to maintain at a steady rate. This stabiility is key I think in terms of success especially with SPS coloration. I am still using my two part B-ionic for calcium and alkalinity supplementation. This is done automatically with the reefdoser every 12 hours. This cycle seems to keep the tank at the most even course in terms of stable Alk, CA and even pH. Less fluctuations than I have experienced with reactors.

I also hope to gain some better coloration from the use of Prodibio. I have seen some improvement mostly from my lighting upgrade and hope to gain even nicer colors by gaining better control of the organics, nitrates and phosphates in this system. A reduction or even a wipeout of the nuissance algae in the display would be the ultimate though!

Update 10-08
I have been very pleased with the results from using Prodibio. I have eradicated most of the nuissance algae that was in my display and have stunted the growth of the chaetamorpha macro in my refugium. The reduction of NO3 and PO4 have been significant and the results are easy to see.

This was in March of 2008 and the macro algae was spreading and invading at this point. Bryopsis, gelidium, dictyota, caluerpa, valonia, neomeris etc.

This is in May 2008 and the algae had peaked with some corals even starting to get crowded out. This is picture is not one I am proud of.

This picture is from August 2008 and things had gotten much better at this point. Most of the nuissance algae is gone. The corals have grown out and the colors on the sps have gotten much better.

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