Opinions On Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria

[Thomas Gannon]

How's it going mon amis,
I was wondering what your opinion on Beneficial bacteria (more specifically the cold water variety) is. The manufacturers claim that it makes the ammonia that builds up non-toxic, and while the companies that make the bacteria are probably biased; there are plenty of people and websites that say that you should put it in your water once it starts to get below fifty degrees fahrenheit (depends on who you ask) while others claim that you shouldn't put it in at all as it disrupts the balance you made in your pond.

 

[MitchM]

Before a person adds anything to their pond, they should determine that whatever it is that they want to add is actually missing, or low in quantity.
How do the manufacturers suggest that is accomplished?

There is no shortage of bacteria in a pond.
There is only a varying level of food for the bacteria. Bacteria populations will rise, fall and establish themselves accordingly.

Bacteria in a bottle products contain very little, if any, live bacteria.

.

 

[Dave 54]

Before a person adds anything to their pond, they should determine that whatever it is that they want to add is actually missing, or low in quantity.
How do the manufacturers suggest that is accomplished?

There is no shortage of bacteria in a pond.
There is only a varying level of food for the bacteria. Bacteria populations will rise, fall and establish themselves accordingly.

Bacteria in a bottle products contain very little, if any, live bacteria.

.

My thoughts entirely Mitch ponds are full of bacteria why add more ?

Dave

 

[Meyer Jordan]

How's it going mon amis,
I was wondering what your opinion on Beneficial bacteria (more specifically the cold water variety) is. The manufacturers claim that it makes the ammonia that builds up non-toxic, and while the companies that make the bacteria are probably biased; there are plenty of people and websites that say that you should put it in your water once it starts to get below fifty degrees fahrenheit (depends on who you ask) while others claim that you shouldn't put it in at all as it disrupts the balance you made in your pond.

A few observations on this subject-
1. 'Cold Water' beneficial bacteria are entirely heterotrophic. Most species contained in these mixtures are for 'sludge busting' which has no effect of Ammonia oxidation. Any heterotrophic Ammonia oxidizers that may be present are, by nature, extremely inefficient at converting Ammonia. One Nitrosomonas bacteria cell can convert, in less time, the same amount of Ammonia that it would take thousands of heterotrophic bacteria cells to convert.
2. Only two factors (parameters) affect the toxicity of Ammonia, or more correctly the percentage of Un-ionized Ammonia present in the water column. They are pH and Temperature. As the level of either or both of these parameters is lowered, less free (un-ionized) Ammonia is present. At temperatures 10C or lower toxic levels of free Ammonia are extremely rare.
3. These bacterial treatments(?) can adversely affect the bacterial population balance in a pond by crowding out the autotrophic Ammonia oxidizing bacteria. This imbalance may not be noticed during the Winter months, but once water temperatures begin to rise above 10C in the Spring, Ammonia spikes are possible given that the growth of the autotrophic Nitrifiers has been and may still is hindered by the excess of heterotrophs.
4. I like to refer to 'beneficial bacteria' treatments as 'Crack' for your pond. Its use creates a biological and chemical imbalance in the pond that can only be resolved two ways. Keep adding beneficial bacteria to maintain an unnatural balance or let the pond go 'Cold Turkey' and reclaim its original natural balance, possibly (and likely) experiencing Ammonia spikes, 'Pea Soup', and all of the other problems experienced with a new pond.

 

[MitchM]

....
4. I like to refer to 'beneficial bacteria' treatments as 'Crack' for your pond. Its use creates a biological and chemical imbalance in the pond that can only be resolved two ways. Keep adding beneficial bacteria to maintain an unnatural balance or let the pond go 'Cold Turkey' and reclaim its original natural balance, possibly (and likely) experiencing Ammonia spikes, 'Pea Soup', and all of the other problems experienced with a new pond.

Just to be clear, are you saying that "beneficial bacteria" treatments create an imbalance because of actual live bacteria plus any preservatives that are in the bottle, or because of decaying organic matter (dead bacteria) plus any preservatives that are in the bottle?

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Just to be clear, are you saying that "beneficial bacteria" treatments create an imbalance because of actual live bacteria plus any preservatives that are in the bottle, or because of decaying organic matter (dead bacteria) plus any preservatives that are in the bottle?

"........"beneficial bacteria" treatments create an imbalance because of actual live bacteria.......that are in the bottle".

 

[MitchM]

Do you think that all "beneficial bacteria in a bottle" products contain live bacteria?

 

[Thomas Gannon]

Since many of you are against using it then why do so many people use it or reccomend using it

 

[Troutredds]

Since many of you are against using it then why do so many people use it or reccomend using it

They use it because the ponding retail establishment (Aquascape, et al.) declares it necessary. If PT Barnum were alive today, he would sell bottled bacteria.

 

[MitchM]

Right, people that have come on here, and other sites, buy those products only because the retailer told them that they need it.

 

[cas]

If PT Barnum were alive today, he would sell bottled bacteria.

Thanks for the giggle!

 

[Meyer Jordan]

Do you think that all "beneficial bacteria in a bottle" products contain live bacteria?

Yes, if it is liquid. Powder, no. Spores only.

 

[MitchM]

Yes, if it is liquid. ....

To be on the safe side, I disagree with that.
There is no way for the consumer to determine whether or not they are purchasing a bottle of live product.
Transport, shipping and storage can cause the product to experience temperature extremes fatal to the bacteria and most have no expiry or production date on the container.

This is besides the point that the addition of bacteria is not required in the first place.

.

 

[Meyer Jordan]

This is besides the point that the addition of bacteria is not required in the first place.

This is why I have omitted addressing the viability of these bacteria in any of my previous posts.

 

[Dave 54]

Yes, if it is liquid. Powder, no. Spores only.

What about gunge Meyer Microbelift suspend theirs in gunge Evolution Aqua in small gel balls how do you rate those two?

Dave