Microbe-Lift? Anybody used this stuff?

sirbrently

sirbrently

Member
I stopped by a pet store today and was just looking at their stuff and started talking to a guy about reef tanks.. He told me that he buys this product called "microbe-lift special blend" and urged me to give it a try....
Well, I bought it.. With intentions to put it in my tank to help with the growing nitrate problem that I have going on (and the poor filtration of the biocube)
Any ideas? Comments? Concerns?
Thanks
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
I wouldn't add it to the tank......My question to you is what is your maintenance routine......With being such a small tank water changes shouldn't be a big hassle or chore IMO.....If you google you might find some very good suggestions/tips for improving your filtration on the biocube. What I'm suggesting or stating "chemical" fixes as the LFS isn't solving or going to solve your issue......Take the product back and get your money back.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I have used it to speed up a cycle and it does. I don't see it lowering nitrate in an older tank as the reason for higher then desired levels is more waste goes in then the bio-filter can remove. In an older tank I would recommend a long term solution like trying to balance the filtration with the waste load.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I wouldn't add it to the tank......My question to you is what is your maintenance routine......With being such a small tank water changes shouldn't be a big hassle or chore IMO.....If you google you might find some very good suggestions/tips for improving your filtration on the biocube.  What I'm suggesting or stating "chemical" fixes as the LFS isn't solving or going to solve your issue......Take the product back and get your money back.
It is a bacterium culture supplement. As long as it is not over dosed there will not be any issue. I do agree with taking it back because I don't see it doing the things the OP intended it for.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Your correct Geo.....I've used it in my pond before, and as we both agree not getting to the heart of the issue
 
sirbrently

sirbrently

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/392017/microbe-lift-anybody-used-this-stuff#post_3479091
I wouldn't add it to the tank......My question to you is what is your maintenance routine......With being such a small tank water changes shouldn't be a big hassle or chore IMO.....If you google you might find some very good suggestions/tips for improving your filtration on the biocube. What I'm suggesting or stating "chemical" fixes as the LFS isn't solving or going to solve your issue......Take the product back and get your money back.
Ok, here goes - I will try and describe my setup (being out of town and no pictures of my baby right now)
Oceanic biocube 14g.
Try and picture the tank and the chambers in the back.
Chamber 1. I took out the carbon filter pad and replaced it with nitrate pad. I put in a protein skimmer behind that (the biocube type). I took out the stock filter pad because the skimmer would not fit behind with it installed. Water flows into chamber 2.
Chamber 2. I have the bioballs (what do those do anyway?) On top of the bio balls, there is a ledge, on top of that ledge, i have plain filter floss pads. Water is then sucked into chamber 3.
Chamber 3. I have a bag of Chemipro Elite sitting on top of the pump (about an inch of water is on top of the pump)
I have a canister filter that sucks water from the main portion of the tank and dumps it into chamber 2 (on top of the filter floss pad)
Inside the canister filter, I have ceramic, sponge, and carbon filter pad.
Inside the tank, I have about 14lbs of live rock, 15 lbs of sand/shell/rock mix (live when purchased)
corals, 2 clowns, and a green clown goby, brittle star, 5 -6 snails, 3 hermits, and a emerald crab.
Tank has been up and running for about 2 months now.
I test it either daily or every 3rd day (I am a flight attendant and sometimes gone 3 days) I generally do a 1.5 gallon water change when i first get home - sometimes on a daily basis as my Nitrates are ranging from 10-20. Lights are on from 11:11 am - 7:02PM
What is wierd is my PH is good, my ammonia is 0, and nitrites are 0... yet my nitrates are high -- and I CANNOT lower them -- been trying.
My usual maint. for the tank is to blow off the rocks with water from the tank, stir up gunk as much as i can without disturbing a ton.... suck the water for the change -- and, about every 3-4th time i do this, I am replacing the nitrate pad and filter floss.
I am very careful for feeding to ensure I do not over feed -- I actually hand feed the fish misis shrimp by dropping them in the water with tweesers - so i dont end up having a lot of extra food.
Hope this explains what I have--- any ideas will help a lot!!!!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Few reasons your nitrates could be high:
Your tank is young and already has fish and coral. This leads me to believe that it was not properly/fully cycled
Bio balls = nitrate factory, especially if they're not maintained. Sane is true of canister filters
The Bio Cube filtration left stock is actual quite efficient. I'm a huge cube fan and I've never done anything other than not using the carbon cartridge. Instead I use Chemi Pure Elite in the middle chamber, that's it. Never had any issues
 
sirbrently

sirbrently

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/392017/microbe-lift-anybody-used-this-stuff#post_3479116
Few reasons your nitrates could be high:
Your tank is young and already has fish and coral. This leads me to believe that it was not properly/fully cycled
Bio balls = nitrate factory, especially if they're not maintained. Sane is true of canister filters
The Bio Cube filtration left stock is actual quite efficient. I'm a huge cube fan and I've never done anything other than not using the carbon cartridge. Instead I use Chemi Pure Elite in the middle chamber, that's it. Never had any issues
Ya know, I know I rushed this little guy... Its my own fault. haha. I had reef systems for years and years.. (3-55 Gal ) as a matter of fact. Maybe I got a little ahead of myself at this time. I did let it cycle fully live sand, live rock, (damsel) and a couple of crabs ran the show for a few weeks.... couple clowns (returned the damsel) and they have been running the show since ( about a month now)
So, what you are saying - drop the balls, drop the canister, chemi pure in #2, skimmer and filter floss in 1? and leave it at that?
What do you think about the UV sterilizer for the cube?
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Rushing is common. It sounds like the initial cycle was done, but maybe the system was just "shocked" by adding too much in a short period of time. Honestly, I think that the more likely culprit is the water source and Bio Balls. I see you have other threads going where I responded as well. API nitrate kits are none to read high, so don't stress that. Your roommate turning lights on and off is definitely not helping your fight against algae.
I think the UV made for the cube is a waste of money.
 
sirbrently

sirbrently

Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/392017/microbe-lift-anybody-used-this-stuff#post_3479127
Rushing is common. It sounds like the initial cycle was done, but maybe the system was just "shocked" by adding too much in a short period of time. Honestly, I think that the more likely culprit is the water source and Bio Balls. I see you have other threads going where I responded as well. API nitrate kits are none to read high, so don't stress that. Your roommate turning lights on and off is definitely not helping your fight against algae.
I think the UV made for the cube is a waste of money.
Ya know, its really funny that you say that about the API reading high -- I have been literally laying in bed at night thinking about what i am doing wrong with my little nano... since in all reality - everything looks really good! I noticed yesterday before I left that my ricordia mushroom is actually starting to split on me now!
I am going to order a that combo test kit that you talked about (amazon prime has turned into my best friend as of late) haha
I'll check things out and let ya know how things are going.
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
I know the feeling, LOL
I spent a fortune trying to figure out why my nitrates were so high in my 155, but everything was thriving, even the SPS.
 
sirbrently

sirbrently

Member
Yeah... I don't even want to think about how much money I have spent on this stupid little nano.. Lol.. BUT I am attempting to do it right!! Haha.. Honestly, for what I have spent.. I could have just bought something bigger..different filters.. Bigger skimmer.... And had more water to play with... And would have probable spent less!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
HAHAHAHA! I fixed it for you.
If you need to edit a post, you just click on the little pencil right below the post
 
sirbrently

sirbrently

Member
Hey everyone, Just wanted to give a little bit of an update on this stuff... Against my better judgement... (along with other comments) I figured i'd at least give this stuff a try.... I figure, the only way to truly learn anything is by trial and error--- But, before I went out of town, my nitrates were between 20ppm-40ppm.. (closer to 20) which I have been averaging... When i returned home last night, I tested and it was at the same amount.. Before I went to bed, I put this stuff in my tank, and my nitrates ended up being 5PPM with the API test kit!!!!!
Quite interesting.. I am going to maintain the treatment per the directions and keep ya'll updated.... We will see. I am going to continue doing what I have been doing for maint. on the tank though!
I was kind of pleased with the results I have seen so far!
 
btldreef

btldreef

Moderator
Be careful. A lot of products that claim to reduce nitrates actually only mess with the test kit readings but don't actually lower anything. They just give false readings.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Hey everyone, Just wanted to give a little bit of an update on this stuff... Against my better judgement... (along with other comments) I figured i'd at least give this stuff a try.... I figure, the only way to truly learn anything is by trial and error--- But, before I went out of town, my nitrates were between 20ppm-40ppm.. (closer to 20) which I have been averaging... When i returned home last night, I tested and it was at the same amount.. Before I went to bed, I put this stuff in my tank, and my nitrates ended up being 5PPM with the API test kit!!!!!
Quite interesting.. I am going to maintain the treatment per the directions and keep ya'll updated.... We will see.  I am going to continue doing what I have been doing for maint. on the tank though!
I was kind of pleased with the results I have seen so far!
If the tank starts to cloud up then cut back or stop treatment and let it clear before starting it up again.
 
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