I have been reading the sticky about probiotics ever since Miguel pointed it out to me.
After taking out the plants that I'd been overwintering to the pond, from a refugium/sump, the sump became overrun with cyanobacteria.
Being on line with a few other tanks, they started to become a bit over run with it too.
So in response, today I got off my dead arse and bought some Rid-X dormant bacteria (the @ 10oz box was about $10 at the local hardware store)
I added a spoonful to the equipment sump of the cyanobacteria infested line of tanks.
I added 1 spoonful of the powder into a 150 micron filter sock, because most bacteria are in the 0.45-<1 micron range, and will be slowly dispersed throughout the system, easily slipping thru the sock.
I've also added Rid-X to a small back yard pond, that has been inundated with pine cones and needles, and become quite sludgy this spring.
Last year the pond had a protein skimmer which kept it clear, but this year the fractionator is being used elsewhere.
The Rid-X powder was added to the back of a small fountain, where water from pond is returned by the pump.
My intention with this experiment is to post pics of the progress (if any) over the next few months, to see if this product really makes a difference in these 2 systems.
You can see the newly added powder on the lower middle to the left of the shot.
The pond is @ 500 gallons, and contain 4 goldfish, and one 10" koi.
I will add a spoonful of RidX once per month according to package instructions, and post pics as changes occur.
After taking out the plants that I'd been overwintering to the pond, from a refugium/sump, the sump became overrun with cyanobacteria.
Being on line with a few other tanks, they started to become a bit over run with it too.
So in response, today I got off my dead arse and bought some Rid-X dormant bacteria (the @ 10oz box was about $10 at the local hardware store)
I added a spoonful to the equipment sump of the cyanobacteria infested line of tanks.
I added 1 spoonful of the powder into a 150 micron filter sock, because most bacteria are in the 0.45-<1 micron range, and will be slowly dispersed throughout the system, easily slipping thru the sock.
I've also added Rid-X to a small back yard pond, that has been inundated with pine cones and needles, and become quite sludgy this spring.
Last year the pond had a protein skimmer which kept it clear, but this year the fractionator is being used elsewhere.
The Rid-X powder was added to the back of a small fountain, where water from pond is returned by the pump.
My intention with this experiment is to post pics of the progress (if any) over the next few months, to see if this product really makes a difference in these 2 systems.
You can see the newly added powder on the lower middle to the left of the shot.
The pond is @ 500 gallons, and contain 4 goldfish, and one 10" koi.
I will add a spoonful of RidX once per month according to package instructions, and post pics as changes occur.
I've been using ridX for 3 weeks now and thought about doing a write-up like this, but that tank has only been setup for a few months so I figured the results would be inconclusive. I have noticed a significant decrease in algae growth and build-up on my white sand though, and especially on the white filter polishing pads. They used to turn brown in 5 days but I've been checking them weekly after using the ridx and the pads still look almost new. I'm talking light grey with a smudge of brown where the flow is strongest compared to almost black in the same amount of time before using ridx. So without any other changes besides a maturing system I'd definitely have to say the probiotics are helping
