bacteria dosing

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Hi guys

im looking at making small changes to my filtration methods. Currently using np pellets which has brought nutrients nicely. I have been dosing Brightwells MB7 once a week. Directions state that the skimmer must be off for 4 hours.Anyone dosing it without switching skimmer off?

I am also considering doing smaller daily dosing of mb7 on my dosing pump which will dose It directly into sump after the skimmer. not sure how this will work as skimmer wont be switched off daily. Any input guys...stick with weekly dosing or try daily dosing of small amounts on dosing pump which will bring better stability?
 
let me start by asking why you want to change?
what effects are you getting you want to change?
 
my aim to have a low nutrient system that will be easy to maintain but with stability being the key. I always dosed bacteria once a week but figured that smaller doses might create better stability..just not sure how the smaller dosing amounts will do if the skimmer is still on
 
the params related to bacterial stability are NH4, NO2, NO3 if there current levels are not jumping around, NH4 & NO2 should be always 0, then its all good. are you nitrates climbing?
 
Mb7 is nothing but nitrobacter, so you can rather dose nitrate which is the same bacteria, just a smart way to keep your redfield balance. 10 to 1 in most coral spesies
 
Bacteria is a long term plan (what I like to call it)
In other words once you get your bacteria count up and your tank is stable the bacteria will take care of itself, they will feed, grow, "breed" and thrive on their own.
Once you have reached this stage there should be no need to dose bacteria at all really unless you adding more livestock and feel you want to up your bacteria count or you want to add variety of different strains of bacteria so that you are not left with only one strain in your tank.
So bacteria is essentially not like minerals or elements which get used up and need replacing.
So having said that I would say daily dosing is a waste in fact so is weekly, I say once you happy with your filtration and your nutrients are stable, dose bacteria once a month or so to keep your strain variety going but other then that no need for more
 
dosing bacteria on a monthly basis on an aged system should be fine, however you have the np pellets that are providing food for the bacteria within the system, my only suggestion would be to possibly dose vinegar or vodka to pick up the natural strains of bacteria that are occurring within the rock and not only isolated to the NP reactor
 
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