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Old 04-02-2008, 08:11 PM   #12 (permalink)
John N.
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Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: California
Posts: 1,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Roy Deki View Post
One thing that people tend to overlook in a planted tank is good BACTERIA. This is one of the key components to "balancing a tank" The more lights you have the more bacteria is needed. After every water change and filter cleaning, bacteria should be added back into the system. I use Green bacter and will start to add Bacter 100. Green bacter is food for the bacteria so you have healthy bacteria. Bacter 100 is used as food for shrimp, and as the shrimp digest the bacter 100 the process of new bacteria is the by-product. Bacter 100 is also used under the substrate at start up, as it decomposes new bacteria starts to grow.
I'm glad that you noted this important overlooked aspect of planted aquariums. In way Bacteria is a "secret" that's not truly promoted but really does help establish and minimize algae in a recently setup tank. I've seen it all the time where newcomers give up on their tanks because of algae. Having a system that supports a planted aquarium environment from the very start would help them along in the hobby.

For those that don't know, like me, where does one get Bacter 100 or Green Bacter? Is it true that it works as prescribed because there are many "bacteria" products designed to jump start an aquarium that are simply rubbish in my experience.

-John N.
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