Dosing Prodibio in a zoanthid dominated tank.

[Reefer Madness]

I have been contemplating using Prodibio in my tank in order to keep nutrients as low as possible, however I am still unsure as to how this may affect zoanthids (eventually zoanthids will make up about 80% of the tanks coral stock).

The question I have is pretty simple, as far as I understand the use of probiotics, it will reduce zooxanthellae, so if that is the case, will I run the risk of harming the zoanthids, given that they derive most/some of their nutrients from it?
Basically I need convincing that this would be beneficial and safe to do.

Any help or advice would be appreciated,

Cheers,

Pete.

[jez]

Hi Pete
The probiotics do not reduce the zooxanthellae in the corals what they do is basically improve the range of good filtration bacteria from memory prodibio and FM Ultrabio contain around 11 bacterias that add useful filtrations bacterias to your aquarium.

By doing this you firstly get a set of bacterias in your aquariums that can do the job, secondly these bacterias and the associated food sources allow you to increase bacterial populations to produce a highly effieceient low nutrient filter. The advantages of this type of aquarium is improved health vigour and colouration. Once the probiotics have improved the water quality you will find the Zoo's will feed more naturally on available and added food sources.

If you keep things sensible then I would expect to see a healthy growing aquarium of Zoo's although zoo's can get a god bit of energy from ligh most will grow quicker and keep better colour for being fed.

regards jez

[AndyK]

I use Prodibio in my tank and its mainly zoo's, florida ricordea and LPS. Zoo's get a lot of what they need from your lighting but mine are fed twice a week with phyto and various other supplements just to make sure. They seem to thrive and colour up very nicely and although I have only just started with the Prodibio so will have to wait and see on the long term effects up to now it looks good.

Andy.

[ickypimp]

I still bring up the point that zoos absorb a significant proportion if nutrients through the epidermis

[Reefer Madness]

Hi Pete
The probiotics do not reduce the zooxanthellae in the corals what they do is basically improve the range of good filtration bacteria from memory prodibio and FM Ultrabio contain around 11 bacterias that add useful filtrations bacterias to your aquarium.

By doing this you firstly get a set of bacterias in your aquariums that can do the job, secondly these bacterias and the associated food sources allow you to increase bacterial populations to produce a highly effieceient low nutrient filter. The advantages of this type of aquarium is improved health vigour and colouration. Once the probiotics have improved the water quality you will find the Zoo's will feed more naturally on available and added food sources.

If you keep things sensible then I would expect to see a healthy growing aquarium of Zoo's although zoo's can get a god bit of energy from ligh most will grow quicker and keep better colour for being fed.

regards jez

Thanks for the detailed reply Jez, i could have sworn that i read an article somewhere, where it stated that the Zooxanthellae is reduced.
Anyway that has cleared a few things up, the more i read about probiotics, the more i am tempted to start using them,

cheers,

Pete.

[Reefer Madness]

I use Prodibio in my tank and its mainly zoo's, florida ricordea and LPS. Zoo's get a lot of what they need from your lighting but mine are fed twice a week with phyto and various other supplements just to make sure. They seem to thrive and colour up very nicely and although I have only just started with the Prodibio so will have to wait and see on the long term effects up to now it looks good.

Andy.

Cheers Andy, could you keep me posted as to how things progress,

thanks.

[Reefer Madness]

I still bring up the point that zoos absorb a significant proportion if nutrients through the epidermis

Anyone care to add to ickys view on this?:confused: :) .

[trythechi]

Anyone care to add to ickys view on this?:confused: :) .


Yes - there is no downside whatsoever on zoas using either Prodibio or ZEOvit IME. In my reef they are expanding well and coloration is good.

For those that have seen my tank - pls give some reasurance to Pete:thumbsup:

OTOH - if you dont have nutrient problems in the form of undesirable algae there is not much point in going down the prodibio probiotic route in a zoa tank, although there could be some gains in using Reef Booster

I have a different view from Jez on the effect on zooxanthele - but thats for an sps thread.

Cheers

SImon

[jez]

Hi
Sorry I might of been miss read here or not made myself clear

In a low nutrient system the Zooanthellae are reduced but the intention is to keep them at similar levels to that found in nature.

The normal action in a more nutrient rich tank is to have an unnatural increase which mutates colour or in SPS becomes so thick pigments are no longer visible only brown.

As for the Zoo's suffering as Icky points out zoo's can obtain nutrient through cell walls so a dose of good old amino's from time to time will do them good as well as target feeding with small prey items.

Hope I got that right

Jez

[Reefer Madness]

Yes - there is no downside whatsoever on zoas using either Prodibio or ZEOvit IME. In my reef they are expanding well and coloration is good.

For those that have seen my tank - pls give some reasurance to Pete:thumbsup:

OTOH - if you dont have nutrient problems in the form of undesirable algae there is not much point in going down the prodibio probiotic route in a zoa tank, although there could be some gains in using Reef Booster

I have a different view from Jez on the effect on zooxanthele - but thats for an sps thread.

Cheers

SImon

Thanks once again Simon, i am seriously thinking about using Prodibio now.

[Reefer Madness]

Hi
Sorry I might of been miss read here or not made myself clear

In a low nutrient system the Zooanthellae are reduced but the intention is to keep them at similar levels to that found in nature.

The normal action in a more nutrient rich tank is to have an unnatural increase which mutates colour or in SPS becomes so thick pigments are no longer visible only brown.

As for the Zoo's suffering as Icky points out zoo's can obtain nutrient through cell walls so a dose of good old amino's from time to time will do them good as well as target feeding with small prey items.

Hope I got that right

Jez

Thanks once again Jez, much appreciated,

Pete.

[fras]

Anyone care to add to ickys view on this?:confused: :) .

I read a paper once that basically said apart from palythoa and similar that are capable of taking food through the mouth there's been no evidence to say how little or how much (non light) food is absorbed in other species. I'm pretty sure it was by eric bournman but I read it ages ago.

[Reefer Madness]

I read a paper once that basically said apart from palythoa and similar that are capable of taking food through the mouth there's been no evidence to say how little or how much (non light) food is absorbed in other species. I'm pretty sure it was by eric bournman but I read it ages ago.

Interesting, thanks for that fras.