Save Money and Boost Tank Health by Ditching Bacteria Powder

[@tolstoy21]

I've been keeping CRS for about 7 years now. I have about a half dozen tanks (breeding, grow outs, cull tanks, etc.). I have bred and sold a couple thousand shrimp in that time. I must admit, I never add anything to a new tank other than aquasoil. I don't cycle it it or 'season' it. I'll even transfer shrimp to it a day or two after setting it up. Sometimes, I will move a pre-cycled sponge filter into a new tank, other times I won't (whether or not I do this depends on how lightly or heavily I will initially stock a new tank). In my experience, if have seen zero effects from immediately putting shrimp in a new tank with no jump-starter products. Maybe, I wouldn't advocate this for someone just getting into shrimp keeping. But once you know how to care for shrimp, you do realize that all these things you hear you 'must' do to be successful are just myths. The only thing I will advise with the above is to feed a new tank appropriately as there will be no food (algae, biofilm) in it on day one. In the end, my belief is that diet and water cleanliness are the determining factors for success.

[@ShrimpSanctuary]

We're thrilled to have you here and truly value your insights! As you’ve pointed out, it often takes years of experience in the aquarium hobby to identify what’s truly essential for maintaining a healthy and balanced tank. Many products, like bacteria powders, can seem necessary at first but often prove to be unnecessary with time and understanding.

[@tolstoy21]

@@ShrimpSanctuary Thanks for the reply! Much appreciated. You are giving a presentation for Aquarium Coop in February, correct? Looking forward to it!

[@ShrimpSanctuary]

@tolstoy21 yes I'll be doing that.

[@focusjeje]

What food do you recommend to add probiotics to? thx

[@ShrimpSanctuary]

Today's shrimp feeds often include a wide range of probiotics, as indicated on their labels, which generally ensures their suitability. For instance, Shrimp Envy feed in the US is known to offer a diverse range of shrimp feed with probiotics. Similarly, Breeder Select shrimp feed from us also incorporates probiotics into their formulations.

[@kisshor1986]

But are Luboas too a type of bacteria source?

[@ShrimpSanctuary]

Unlike other blends on the market, ours stand out by focusing on what truly matters for a healthy and thriving tank-without relying on bacteria powder. We’ve carefully crafted our products to ensure they provide everything your aquarium needs to maintain a balanced and sustainable environment.

[@SimplyAquaticCT]

Interesting insight, but you didn't really give us any particular comparison between using a bacterial additive and not. Your point about 1000 tanks makes sense, but no single person would run a 1000 tank operation without help. Maybe we need to do a side by side tank comparison to see what the actual difference in result is to have a definitive reason to use or not use bacterial agents during setup and maintenance? I'd be very keen to see the difference 😄

[@ShrimpSanctuary]

You’re absolutely right, and that’s exactly the core message we want to share. Many years ago, after extensive experimentation with various methods, we made a conscious decision to move away from using bacteria powders. Over time, this choice has proven to be highly effective. In fact, we’ve consistently raised award-winning shrimp, including securing the 2024 International Best in Show, a remarkable achievement that validates our approach. This journey highlights the power of relying on natural processes and carefully crafted systems, rather than turning to unnecessary additives. By focusing on the right foundational practices, we’ve been able to build a thriving, healthy shrimp environment without the need for bacteria powders. It’s a decision we’re incredibly proud of, as it continues to yield extraordinary results. I know that bacteria powder sellers may not be fans of this approach, but the truth is, I’m offering a different perspective-one that’s proven to produce real, lasting results. Sometimes, less is more, and in our case, this method has been key to our continued success.

[@SimplyAquaticCT]

@ShrimpSanctuary that's cool and I understand that it's worked for you, but then again for others like KW who has also bred multiple award winning shrimp, bacteria has been a key part of their process. I'm just curious as to the actual physical differences you've experienced being shown so that newbies like me can learn the "why". Simply saying "this works for us" isn't teaching us anything about the results of your experimentations in the past. Does that make sense?

[@ShrimpSanctuary]

@@SimplyAquaticCT "Thank you for sharing your perspective. I understand that you may have a vested interest in this product, and I respect that. My video was created to share my personal experience and opinion with my audience, and it reflects my stance on this matter. I don't think further discussion will be productive since we seem to approach this topic from fundamentally different viewpoints. I wish you the best in your endeavors."

[@SimplyAquaticCT]

@ShrimpSanctuary not at all. I'm going to set up some side by side tanks to test the differences as I'm genuinely interested from a scientific perspective 😄