cS

Is this something that can realistically be avoided? If you have algae in one tank and unless you are rigorous and stringent in the quarantine/treatment of new plants/fish, then chances are pretty good that your new "sterile" tank is going to get it.

pineapple

Bottled bacteria might be an insurance policy. On one hand, mulm from another (trouble-free) aquarium probably has bacterial fauna that suits the local water chemistry; on the other hand, if the client is paying $15,000 for a set up, I might consider using bottled (presumably) sterile bacteria. It all comes down to economics, risk, reward, and belief in one or other product! I would like to give these boittled bacteria a try and see what happens.

I think I recall some famous aqua-personality, whose leg has been pulled in recent days far too much (probably), who would say about substrate "dirt is dirt whatever you call it and however you price it." That line of thinking would surely also say, "bugs is bugs whether they be in a bottle or sloshing around in the mulm."

So much to learn....

Andrew Cribb