"Seasoning" frag plugs with bacteria before use?

[livinlifeinBKK]

To “season the plug” to avoid algae it would need to be exposed to lighting also. Take a small magnetic mushroom basket and keep some plugs in there.

It’s not just bacteria but also an invisible biofilm that needs to develop and you need light for that. I don’t feel a sump will do the desired effect.

This is practically the exact comment I was going to leave.

I dont know what purpose this experiment would serve because its pretty well established that surfaces colonized by biofilm inhibit the growth of the algae youre likely thinking of (when I say "youre", I mean OP).
And it isn't that the biofilm "outcompetes" something, the surface is simply already well colonized.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

This is practically the exact comment I was going to leave.

I dont know what purpose this experiment would serve because its pretty well established that surfaces colonized by biofilm inhibit the growth of the algae youre likely thinking of (when I say "youre", I mean OP).
And it isn't that the biofilm "outcompetes" something, the surface is simply already well colonized.

Why do the two of you believe a biofilm requires light? Perhaps you are meaning something other than the traditional definition of a biofilm.

 

[exnisstech]

Mine stay in the sump on top of a ball of chaeto. I never really thought about it hindering algae I just figure coral would rather base out on something similar to live rock vs a sterile plug with no benificial bacteria. Pure speculation on my part.

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

Why do the two of you believe a biofilm requires light? Perhaps you are meaning something other than the traditional definition of a biofilm.

I didn't notice the mention of light actually! Biofilms can absolutely form without light, the composition of the biofilm will differ, but that may be positive or negative. I was agreeing with the mention of biofilm consisting of more than bacteria alone. I missed the mention of light being necessary somehow.

 

[GARRIGA]

For those leaving plugs in sump to accumulate biofilm does that later prevent coraline from forming or just algae?

 

[Dan_P]

I didn't notice the mention of light actually! Biofilms can absolutely form without light, the composition of the biofilm will differ, but that may be positive or negative. I was agreeing with the mention of biofilm consisting of more than bacteria alone. I missed the mention of light being necessary somehow.

I will go out on a limb and say we might be speculating about what happens to the surface of a material placed in a sump that results in it appearing to resist algae growth. Biofilm, periphyton, or what is the anti-biofouling mechanism?

 

[livinlifeinBKK]

I will go out on a limb and say we might be speculating about what happens to the surface of a material placed in a sump that results in it appearing to resist algae growth. Biofilm, periphyton, or what is the anti-biofouling mechanism?

Microalgae is actually a constituent of biofilm. Since it isnt clear what algae OP is trying to stop from growing, I assume it would be nuissance algae (although I still dont understand the purpose). If a surface is already colonized, the "nuissance algae" I assume OP doesnt want on frag plugs would have a more difficult time attaching itself to the surface. The mechanism could also include chemicals released, but thats 100% dependent on the biofilm in question.
Again, I dont understand what the goal really is here though...

 

[sixty_reefer]

Has there ever been an experiment done where new "sterile" frag plugs were soaked in a product like MicroBacter7 or a similar product to determine if it decreases algae growth on the plugs, and were the results recorded to ascertain any benefits?

I’ve not seen or heard of that, I personally believe that it wouldn’t make any difference as there isn’t any bacteria out there that prevents or eats algae to my knowledge. although there is a company claiming that their frag plugs can house more bacteria than conventional frag plugs allowing the coral the grow faster than conventional frag plugs ( as per their claim) if that helps.

 

[VintageReefer]

Why do the two of you believe a biofilm requires light? Perhaps you are meaning something other than the traditional definition of a biofilm.

I just noticed exposing an item to tank water + light triggers growth of an invisible layer that first grows has then prevents it

I’ve done it in a sump before but it seems to take much longer

 

[Reefering1]

I just noticed exposing an item to tank water + light triggers growth of an invisible layer that first grows has then prevents it

I’ve done it in a sump before but it seems to take much longer

So if the algea on plug is prevented, when exposed to "tank water and light", why the need to do this ahead of time?

I think the big factor here is whether or not a system covers everything with algea just because it's added. Dinos, gha, whatever... if it is dominant, it will take over any available real estate the moment the opportunity shows itself. Not all systems are like that, some just barely change colors before coraline starts spreading. I might not be able to tell you why, but I know it happens. I don't think any type or amount of "seasoning" plugs will prevent a tank with raging uglies from spreading onto that plug.

 

[VintageReefer]

So if the algea on plug is prevented, when exposed to "tank water and light", why the need to do this ahead of time?

I think the big factor here is whether or not a system covers everything with algea just because it's added. Dinos, gha, whatever... if it is dominant, it will take over any available real estate the moment the opportunity shows itself. Not all systems are like that, some just barely change colors before coraline starts spreading. I might not be able to tell you why, but I know it happens. I don't think any type or amount of "seasoning" plugs will prevent a tank with raging uglies from spreading onto that plug.

It basically preps the plug so when coral is mounted, they phase has already come and gone

Otherwise the phase can irritate corals

I still don’t even know 100% what the goals of this thread are. And yes if tank is an ugly mess there’s little you can do

 

[Reefering1]

I still don’t even know 100% what the goals of this thread are. And yes if tank is an ugly mess there’s little you can do