Vibrant: What’s Actually In It (1 Viewer)

[Cody]

Not sure if someone posted this on marsh or not, but someone over on r2r did some pretty thorough testing of Vibrant to see what’s actually in it. Turns out, it’s basically just AlgaeFix, which isn’t bacteria at all. It’s just a chemical that kills algae.

Understanding Vibrant: Algaefix, Polixetonium Chloride / Busan 77

The purpose of this post is to look closely at Vibrant to compare its properties to a known algaecide, Algaefix by API. This is intended to shed light on the active ingredients in Vibrant, explain its mechanism of action, and give people insight into its use and what to expect. It is not a...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[frankc]

Well, that's a bummer. I had seen a very convincing interview with the head of the company saying it was a type of bacteria that ate algae. So shocking to find out that some people actually lie.

The funny thing is, I had always intended to look at a drop of Vibrant under a microscope to see if I could see the bacteria, but never quite got around to it. That seems like a much easier way to prove if it is or is not a bacteria product than all the fancy chemical tests.

 

[BigRick]

The more I read the more I keep thinking of Vibrant and why they were so secretive of their ingredients... only to find out its an algaecide... seems like it slow drips peroxide more then anything.

Posted in second decimals oxidater thread. Where you been cody?

 

[BigRick]

The reason cynao outbreaks are so frequent after using this

 

[PorpoiseHork]

Yeah this has got a false advertising lawsuit written all over it.

 

[Cody]

Posted in second decimals oxidater thread. Where you been cody?

Busy, buddy. Busy.

 

[BigRick]

Busy, buddy. Busy.

Same just had to give ya some love

 

[Reefahholic]

@telegrahm cultured it. First culture came back positive for bacteria, but I’m pretty sure he or someone cross-contaminated it. So he streaked two more plates with two new bottles. We’ll see.

 

[RR-MAN]

Using Lanthanum Chloride is a way better option if proper instruction is followed. There was zero ill effect when I used it in a large tank for over two years. It can decimate any type of algae over time.

 

[webster1234]

Using Lanthanum Chloride is a way better option if proper instruction is followed. There was zero ill effect when I used it in a large tank for over two years. It can decimate any type of algae over time.

Isn't Lanthanum Chloride just locking up the PO4 in the tank though? Thereby starving the algae of nutrients?

 

[Reefahholic]

Isn't Lanthanum Chloride just locking up the PO4 in the tank though? Thereby starving the algae of nutrients?

I used to dose Lanthanum all the time, but now I don’t because it pollutes the tank and if you ever try to add a clam they will eventually die from prolonged exposure. Anecdotally…there’s some other risks when Lanthanum builds up.

 

[RR-MAN]

Isn't Lanthanum Chloride just locking up the PO4 in the tank though? Thereby starving the algae of nutrients?

Exactly.
Excellent product if used properly.

A less potent version is phosphate RX from blue life

 

[Reefahholic]

The question is why does anybody need it anymore when we have super efficient ATS’s now. Those things wreck PO4 hard.

 

[RR-MAN]

The question is why does anybody need it anymore when we have super efficient ATS’s now. Those things wreck PO4 hard.

My total water volume was 700/g and had 38 fish. It was the most economical way to manage PO4.

You should not use it in your 100/g - just do a water change.

 

[Reefahholic]

My total water volume was 700/g and had 38 fish. It was the most economical way to manage PO4.

You should not use it in your 100/g - just do a water change.

It may be the cheapest way for sure. I still think if any reefer is struggling with PO4 and they are unable to get it down…the investment in a good ATS is worth every penny.

 

[Reefahholic]

As you can see…I’m struggling to keep PO4 up. System is only 2 months old. I should have PO4 in the 0.5-0.8 range around this time, but cycling the rocks for so long paid off. I also put some live sand in the system. I think the gulf tanker oil is really doing the trick. I know there’s PO4 in the tank because one hour after I dose I can get a reading, but later that night it’s already consumed. My skimmate is dark and the corals have deep color. @Cody…what say you sir?

 

[PorpoiseHork]

My total water volume was 700/g and had 38 fish. It was the most economical way to manage PO4.

You should not use it in your 100/g - just do a water change.

In some cases like mine water changes were not enough. I was doing 50% water changes 3-4 times a week for two months and the PO4 numbers remained off the scale. Only when I started dosing with phosphateRX AND doing water changes did it finally come down. It took another two months of dosing and water changers before it finally stabilized again. Never did find out what caused the spike/leaching either.

 

[BigRick]

Lanthum pulls it from the rocks and into the water column. So water change is a must til it neutralizes. Water changes alone won't pull PO4 out of the rocks.

 

[Cody]

The question is why does anybody need it anymore when we have super efficient ATS’s now. Those things wreck PO4 hard.

Hell, it's been ten years ago now that the ATS was improved to the modern design. My only hangup with them is that they are finicky to get sized correctly. More often than not in my experience, they'll work so well that they'll stare themselves to death.

As far as your other post tagging me, looks like you cycled the rocks well. Great start!

 

[Cody]

I was thinking back today at the times that I would dose Vibrant to help boost the nitrifying bacteria in my tank. Boy, was I wrong. It doesn't mean that I won't use it again in the future, especially to take out bubble algae. However, had they just been honest about it in the beginning it would have been a lot better. Oh well. I won't buy their stuff in the future though. I'll just use AlgaeFix once I run out of my current supply.