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How is MICROBE-LIFT/PL different from other biological products for ponds?

There are a number of important differences that make MICROBE-LIFT/PL far superior to other bacterial products.

Here are just a few:

1. MICROBE-LIFT/PL contains photosynthetic bacteria which can be very beneficial in balancing the ecology of a pond. These bacteria can use sunlight as a source of energy, taking some of the load off of the aerobic heterotrophs. This is why MICROBE-LIFT/PL has it's characteristic purple/red color. We do not add food coloring or other types of pigments to our product! Like all photosynthetic organisms, photosynthetic bacteria needs a pigmented material to absorb the sunlight. Chlorophyll is responsible for the green hues in plants. Carotenoids gives photosynthetic bacteria its purple/red hue. Initially, when we start to grow our product, the medium is clear. But after a few days of exposure to sunlight-as if by magic-the bacteria synthesize this natural pigment and it turns purple/red.

Since photosynthetic bacteria are so very beneficial to ponds, other products claim to contain these bacteria too. However, a product that is CLEAR CANNOT contain photosynthetic bacteria because light passes through clear liquid...so it is simply impossible!!!

2. Ecological Laboratories, Inc. is the basic manufacturer of MICROBE-LIFT/PL. Many other companies do not produce their own bacteria. Their products are stock products: mass produced by large culture manufacturers, sold for any number of applications and packaged under a variety of labels. Most of these products contain only aerobic heterotrophs and facultative anaerobes.  While these may provide some benefit in a pond environment, they cannot balance the pond's ecosystem the way MICROBE-LIFT/PL's consortium of aerobic heterotrophs, facultative anaerobes plus photosynthetic, anaerobic and chemosynthetic organisms can.

3. MICROBE-LIFT/PL is a virtual ecosystem in a bottle!  It is grown in the container in which it is sold because the organisms grow synergistically-the way they have to work in your pond-together.  Most products from mass producers of bacteria are grown as individual strains in large tanks or, if they are a dry product, in tray fermentors.  Then they are blended before packaging with very little knowledge of how they will interact in the pond environment or any environment for that matter.

4. A single box of MICROBE-LIFT/PL is so versatile that you would have to purchase three or four of another company's individual products to achieve the same results! So while the price of MICROBE-LIFT/PL may be a little higher than some of our competition, you can end up saving three to four times what you might have spent!

5. Upon being asked why we recommend MICROBE-LIFT/PL and what it can do for a pond, the most successful salesman from one of Microbe-Lift's best dealers simply replied: "MICROBE-LIFT/PL cuts your maintenance in half!"  Simple...very effective...and true!

If you want the secret to a crystal clean pond, here it is:

1. Use beneficial bacteria.  Beneficial bacterial eat ammonia, converting it to Nitrite, which further breaks down into Nitrate, releasing enzymes that literally "eat" the sludge layer on the bottom of your pond.
2. Use barley pellets on rock ponds and barley extract on smooth lined or concrete ponds.  Barley produces hydrogen peroxide as it decomposes at very safe rates (usually at 100 parts per million - koi and pond fish are tolerant at levels seven times that much).  Hydrogen peroxide is a cleaning agent and goes after one of algae's main food sources.
3. Use salt.  Salt softens the water, buffers the Ph, and kills 7 of the 9 most common deadly viruses.  Salt also aids in the production of slime coat, a major part of your fish's immune system leaving your fish healthier and less susceptible to disease.

Having a clean and healthy pond isn't difficult, it just takes a few ingredients, and a little knowledge.  For personalized advice for your pond, call us!  We're glad to help.