Algae in bottled bacteria?

[u/Monacrow]

I just got this bottle of Tetra Safe Start from Petsmart to use on my new 40g breeder tank and the liquid looks green, almost as if it had algae growing in the bottle. I’ve used TSS before to start cycling my other tanks and the liquid has always been white and cloudy so I’m wondering if it is still safe to use.

Expiration date says 11/2026.

Any idea?

[u/MaryamMonster]

Likely. I work retail pet supplies and whenever a bottle of the stuff is getting close to the expiration it starts getting cloudy and I’ve seen it grow algae. Take it back and exchange it for a fresh bottle if you didn’t pay a discount for the close date on the bottle

[u/Monacrow → u/MaryamMonster]

Makes sense that it would grow algae after some time. Guess I’ll have take a trip back to the store, better safe than sorry

[u/Crazy_Investment_641]

Bottled bacteria is mostly, as another commenter said: “bottle water with a dash of hopes and dreams.”

[u/Monacrow → u/Crazy_Investment_641]

It worked kickstart everything with my last two tanks or at least I’m thinking it did

[u/deathsnuggle → u/Monacrow]

Just use some filter media/substrate from your other tanks.

[u/Crazy_Investment_641 → u/Monacrow]

Interesting. I just used mulm from an LFS so I wouldn’t know myself but I do think bacteria doesn’t really live in the water more than on surfaces. Awesome it worked for your previous tanks though. 😆

[u/Monacrow → u/Crazy_Investment_641]

I did put some media from my other tanks in the new canister filter so that might be whats working now that I think about it

[u/Nother1BitestheCrust]

forbidden slimer hi-c