The Glas Garten Bacter AE is a micro powder designed for the Caridina and Neocaridina shrimp species. So, is this micro powder safe for fishes, snails, plants and other inhabitants in your aquarium?
You can find out in this guide at Aquarium Blueprints.
Quick Summary
The Glas Garten Bacter AE Micro Powder Water Additive is made of natural amino acids and enzymes to help enhance the water quality of your fish tank.
The included Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici will also provide protein and probiotic nutrition for your shrimps, snails and baby fishes.
So, as long as you dose the right amount of the micro powder, then the Bacter AE should be completely safe for your fishes, snails and plants. In fact, it can only be beneficial as a healthy supplementary food.
However, if you managed to overdose Bacter AE, your fish tank may see a rise in nitrate levels in addition to decline in oxygen levels.
What’s are the ingredients for Bacter AE
The following ingredients are included with Bacter AE:
- Amino acids
- Polysaccarides
- Xylanase
- Glucanase
- Amylase
- Protease
- Hemicellulase
- Bacillus subtilis
- Pediococcus acidilactici (Lactobacillus)
Bacillus subtilis is a bacterium that is found naturally in the soil and stomachs of animals.
Pediococcus acidilactici (also known as Lactobacillus) is a probiotic that should benefit the digestive track of your shrimps and fish.
The rest of the ingredients should enhance the water quality in your fish tank to promote the growth of Bacillus subtilis and Pediococcus acidilactici.
Is Bacter AE harmful for fish, snails and plants?
As you can see from the aforementioned ingredients, Bacter AE is not harmful at all to the fishes, snails, plants and other living creatures in your fish tank.
In fact, this product is quite helpful as it comes with beneficial bacteria that your snails and fish fry to consume.
Bacter AE Safety Measures
The only way Bacter AE could become unsafe is when you overdose you tank with the micro powder.
By putting too much of this water additive in your aquarium, you could end up raising the nitrate levels in addition to depleting the oxygen levels.
Because Caridina and Neocaridina shrimps are more sensitive than fish and snails, you will most likely notice issues with your pet shrimps first, which may include some deaths from the colony.
If you see most of your pet shrimps, snails and/or fishes hanging up near the top of your water column more often than usual than that could be a sign that you have added too much Bacter AE.
You can also use a test kit to see what the nitrate levels are in your aquarium. Shrimps and more sensitive fish species should be kept at a nitrate concertation of 20 ppm or below. For the hardier fishes, you should aim for 40 ppm.