Help Dosing Microbe lift "Special Blend" for a 5-gallon Fluvial Chi

[BettaChi]

Hello all,

I own a 5-gallon Fluval Chi tank. While it is a beautiful tank I get that it is horrible for most fish. I keep a Thai import Betta in there, an assassin snail, suckerfish (otto-cat) and a few shrimp.

I recently did a complete water change in the tank and have had it running for a few days now, however, I want to put microbe lift in it as well to add helpful bacteria.

When looking at the bottle I realized that it isn't dosed for a tank that small. I am not great with measurements...but how much "Microbe Lift: Special Blend" should I be adding to my tank and how often?

Has anyone else used this stuff and feel prepared to help me?

Are we talking about an eye-dropper here?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Watsonja4]

I have never used it but I can tell you I use a baby medicine dropper for dosing prime and ferts in my Spec V. Does the bottle say how many mL per gallons to add?

 

[BettaChi]

I ordered a new bottle (it arrives soon) and threw the old one out unfortunately. But when it comes in I will tell you. I think I have been overloading my tank though if you literally have been using a baby dropper for fertilizer & other additives in your tank water. I also have some aquarium salt, PH balancer, Leaf Zone plant growth formula, CO2 additive and soon the Microbe-lift.

 

[Watsonja4]

Usually the bottle will say for example 10mL of prime treats 100 gallons so I divide accordingly to get 1/2mL for 5 gallons. I think this is why the products sold for bettas are usually diluted to make doses easier.

 

[BettaChi]

I think that what you said may be the right dosing...so how many droplets is 1/2 ML? lol.

I have been eye-balling it (I know) using the measurement cap and for most of the additives I mentioned above. I just barely cover the bottom (surface area) of the measurement cap so it doesn't even really measure on the line indicator on the side of the cap.

 

[BettaChi]

<Microbe-lift: Special Blend> instructions

Here is a photo of the dosing instructions. So how much should I add (with a eye-dropper) to a 5-gallon tank and how often? Any help is appreciated.

 

[Watsonja4]

I would say add 5mL on day 1 and add 3mL on days 8, 15, 22, and 29.

 

[BettaChi]

Thanks! So is that still using an eye-dropper?

 

[Watsonja4]

The medicine dropper will make it easy to measure small doses. It has graduations in mL's so you don't have to guess, here is a link to the one I have but any pharmacy will sale them. Medicine Dropper - Walmart.com