The Basic Beneficial Bacteria is the least of all our products. It is the spore-based bacteria we made so people with lakes or ponds containing a million gallons could afford to inoculate their systems with some type of bacteria, whereas the PL would be very costly to them. On the other hand, here is a run-down of PL versus spore-based bacteria products (which is what all the other products on the market consist of, by the way) and none of the deleterious effects is likely to occur in a million gallon water feature, but is very possible in a 3,000 gallon pond.
MICROBE-LIFT/PL
Goes to work on contact, where spores take up to 8 to 12 hours to activate
Degrades slow to degrade matter such as fats, greases, protein, and long chain fatty acids (from fish food) that build up in ponds and filter media, PL offers a significantly greater oxidation rate than spore based cultures for these compounds
Superior enzyme and bio surfactant production (vegatative vs spores)
Functions in aerobic, anaerobic and anonic path-ways, exceeds spore oxidation functions
Works better bio films and bio filters than spores – reduces maintenance
Contains no chemical inhibitors, spore formulation contain from 1,000 to 2000 ppm inhibitors, these may be harmful to marine life with over use
Contains no surfactants, spores contain for 1 to 5% – these are known to be harmful to marine life and fish, can be deadly to fish with over treatment
Controls hydrogen sulfide production, eliminats odor and toxic gas production form pond bottoms – spore can not control H2S
Assist in achieving the nitrification cycle – by removing repressive slow ot degrade organic matter that inhibits and slows nitrification
REMOVES NITRATE VIA DENITRIFICATION – KEY TO POND HEALTH