Dry Bacterial Cultures

No Fillers!

100% Active Ingredients! 100% Effective! 100% Water Soluble!

The Differences Between MICROBE-LIFT/PL & MICROBE-LIFT/TAC

Since Ecological Laboratories is the producer of the most popular biological pond clarifier on the market, there will inevitably be questions about the differences between the two products and why one would be selected over the other.  Here is a list of the basic differences with the features and benefits of those notable differences:

  1. MICROBE-LIFT/TAC does not have photosynthetic bacteria, which is one of the keys to the performance of MICROBE-LIFT/PL and what sets it above all other biological products for ponds. Unfortunately, no one has been successful to this point at preserving photosynthetic cultures in dry form. These photosynthetic bacteria are a valuable source of MICROBE-LIFT/PL‘s ability to clarify water and are capable of tapping into a potent source of energy to do this-the sun.  Many of these photosynthetic bacteria are also potent detoxifiers of water.
  2. The organisms in MICROBE-LIFT/TAC are not grown together in the same container, as the MICROBE-LIFT/PL is. As a result, you don’t get the same “ecosystem in a bottle” that you get with the MICROBE-LIFT/PL, and as a result, not quite the same ability to ecologically balance your pond.
  3. The MICROBE-LIFT/TAC has powdered activated carbon which is well known for its abilities to clarify water by providing a point surface for bacteria to grow on. It then acts as a weighting agent to help these bacteria settle to the bottom, thus removing turbidity associated with dispersed bacteria. The carbon also acts as a detoxifier by adsorbing micro amounts of toxic materials; i.e. pesticides that can make their way into a pond.
  4. MICROBE-LIFT/TAC also has sodium bicarbonate-a buffer that can help stabilize the pH.
  5. MICROBE-LIFT/TAC has sea salt that helps to induce a protective slime layer on fish.
  6. MICROBE-LIFT/TAC dry formulation has no odor.

While MICROBE-LIFT/PL has become the #1 pond clarifier asked for by brand name, there have been, and will always be, people who prefer products in a dry powder form.  Because there are opportunities to formulate certain dry components into a dry product that would not be practical to mix into a liquid, Ecological Laboratories has developed MICROBE-LIFT/TAC.

Available Sizes

  • 8 oz. (MLXTAC8) Treats 80-250 gal. pond for 28 weeks.
  • 1 lb. (MLXTAC16) Treats 500 gal. pond for 16 weeks.
  • 3 lbs. (MLXTAC3) Treats 750 gal. pond for 32 weeks.
  • 5 lbs. (MLXTAC5) Treats 2,000 gal. pond for 20 weeks.
  • 25 lbs. (MLXTAC25) Treats extra large ponds and water features.

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