Why I Don’t Sell Bottled Bacteria—and Why You Shouldn’t Overpay for Salt, Either
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In the koi industry, there’s no shortage of products designed to take your money while offering little to no real value in return. As someone who’s spent over 30 years in aquaculture—breeding, treating, and managing fish on a large scale—I’ve seen all of it. That’s why at KrazyKoiMeds.com, I only sell products that actually work. Real treatments with real ingredients that deliver measurable results. Backed by data and peer reviewed studies. If a product doesn’t hold up under real-world use, I don't use it, and I won’t carry it. Two common examples? Bottled “beneficial bacteria” and overpriced “pond salt.”
Let’s start with bottled bacteria. These products are marketed as cure-alls: they supposedly reduce fish stress, improve immunity, digest sludge, improve clarity, and more. But none of that is backed by real science. The bottles don’t list specific bacterial strains. There’s no CFU count. No third-party testing. No shelf-life data. Most don’t even say whether the bacteria inside are alive—which, after sitting warm on store shelves for months, they aren’t.
In a healthy pond with established filtration, you already have all the nitrifying and decomposing bacteria you need. Adding more from a bottle does nothing. The bacterial ecosystem in a mature pond is already stable and competitive. New bacteria don’t stand a chance. Claims that these products boost immunity are equally misleading; fish don’t benefit from bacteria floating in the water. Immune support only comes from ingestible probiotics, and only when specific strains are used at known doses. And even in new systems, the benefit of bottled bacteria is questionable at best. These products are built on marketing and emotion, not results. They’re “feel-good” additions that give hobbyists a sense of control—but they rarely move the needle in terms of fish health or water quality.
Now, about salt. Here's where I differ from a lot of other "experts": I actually LOVE salt—when it's used correctly. Salt is a fantastic tool for koi keepers. It helps reduce osmotic stress, supports fish through rough water conditions, and can be used therapeutically in quarantine or recovery. I use it myself all the time. I recommend it daily to people. Always use in a tank and never in a pond.
But what I don’t support is the way it’s sold. You’ve got companies charging $20–$25 for a 10-pound bag labeled “Pond Salt” or “Aquarium Salt.” It’s the same basic sodium chloride you can buy at any feed store or hardware store as water softener salt—clean, pure, and safe for koi—for a quarter of the price. I’ve been using that exact type of salt for years in both commercial and private systems. It works the same. There’s ZERO difference.
What’s worse is how some people promote salt as a parasite treatment. That’s outdated and often ineffective. At high enough concentrations, salt can kill some protozoa—but the dose required is borderline harmful to koi. It's not a precision tool for parasite control. That’s what medications like Formalin-Malachite, Praziquantel, and PP are for. Salt is a support, not a cure-all.
At KrazyKoiMeds.com, I don’t deal in hype. I don’t sell rebranded table salt for 10x the price. I don’t push vague products with fancy labels that don’t deliver. Every treatment I carry—potassium permanganate, Formalin & Malachite Green, Prazi and more—is something I’ve used personally on millions of fish.
I know how they work. I know when they work. And I back them with real advice based on experience, not guesswork.
I don’t sell mystery bacteria. I don’t sell overpriced salt. And I don’t pad your invoice with things you don’t need.
If you want real meds, real solutions, and real support, that’s what I’m here for.
