Continuum recommends that you filter tap makeup water by reverse osmosis, distillation or deionization along with carbon pre-filtration to prevent adding phosphates and silicates to your aquarium. Continuum recommends a phosphate level of less than . 02 mg/l (ppm). If you have high phosphate or silicate levels, you can lower them rapidly by using Continuum CaptivPhos W or CaptivPhos Fe or liquid PhosCorrex prior to or while using this product. The use of nerite snails, turbo snails, emerald crabs and other grazers is also recommended. Although not required, it would be advantageous to first use Continuum Redox Plus to lower the organic load of the aquarium and to raise the ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) and then wait 2 hours before using this product for the first time. Continuum also recommends that you consider using Reef MicroFuel, along with the Bacter CleanM, as an organic carbon source to accelerate the growth and increase the effectiveness of the bacteria in this product. Bacter CleanM can be used simultaneously with BacterGenM and BacterGenMD. If using simultaneously, cut the dosage of each of the other bacterial products in half and use on different days.