Bio-spira.. Worth it? Cycling tips
- Thread starter michael43
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avoidtheboyd
New member
I've also been thinking of setting up a nano with bio spire to see if it really works. Along with adding pure ammonia you could also feed the tank for a few days until you see a spike in ammonia or add a shrimp to let decay for a few days.
I am using it on my 20g cycle (plus sump). I'm about 2 weeks in. It basically jumped me straight to the part of the cycle where the nitrite consuming bacteria are increasing in population to consume nitrites. 2 weeks in and my nitrites are around ~0.05 to ~0.2 ppm and my nitrates are high (maybe ~20 ppm). I am also getting big diatom blooms on rocks and sand (forgot to turn the light timer circuit off yesterday and came home to quite a growth).
So I think it works but it isn't a miracle. As in, don't put fish in but it can accelerate the cycle. I got the big 8.45oz container on Amazon as it wasn't very expensive. It was fresh -- the expiration on the bottom was 04/2017.
I would use Bio-Spira + Ammonia (either find a clean pure local source or get Dr Tim's Ammonium Chloride). I think that combination with a good test kit can result in quick cycle with minimum build up of nutrients. I say this because the other route of putting in some fish food every day is probably going to result in more nutrients which either need water changes or will feed nuisance algae. I'm sure there will still be some algae just less with a direct ammonia cycle.
Footnote on Ammonium Chloride: some ammonia tests can't read it as well or at all supposedly. So keep that in mind. I think the Red Sea kit I'm using can but YMMV. Also, it doesn't have a strong odor so if you have people sensitive to ammonia in your household, it may be more pleasant for them (and you)!
So I think it works but it isn't a miracle. As in, don't put fish in but it can accelerate the cycle. I got the big 8.45oz container on Amazon as it wasn't very expensive. It was fresh -- the expiration on the bottom was 04/2017.
I would use Bio-Spira + Ammonia (either find a clean pure local source or get Dr Tim's Ammonium Chloride). I think that combination with a good test kit can result in quick cycle with minimum build up of nutrients. I say this because the other route of putting in some fish food every day is probably going to result in more nutrients which either need water changes or will feed nuisance algae. I'm sure there will still be some algae just less with a direct ammonia cycle.
Footnote on Ammonium Chloride: some ammonia tests can't read it as well or at all supposedly. So keep that in mind. I think the Red Sea kit I'm using can but YMMV. Also, it doesn't have a strong odor so if you have people sensitive to ammonia in your household, it may be more pleasant for them (and you)!
CStrickland
New member
Ammonia is what the bacteria process, you can add it straight or let a piece of meaty food decay to produce it. Either way.
Biospira is some of the bacteria that should already be on your live rock and sand. If you bought "live sand" it most likely is sand with biospira poured in the bag. I don't see any need to add more if you have live rock and sand, whereas if you start with no bacteria (dry mined rock and dry sand) I can see biospira being faster than waiting for bacteria to land in your tank from the environment.
If you don't have the sand yet, consider using dry. There'll be plenty of life in your rocks, dry sand is much cheaper, you can rinse it well so your tank won't be as dusty, and the preserved bacteria that comes on it is kind've a crap-shoot whether it will be alive and even if it is, it still is not as many kinds as the rock already has.
Biospira is some of the bacteria that should already be on your live rock and sand. If you bought "live sand" it most likely is sand with biospira poured in the bag. I don't see any need to add more if you have live rock and sand, whereas if you start with no bacteria (dry mined rock and dry sand) I can see biospira being faster than waiting for bacteria to land in your tank from the environment.
If you don't have the sand yet, consider using dry. There'll be plenty of life in your rocks, dry sand is much cheaper, you can rinse it well so your tank won't be as dusty, and the preserved bacteria that comes on it is kind've a crap-shoot whether it will be alive and even if it is, it still is not as many kinds as the rock already has.
I have been skeptical about bacteria products for a long time. I haven't seen any reason to believe that BioSpira adds anything of value, especially when the tank has a bit of real live rock in it. Personally, I wouldn't bother. The reports we read here on its effectiveness are highly variable, and consistent with a placebo.
For me, I used dead rock (made it myself) and "live sand" that was fairly old (CaribSea Fuji Pink but sat in my cupboard for 6+ months). Based on my testing, I think Bio-Spira cut about 2 weeks of the cycle. Is it worth it? Really depends. For me, $14 for 2 weeks isn't bad. But waiting for the nitrite-consuming bacteria to scale up takes a while and it doesn't seem to skip that so it still takes time. So it really depends on how much you value 2 weeks of waiting.
I put two Bio spira and one Dr tims to seed my system (125gal) in the beginning for bacterial diversity,,with dry Marco rock,dry sand,,dosed pure ammonia for two monthes then a CUC team...that was the only bacteria in the tank and my system has grown bigger since that two years ago (195gal total),,,actually dosed Seachem salinity recently(small bottle over 3 days)and my cyano is gone (for now),,,,soooooooo,,Im in a little different postition to say is it Placebo in a bottle...
lucky_snapper
New member
CStrickland
New member
I think that people who use at least some live rock to set up a new tank have totally different experiences from people who use dead rock that is mined from the ground with no dead stuff or bacteria on it, like Marco rock; or diy rock. If one used exclusively the "sterile" types of rock and sand, I would be surprised if the tank cycled in a few weeks.
I would not apply that reasoning to OP's tank, since they are using live rock. In this case, the biospira seems like a poorer, redundant addition. I would expect more, diverser, healthier (non-preserved) biofiltration in a few pounds of live rock than a whole bottle of biospira. Even assuming biospira works, whats the point if you've got good live rock?
I would not apply that reasoning to OP's tank, since they are using live rock. In this case, the biospira seems like a poorer, redundant addition. I would expect more, diverser, healthier (non-preserved) biofiltration in a few pounds of live rock than a whole bottle of biospira. Even assuming biospira works, whats the point if you've got good live rock?
Well, we don't know how long the cycling process would take in the absence of the additive. Someone would need to do a controlled study of a reasonable population size to tell us what's happening. Could such products reduce the time required to get to zero ammonia. Maybe. Is there evidence that they work. No.
Definitely agree. I don't have a lab and I'm not doing a scientific study. However, going from "not yet processing ammonia" to "processing ammonia to nitrite" efficiently in a day or so leads me to make a reasonable assumption that the bottle saved some time. I never got an ammonia spike. I'll take my empirical evidence over conjecture that it does nothing. But I agree just how much it does is subject for debate. It would be great to see some scientific testing on these products including testing it against the products recommended for seeding sanitation fields (that some hobbyists have used in aquariums).
Mark9
New member
Using Bio-Spira will definitely shorten your cycle time.
Used it many times, it works as advertised, never had an issue.
Just make sure you go slow in adding livestock.
And anyone who hasn't used it should really refrain from commenting on whether it works or not as that's conjecture.
Used it many times, it works as advertised, never had an issue.
Just make sure you go slow in adding livestock.
And anyone who hasn't used it should really refrain from commenting on whether it works or not as that's conjecture.
rockdrummer1226
New member
Piggy backing on this^^
It will surely speed up cycle time. Years ago it used to portray that it would make the tank fish safe instantly. THIS IS NOT TRUE. There is still a waiting period for the cycle but it will probably shorten it by a couple of weeks. I'd say add it if you want to cycle faster as it will help but do not put fish in until you have confirmed the completion of the cycle. I dosed ammonia a couple times after the initial dose was depleted to confirm it would all be processed in a day.
I have used a number of different bacterial additives over the years without observing any significant difference in cycling time .Given the marketing hype as well as unknown contents and viability of the bacteria used in many if not all of them I prefer to allow ubiquitous indigenous bacteria to settle in and do the job; they always do IME and can be sped along with a bit of seeding material and some food .
If one chooses to use bactrerial additives , I would encourage them to find out somehow what's acutally in the stuff that's being put in the tank ;most manufacturer's won't tell. Some may use heterotrophic denitrifiers which will take ammonia directly and can impede the development of the chemoautotrphic ammonia oxidizers, for example.
If one chooses to use bactrerial additives , I would encourage them to find out somehow what's acutally in the stuff that's being put in the tank ;most manufacturer's won't tell. Some may use heterotrophic denitrifiers which will take ammonia directly and can impede the development of the chemoautotrphic ammonia oxidizers, for example.
Brieninsac
Member
As you are learning there are a wide variety of opinions on cycling new tanks. This what I did and it worked for me.
My new tank was started out it with 40 lbs. of live sand, 77 lbs. of reefrock 2.1 and a bottle of Bio-spira. One week after running the tank with bio-spira I added 2 clown fish. I did weekly 20% water changes for the first two months. My water parameters were fine the entire time and I never lost a fish.
My two additional fish, a firefish and Royal gramma both went through my QT before going into my DT.
My new tank was started out it with 40 lbs. of live sand, 77 lbs. of reefrock 2.1 and a bottle of Bio-spira. One week after running the tank with bio-spira I added 2 clown fish. I did weekly 20% water changes for the first two months. My water parameters were fine the entire time and I never lost a fish.
My two additional fish, a firefish and Royal gramma both went through my QT before going into my DT.
nmotz
Active member
Having used BioSpira and other additives for my tanks, all I can do is share my experience. Is that the same as a controlled, scientific study? Well, obviously not, but everything that we know about anything was at one point untested. I think we can at least agree on that.
I've heard enough people say (and can confirm it by my own experience) that the bacteria additives provide SOMETHING that does shorten the cycle in some way. How well it does that, exactly how long the tank takes to cycle, etc, is as dependent on the individual set-up as every other question we may have about reef tanks.
Having said that, I will agree with others that there is NO product available that will allow you to introduce a ton of fish to a brand new aquarium all in the same day. Some of the marketing claims over the years do indicate that this is possible. I disagree.
BUT, if using dry rock only, I do agree that this BioSpira will decrease the cycle time significantly from weeks to a few days. I set up my friends tank and had a few live specimens in it the same day (small inverts only) using bio bacteria, never could detect any ammonia. Same with my own 5G nano tank. I had 5-6 small shrimps and crabs in brand new tank water with brand new dry sand and marinepure spheres. Added bio bacteria and never saw ammonia. Didn't lose anything.
Now I'm certain it could be argued that the bio bacteria wasn't responsible for all of that. Make of that what you will. But I do know that the usual guidance that it takes 2-4 wks to cycle a tank was not applicable in my case. My aquarium, and my friend's too were both ready to use as soon as I dosed them with bio-bacteria.
Just sharing some thoughts, not trying to make anyone mad, I swear!
I've heard enough people say (and can confirm it by my own experience) that the bacteria additives provide SOMETHING that does shorten the cycle in some way. How well it does that, exactly how long the tank takes to cycle, etc, is as dependent on the individual set-up as every other question we may have about reef tanks.
Having said that, I will agree with others that there is NO product available that will allow you to introduce a ton of fish to a brand new aquarium all in the same day. Some of the marketing claims over the years do indicate that this is possible. I disagree.
BUT, if using dry rock only, I do agree that this BioSpira will decrease the cycle time significantly from weeks to a few days. I set up my friends tank and had a few live specimens in it the same day (small inverts only) using bio bacteria, never could detect any ammonia. Same with my own 5G nano tank. I had 5-6 small shrimps and crabs in brand new tank water with brand new dry sand and marinepure spheres. Added bio bacteria and never saw ammonia. Didn't lose anything.
Now I'm certain it could be argued that the bio bacteria wasn't responsible for all of that. Make of that what you will. But I do know that the usual guidance that it takes 2-4 wks to cycle a tank was not applicable in my case. My aquarium, and my friend's too were both ready to use as soon as I dosed them with bio-bacteria.
Just sharing some thoughts, not trying to make anyone mad, I swear!
FYI, The manufacturer's site for Instant Ocean Nitro Spira now lists:
Nitrocococcus, a nitrite oxidizer usually found in very high saline environments like evaporation ponds ,the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake.
Nitrosommonas ,an ammonia oxidizer
nitrospira, a nitrite oxidizer
among the contents.
Those at least seem to be the right types of bacteria for a nitrogen cycle if they are viable;,though; they are ubiquitous and will grow without additions.
Nitrocococcus, a nitrite oxidizer usually found in very high saline environments like evaporation ponds ,the Dead Sea and the Great Salt Lake.
Nitrosommonas ,an ammonia oxidizer
nitrospira, a nitrite oxidizer
among the contents.
Those at least seem to be the right types of bacteria for a nitrogen cycle if they are viable;,though; they are ubiquitous and will grow without additions.
