Biospira tank cycle help!!!
- Thread starter tktodd
- Start date
Well as I said, the AP tests are not the most accurate. When I test using a good test kit my amonia is at 0 but when I test with the AP amonia test I always get 0.25
I've taken my water sample to the fish store to have them test it and it also came out at 0 So I would suggest you obtain a more accurate test kit because you really do want accuracy when testing your water.
I've taken my water sample to the fish store to have them test it and it also came out at 0 So I would suggest you obtain a more accurate test kit because you really do want accuracy when testing your water.
fareforce
Premium Member
With bio-spira the direction are wrong IMO and IME. I did a test awhile back, and the way you get bio-spira to work, is add a few fish, wait until the ammonia gets above 1ppm, then add bio-spira.
If you add it right off the bat, the bateria has nothing to consume, and dies.
If you add it right off the bat, the bateria has nothing to consume, and dies.
jacksonsmom25
New member
it should work regardless when he added it.
fareforce
Premium Member
Not trying to start anything, but I was just wondering why you think that? To me it makes sence that if you add live bacteria to your tank and there is nothing for it to eat, it will die.
Also, as a side note, bio-spira can, and will aid in the cycle of your tank, but will not do it in 24 hours. Don't try to rush nature to fast!
My reccomendation, if your ammonia gets to high, add another pack of bio-spira, and watch the numbers fall with-in a few hours.
I would reccomend getting prodibio to jump start your tank instead of bio-spira.
BTTRFLYGRL
New member
How long have these Clowns been in copper? Copper treatments are usually 14 days [coppersafe states a month] You are poisoning these fish
Also ,you mentioned ich? Is this in your main? if so you have to remove and treat ALL your fish
I used Bio-spira when I was cycling my 125...I had live rock in the tank, added the biospira to help speed it up. I didn't add fish for a month.
.your moving to fast. if the fish have ich, treat them in qt..if they don't, I would take them back and go raise heck at the lfs where you got them
tktodd
New member
There is currently copper in my QT tank because I am treating a fish from my 10 gallon live rock tank. This tank is empty because of a bad ich outbreak ( besides the inverts). Can Ich come from live rock?? That's probably where it came from. When no fish are in QT than I let the copper run down. This is a different tank than the new one with biospira.
MiddletonMark
Premium Member
I would take the batfish, perhaps the other fish back to the LFS ... and never visit that LFS again.
IMO, their advice on setting up and stocking a tank are not the sort of advice which leads to a long successful career in the hobby.
I wouldn't add a single thing other than water changes now until you have a chance to consider the whole system setup, what stocking is going to be [you added more fish than I would end up with in a year on the first day].
I don't want to sound negative [we're all learning
] ... but I would find a new LFS. They're out to sell you fish, not help you care for their well-being long-term.
IMO, their advice on setting up and stocking a tank are not the sort of advice which leads to a long successful career in the hobby.
I wouldn't add a single thing other than water changes now until you have a chance to consider the whole system setup, what stocking is going to be [you added more fish than I would end up with in a year on the first day].
I don't want to sound negative [we're all learning
] ... but I would find a new LFS. They're out to sell you fish, not help you care for their well-being long-term.
JennyL
New member
My experiences with Marine Bio-Spira have been good. However, I did it differantly. I did NOT add fish but rather used bottled ammonia w/ only water added to feed the bacteria.
After the tanks had cycled and all perams were good and steady, I added my fish slowly over a long period of time.
I have learned over many years in this hobby to never rush things but for the good of my charges, to have plenty of patience.
It may not always be easy but well worth the wait.
No matter what any LFS says, it's cruel and wrong to subject any of our fish to ammonia poisoning. It's sad that most, "not all"are only concerned with selling and not the long term care and well being of the fish.
Sorry for the little rant but we see this so often w/ LFS's.
After the tanks had cycled and all perams were good and steady, I added my fish slowly over a long period of time.
I have learned over many years in this hobby to never rush things but for the good of my charges, to have plenty of patience.
It may not always be easy but well worth the wait.
No matter what any LFS says, it's cruel and wrong to subject any of our fish to ammonia poisoning. It's sad that most, "not all"are only concerned with selling and not the long term care and well being of the fish.
Sorry for the little rant but we see this so often w/ LFS's.
tktodd
New member
Ok, I took alot of you guys and girls advice and I returned the fish to the Fish store. This morning when I tested everything, Nitrate went up to 40, Ammonia still at 1.0 and Nitrite 0. When I got back from the pet store I did a 20 % water change, then I tested all the levels about 3-4 hours later and everything was the same as this morning except the nitrites went through the roof!!! With the API test kit I am using the results go up to 5.0 which is purple, and the test I took twice was showing a deep purplish red. Not sure how high that is but it looked pretty dark. Anyway I now have a empty partly cycled tank. Any advice on how to finish the cycle?? I may do what Jenny L did and add straight ammonia for the bacteria to feed on until the cycle is complete. How much Ammonia should be added per gallon and per day till the numbers come down??
fareforce
Premium Member
I would reccomend adding 1 raw shrimp per 20 gallons. After 3-5 days take them out and replace with new ones. You can also add some uncured live rock. It will do the same thing.
I personally am not a fan of straight ammonia. I have even heard of people peeing in their tank. It is after all straight ammonia. LOL
Like stated before.. I am a fan of the shrimp, or liverock method.
I personally am not a fan of straight ammonia. I have even heard of people peeing in their tank. It is after all straight ammonia. LOL
Like stated before.. I am a fan of the shrimp, or liverock method.
Bluemorningwind
In Memoriam
Good live rock fosters all of the bacteria you will ever need.
Adding potions is totally pointless.
I doubt anybody, with some experience, would suggest a magic potion like Big dollar-spira-whatever in favour of good live rock. Particularly when Bigdollar-spira-whatever costs so much.
Only a twit would suggest it and an even bigger twit buy it.
This stuff is crap and is not good for any system.
I would suspect anybody who recommends it to be getting money for pushing it. For only such a person would recommend it.
Total and utter garbage at a very, very high price.
Long live multi level marketing (MLM), right?
Adding potions is totally pointless.
I doubt anybody, with some experience, would suggest a magic potion like Big dollar-spira-whatever in favour of good live rock. Particularly when Bigdollar-spira-whatever costs so much.
Only a twit would suggest it and an even bigger twit buy it.
This stuff is crap and is not good for any system.
I would suspect anybody who recommends it to be getting money for pushing it. For only such a person would recommend it.
Total and utter garbage at a very, very high price.
Long live multi level marketing (MLM), right?
Bluemorningwind
In Memoriam
Add live rock and don't be ripped off by twits.
fareforce
Premium Member
We have already established that you can't rush nature. I wouldn't go as far as to call someone who buys Bio-Spira a twit, just that they didn't know better at the time. Bio-Spira can help, but is not the untimate answer. Lets not discourage a new reefer by ripping him a new one.
I think he has already figured out that Bio-Spira doesn't work the way it is advertised, but at the same time he is also taking the steps needed to fix the problem. So, lets not take steps backwards, but work on further correcting the problem.
Live rock is the best answer, and I think everyone will also agree with me on the shrimp method as well.
Bluemorningwind
In Memoriam
[flamealert]
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