Bottled Bacteria

[newlights]

I use bio spira and have had success and i would say instant is kind of misleading. Its a major kickstart and you can add fish day one, but you can't go and fully stock your tank even with overdosing this stuff. You can add a fish or two but thats about it. And honeslty even though i use and love the stuff the fish i put in on day one or two wouldnt be an expensive one either, nor would i add a less hardy fish just in case. I would also continue to wait on corals for at least 30 days.

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[jayball]

Again, this is where some of the confusion happens with Bio spira. You don't need to add an ammonia source like shrimp and do Bio spira both. If you want to use Bio spira, you can skip the shrimp altogether unless you want to cycle the tank normlly and not use Bio spira. The bacteria in bio spira will break down ammonia in lieu of waiting for that bacteria to establish with the cycle and ammonia spike. Just take it slow when adding liveatock.

If the Biospira gave you a effectively cycled aquarium than the ammonia would just be processed. If your aquarium can process 1-2 ppm of ammonia overnight to nitrate than you have an established filter.

I used it when I originally set up the tank and I still use it when I cycle QT tanks. It speeds up the process but it does not set up a fully functioning bio filter all on its own right when you dump it in the tank.

For the OP, monitor your ammonia. If you get any than you should use prime to neutralize it to avoid harming the fish.

 

[Fnic99]

How long does the bacteria live in the bottle? Is there a shelf life? Temperature range for shipping?

 

[snorvich]

I still took my time adding livestock, and now three years later, I added a coral!

...Which my sailfin tang immediately began picking at.

Because your tank is too small to properly feed a sailfin tang.

 

[snorvich]

For the OP, monitor your ammonia. If you get any than you should use prime to neutralize it to avoid harming the fish.

But not if using copper.

 

[Elricsfate]

For the OP, monitor your ammonia. If you get any than you should use prime to neutralize it to avoid harming the fish.

Yep. I bought Amquel+ But I also have a bottle of Prime lying about. I am keeping close tabs. Which is not to say that something bad couldn't happen. Just that it hasn't.

Fish is eating, exploring, breathing and acting normally. There is detectable ammonia in the tank, but at last reading it was .25 I did in fact add the proper amount of Amquel immediately after that test.

Tomorrow after work I am going to do a decent water change, just because the Nitrates are going up. So...while I know that high Nitrate levels are not good....the fact that there are Nitrate levels is good. It means the bacteria are doing their job.

 

[Elricsfate]

But not if using copper.

I am not going to be using copper, because I also put a Sally Lightfoot in the tank when I bought the fish.

However, I was unaware there was an issue with ammonia neutralizers and copper. Thanks for the heads up! Can you briefly tell me what the issue is so I not only know to avoid it, but why to avoid it?

Thanks

 

[jason2459]

I am not going to be using copper, because I also put a Sally Lightfoot in the tank when I bought the fish.

However, I was unaware there was an issue with ammonia neutralizers and copper. Thanks for the heads up! Can you briefly tell me what the issue is so I not only know to avoid it, but why to avoid it?

Thanks

from this
Amquel and Amquel Plust
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1288099

I agree with Bill, Randy and badpacket

As far as any problems with the plus no, it is the issue that their claim reduces nitrates. Well, it seems to but does not as the "plus" in the Amquel Plus interfers with the nitrate test kit giving it very low readings.

There are other problems with almost any form of dechlor, dechloramin or any aldehyde based product when overdosed. They will reduce Cu ++ to Cu+, which is 10 times more toxic. So, in short, using any copper product for treatment and dumping in any of these dechlor's is a big No-No

 

[GimpyFin]

I use bio spira and have had success and i would say instant is kind of misleading. Its a major kickstart and you can add fish day one, but you can't go and fully stock your tank even with overdosing this stuff. You can add a fish or two but thats about it. And honeslty even though i use and love the stuff the fish i put in on day one or two wouldnt be an expensive one either, nor would i add a less hardy fish just in case. I would also continue to wait on corals for at least 30 days.

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Nowhere on the bio spira bottle does it say or recommend you adding a lot of fish initially, nor does Instant Ocean's website. You still take it slow adding fish like you normally would.

If the Biospira gave you a effectively cycled aquarium than the ammonia would just be processed. If your aquarium can process 1-2 ppm of ammonia overnight to nitrate than you have an established filter.

I used it when I originally set up the tank and I still use it when I cycle QT tanks. It speeds up the process but it does not set up a fully functioning bio filter all on its own right when you dump it in the tank.

For the OP, monitor your ammonia. If you get any than you should use prime to neutralize it to avoid harming the fish.

It gives you a functioning biofilter, just not a well established one that will handle large bio load. That's why you only add maybe a small fish or two. I've never had ammonia when using it in the last 3-4 years, but I don't push its limits either.

 

[thegrun]

I was always sceptible about the bacteria in a bottle products, mainly from the products that were on the market ten years or more ago that were all snake oil. A year ago I had an ich outbreak and needed to get some dry rock cycled quickly so as to have biological filtration when the fish completed their 12 day tank transfers. I tried Dr. Tim's One and Only, added pure ammonia and had a complete cycle in 4 days. In most situations I would still go through a regular non bacteria in a bottle cycle, but if the need arises for a quick cycle I would certainly recommend Dr. Tims, but I would be VERY hesitant to put fish in on day one.

 

[Haubertj]

This is just my experience, I started a 220g with cured live rock, added a sponge from my 40b holding tank, new water. I had to put all my softies in as well as a bubble coral and I added 2/3 of suggested dose of bio-spira and I had a mini cycle on 2nd day and it's been 3 weeks now with fish and coral and here are my parameters using Red Sea test kit...

Ammonia-0
Nitrite-0
Nitrate-2
Alkalinity-8
Calcium-420



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[GimpyFin]

I am not going to be using copper, because I also put a Sally Lightfoot in the tank when I bought the fish.

However, I was unaware there was an issue with ammonia neutralizers and copper. Thanks for the heads up! Can you briefly tell me what the issue is so I not only know to avoid it, but why to avoid it?

Thanks

Some chems like ammonia neutralizers will cause certain types of copper like cupramine to become toxic. Chelated formulations like Coppersafe are a little more stable in that regard.

 

[ncaldwell]

Elricsfate: the part about putting marine fish in freshwater wasnt directed at you(but it is true). I was just saying there are people that don't care about their fish at all. I was more addressing the people saying you added fish to early and the biospira is snake oil, you're doing your due diligence with testing and you obviously care. I just did the same thing, new tank, added biospira, tested and after a week the ammonia and nitrites died off and added a fish. Worked very well for me

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[Elricsfate]

Elricsfate: the part about putting marine fish in freshwater wasnt directed at you(but it is true). I was just saying there are people that don't care about their fish at all. I was more addressing the people saying you added fish to early and the biospira is snake oil, you're doing your due diligence with testing and you obviously care. I just did the same thing, new tank, added biospira, tested and after a week the ammonia and nitrites died off and added a fish. Worked very well for me

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Cool. Good to know.

Ammonia has dropped to and stayed at 0 for several days now. Things are looking good. Expecting a few parts this week and I'm going to move the rock and fish temporarily, drill, install a sump, and be prepared for dosing, etc.

Should have thought about all of that ahead of time...but thinking ahead is one of the things I'm learning to do. The hard way...:headwally: