Does Bio-spira or Tetra safe start work??

[redneckgearhead]

I have used birospira twice on setting up my QT tanks and IME they do work, BUT I add ammonia then the birospira and the ammonia fell to 0 within 2-3 days both times I used it. THEN I add my fish and usually see a small spike in ammonia when I add the cupramine but a small dose of prime usually takes care of that. Both times I used it I felt it worked and I test daily when i have a fish in qt.

If you really want to find out test it yourself, a small bottle of birospira is just 14 dollars, set up your qt add the ammonia and see how fast it drops to 0. Cheap easy and you're not taking anybodies word for it.

 

[doctorgori]

IMO/IME most of these "cycling" products are snakeoils....but I've replied to more than one thread on BioSpira; it "might" not be...

I was involved in a "sponsor" sponsored experiment involving two competing products; the "sponsored" product was a complete failure, the other one being BioSpira...(this was almost 8,9,10 yrs ago, my recollection could be off)

it "appeared" to work during testing, this involved a decent sampling of aquarist ...I've used it twice since, both time it "seemed" to work....

...if that didn't seem like a ringing endorsement, it wasn't...I personally still wouldn't bet a tank of fish on it...but for adding more/new fish after a apparent "cycle" (for insurance) ...maybey the $15 is a acceptable waste... (again all that is with a big disclaimer)

 

[mariahcolleen]

IMO/IME most of these "cycling" products are snakeoils....but I've replied to more than one thread on BioSpira; it "might" not be...

I was involved in a "sponsor" sponsored experiment involving two competing products; the "sponsored" product was a complete failure, the other one being BioSpira...(this was almost 8,9,10 yrs ago, my recollection could be off)

it "appeared" to work during testing, this involved a decent sampling of aquarist ...I've used it twice since, both time it "seemed" to work....

...if that didn't seem like a ringing endorsement, it wasn't...I personally still wouldn't bet a tank of fish on it...but for adding more/new fish after a apparent "cycle" (for insurance) ...maybey the $15 is a acceptable waste... (again all that is with a big disclaimer)

I tend to agree. I certainly wouldn't bet a tank of fish on it! I might use it on a quarantine tank though. I have used it with freshwater with a pretty good success rate but then again there is a big difference b/w a $2 guppy and a $20 clown.

 

[Andreeezie]

Dead thread

Dead thread

Hey sorry I'm new here, I realize people always get a little angry for bumping new treads but figured this might be good for Reefer's trying to come into the hobby. As of biospira I wouldn't have too much to say besides the fact it speeds your cycle up to a week- 2 weeks... but what I want to post is this and it worked for me hopefully it works for others and I hope I found a new method, I use tap water for my tank yes I know but an r o system is just not available rightnow, so I use tap water and add tetra aquasafe plus , then some API quick start , add it to the tank run filters and heater and add some brightwell aquatics microbacter7. Tank cycled in 5 days :fish1:

 

[Elricsfate]

This is always a contentious topic. But you asked for personal experience.

I added 2 bottles to a 75g tank. Added one fish same day. Tested all params 3x a day every day for a week. Ammonia never got above .25, and dropped to zero on the third day. Over the next several weeks I slowly added a fish or two at a time. I now have 6 fish, shrimp, crabs, and a few corals in the tank. It's about 8 weeks old.

I have a constant monitor ammonia alert hung inside the tank and I also do water tests every couple of days just to be safe.

Everything is alive and well, eating, growing, behaving normally. No deaths, at all...of anything.

If Biospira doesn't work...then I guess Jesus just blessed my tank.

 

[Dr. Reef]

If you invest in very good source of well established live rock, you may. Or may not see a cycle. At most a very mini cycle last 2 to 4 days.
Bacteria in bottle I think is waste of money.

 

[WatDatThing]

I used microbacter when I started my tank. I don't know if it worked or not though. I cycled my tank for 5 weeks anyway. I did a test 3 weeks in. My ammonia and nitrite were not 0. Both went to 0 in week 4 and took me another week to say that my params are stable.

 

[ReeferNtraining]

I am a huge supporter of Bio-Spira. I have a 29g DT with 35-36 total water volume. I have a fuge in my sump and I made and acrylic tray 6"X8"X1.5" that I put approximately 2.5 lbs of Miracle Mud with a bit of sand on top and lowered it into the sump. I used the Bio-Spira that was recommended for 50g and put half in the fuge and half in the display tank. Then I dropped a jumbo shrimp from the deli into the sump. I had cured my live rock and live sand for a month prior to setting up the tank. My cycle lasted 3 days and the ammonia never got above .75 and the nitrite never got above .25 and still have not ever gotten a nitrate reading. I do only have 3 fish totaling about 5.5" but my numbers have never went up from 0 and I test daily and sometimes twice a day. Just my experience with it.....

 

[TokiHacker]

I used biospira and I have not seen a trace of ammonia during the "cycle". Had live rock Live sand and 3 chromis. Don't know if it worked our not. The live rock I put in there is very very very live lol. Its been in tanks for over 15 years.

 

[Dr. Reef]

I used biospira and I have not seen a trace of ammonia during the "cycle". Had live rock Live sand and 3 chromis. Don't know if it worked our not. The live rock I put in there is very very very live lol. Its been in tanks for over 15 years.

Your answer is not in the bottle, it was because of LR you never saw a cycle.
Like I mentioned in earlier post if a tank is setup with high quality well established rock that tank may never see a cycle. I have seen that happen many times and also seen a very short mini cycle from a little die off in transferring LR that last about 2 to 4 days.

 

[surfingdude]

I used it, so far into 3 weeks. Never had amonia problem during this time and have a couple fish. However, nitrites did gradually increase and now seem to be reducing, and now getting nitrates but nothing alarming. Not sure if it means it worked, but my amonia levels have been near 0 the whole time since starting the tank. Gonna do my first water change this sunday.

 

[surfingdude]

Btw, I used live sand and life rock...not live rock but suppose to be infused with bacteria. Not sure if thats legit it or not, but I loved the look of it and like how it stacked.