Question on bio spira... directions say just dump it in? Has Anybody used this product that can comment? Im still gonna let cycle for a while... and just ordered water test kit... comments on bio spira appreciated? Thank u
Bio spira vs cycling.
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Question on bio spira... directions say just dump it in? Has Anybody used this product that can comment? Im still gonna let cycle for a while... and just ordered water test kit... comments on bio spira appreciated? Thank u
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
I've used it and I like it. Definitely still monitor ammonia but I added fish shortly after using this product with no negative results. I actually have another bottle in the mail for my next build.
jefra
Active Member
I always use BioSpira along with live sand and dry rock. It seems to almost instantly drop ammonia to 0 and greatly lower nitrate too. Still tend to struggle with nitrite for around a week or so after dosing BioSpira.
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
Not to hijack the thread or anything but would you recommend against using multiple products? I ordered biospira but now also would like to try dr tims one and only bacteria as well. Should/could they be mixed?
Not sure if there would be a benefit to be honest. Remember that all this beneficial bacteria needs something to munch on.
You can just use 'red sea reef mature pro kit' if you're looking to do a full cycle.
It has a few products, but one of them recommends having a protein skimmer or not to use it (the one that converts nitrates to nitrogen gas)
I personally used biospira, a full bottle for a 55gal tank, about 44 gallons of water. Then I dosed on dr tims ammonia, and followed his fishless cycle guide available online.
Everything ran perfect according to that chart, no issues. I did start w/ dry rock, so I'm sure live rock will have a better effect.
Note!: I highly recommend practicing QT process before tossing those fish in. Since you're still cycling, Get a QT right now, so there will be less of a time gap between when cycle is done and when fish are ready to hop in the DT.
Trust meee, it's worth the extra $50 for a 10gal tank set up. I jumped the gun and put some clowns in my Dt, but one did show signs of ick. Lukcily no loss, but now they're in a QT for 11 weeks while DT runs fallow.
No regrets, I still have the fish & they're healthy, but do it! =) #endrant
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
Well I plan on getting the ammonium chloride to dose as well to feed the bacteria
If it's live sand and live rock the tank is already cycling. Ghost feeding helps a bit to make ammonia and a little die off from the rock will too.
Bio spra and dr tims are both formulas made by dr Tim. From what I've seen the dr tims is just a bit better at what it does.
Bio spra and dr tims are both formulas made by dr Tim. From what I've seen the dr tims is just a bit better at what it does.
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
That is good to know that dr Tim makes both products, maybe I will just stick with the biospira since I already bought it then.
BigJohnny
2500 Club Member
I've used it several times successfully to cycle tanks in 2 weeks or sometimes even 1 week. The ammonia reducing bacteria work almost immediately (within 24 hrs usually) and are able to reduce 2ppm ammonia at the same rate as any traditionally cycled tanks I have done, but like one other user said it does take a little time for the nitrite reducing bacteria to get to work. Either way, it's much faster than a traditional cycle in my experience.
I believe it's been proven that nitrite does not harm fish (or at least they can tolerate it) but I personally don't add finish until the nitrite is eliminating at the same rate as the ammonia. People have had success adding fish before then, but I choose not to.
I use biospira everytime I set up a tank. I always dose 2ppm ammonia once, then test ammonia/nitrite/nitrate daily until it is all nitrate. I repeat the dosing ammonia/testing phase until the bacteria converts 2ppm ammonia to only nitrate in less than 24hrs. That is what has worked for me in the past.
I believe it's been proven that nitrite does not harm fish (or at least they can tolerate it) but I personally don't add finish until the nitrite is eliminating at the same rate as the ammonia. People have had success adding fish before then, but I choose not to.
I use biospira everytime I set up a tank. I always dose 2ppm ammonia once, then test ammonia/nitrite/nitrate daily until it is all nitrate. I repeat the dosing ammonia/testing phase until the bacteria converts 2ppm ammonia to only nitrate in less than 24hrs. That is what has worked for me in the past.
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
Here's my most recent experience. About a day and a half ago I dosed roughly up to 2ppm ammonia with pure ammonia into my 29g aquarium. (Roughly 30 drops) this morning this is my results.
So there is no confusion, I poured a 100ml bottle of biospira in right after dosing the ammonia.
So the ammonia based on my junk API kit is as close to 0ppm as this kit has ever read. The nitrite reads between 0.50ppm and 1.0ppm which tells me the biospira is working well. I am doing this totally fishless and will keep y'all updated with my results and hopefully help someone in deciding wether or not to use Biospira themselves.
So there is no confusion, I poured a 100ml bottle of biospira in right after dosing the ammonia.
So the ammonia based on my junk API kit is as close to 0ppm as this kit has ever read. The nitrite reads between 0.50ppm and 1.0ppm which tells me the biospira is working well. I am doing this totally fishless and will keep y'all updated with my results and hopefully help someone in deciding wether or not to use Biospira themselves.
+1...I always wait 24 hrs after adding it before I add fish. Last time I upgraded tanks I started out by moving a pair of clowns then waited a couple of days and moved a couple more fish and so on to make sure the bacteria had time to grow before the bio load got too much.
Erik R
Community Member
These types of products work because they seed the tank with the bacteria. Its a great way to get things going, but the reason why nitrates are still there is because though the bacteria may be there, they dont have an appropriate food source. You really should introduce some organic material when adding this kind of thing. You could run into a situation (If you dont put fish in soon) where the bacteria culture dies off.
Mandrew
Well-Known Member
I plan to continue adding ammonia until it's cycled enough to add a fish. Then I will add the fish for that purpose.
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