gourami*girl
10-26-2008, 12:57 PM
I'm currently running a 20 gallon tank with a m/2f trio of dwarf gouramis. I started my tank cycling with Biospira so I thought I'd note it's effectiveness in my hands for other's curiosity.
Attempt 1: Using Biospira for fishless cycling.
Added packet of Biospira (enough for a 30 gallon tank) to water containing 1ppm pure ammonia. 2 weeks later: no change in ammonia, no presence of nitrites or nitrates. Decided packet was either dead, or pouring bacteria into ammonia water before they established killed them. Next try I decide to do it the way they write on the packet.
Attempt 2: Using Biospira with fish for cycling.
Got another packet of Biospira from the LFS. Waited 24 hours, then added my trio of gouramis. Following are my readings:
For the first few days:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 5ish
After about a week:
Ammonia - between 0 and 0.25
Nitrites - between 0.25 and 0.5
Nitrates - between 5 and 10
Present (after a week and a half):
Ammonia - between 0.25 and 0.5
Nitrites - 1
Nitrates - 10
I've been doing 50% water changes every 2 days or so to keep ammonia and nitrites down. Fish seem fine and happy, no signs of ammonia poisoning.
So my thoughts are that the Biospira is working (I have never seen a high ammonia level and after just 2 weeks my tank is well on its way to cycled). I think there were bacteria present, but not enough to control the bioload of this tank. Therefore, it does not work as well as it is advertised. You cannot simply add Biospira, completely stock your tank, and forget about it.
Conclusions: 1) Don't add Biospira to ammonia containing water.
2) If using fish and Biospira, add just a few hardy fish at first b/c there will be a cycle.
3) Monitering water parameters and frequent water changes are necessary.
4) Biospira can be used to speed up a fish cycle.
Hope this information helps someone :19:
Attempt 1: Using Biospira for fishless cycling.
Added packet of Biospira (enough for a 30 gallon tank) to water containing 1ppm pure ammonia. 2 weeks later: no change in ammonia, no presence of nitrites or nitrates. Decided packet was either dead, or pouring bacteria into ammonia water before they established killed them. Next try I decide to do it the way they write on the packet.
Attempt 2: Using Biospira with fish for cycling.
Got another packet of Biospira from the LFS. Waited 24 hours, then added my trio of gouramis. Following are my readings:
For the first few days:
Ammonia - 0
Nitrites - 0
Nitrates - 5ish
After about a week:
Ammonia - between 0 and 0.25
Nitrites - between 0.25 and 0.5
Nitrates - between 5 and 10
Present (after a week and a half):
Ammonia - between 0.25 and 0.5
Nitrites - 1
Nitrates - 10
I've been doing 50% water changes every 2 days or so to keep ammonia and nitrites down. Fish seem fine and happy, no signs of ammonia poisoning.
So my thoughts are that the Biospira is working (I have never seen a high ammonia level and after just 2 weeks my tank is well on its way to cycled). I think there were bacteria present, but not enough to control the bioload of this tank. Therefore, it does not work as well as it is advertised. You cannot simply add Biospira, completely stock your tank, and forget about it.
Conclusions: 1) Don't add Biospira to ammonia containing water.
2) If using fish and Biospira, add just a few hardy fish at first b/c there will be a cycle.
3) Monitering water parameters and frequent water changes are necessary.
4) Biospira can be used to speed up a fish cycle.
Hope this information helps someone :19: