Elementary question about nitrifying bacteria

[Lauren B.]

I don't know that this has been asked, but I've been wondering for a few days now....

If beneficial bacteria need ammonia to stay alive, how do they stay alive in its packaging? I'm reading the Bio-Spira label and all it lists is water and the various strains of Nitros that it contains.

Why don't the bacteria starve to death?

[Chrona]

They are refrigerated. At those temps, the bacteria are in stasis.

[cocoa_pleco]

ive wondered that too.

They probably throw in some kinda foody stuff in

[Lady Hobbs]

The bacteria is live and needs to be kept that way to remain alive. The other types, stress zyme, cycle, etc, is dormant bacteria and remains that way until it goes into the water. (or so it says)

I don't know as I'd say it needs ammonia to remain alive. It's just an added bacteria you add to your tank to help speed up the cycle. That stuff, alone will not cycle a tank but is only an aid to speed up the progress you usually use.

I'm surprised that you so often hear about biospira but no one ever mentioned cultured gravel. Cultured gravel also has added bacteria to it already at the factory and that helps speed a cycle as well. You don't need to use it for all your gravel but added to the top layer would get things going.

[cocoa_pleco]

i was going to get that live sand stuff again for my sw tank but noone here had sw substrate except for crushed sea shells so whatever.

[kenyth]

I know this sounds nasty, but a nice bag of dirty water from a gravel cleaning of a well established tank, especially a warm water cichlid tank with an UG filter, will almost instantly cycle your new tank.