Bs or what?

[rookie]

I just bought nutrafin CYCLE do u think I have a chance of this actually cycling my tank or is it bs. I think I know my answer but just thought I would ask

[bushwhacker]

most of these products are just that BS... your best bet is straight ammonia if you want to do fishless or if your old school like me go grab a six pack of danios (and a six pack of beer) and watch your tank parameters and do your water changes as needed

[rookie]

most of these products are just that BS... your best bet is straight ammonia if you want to do fishless or if your old school like me go grab a six pack of danios (and a six pack of beer) and watch your tank parameters and do your water changes as needed

lol thats so funny because that is exactly what i did. but i actually grabed a jack and coke and 11 danios :hmm3grin2orange: . however this is the first time that i am doing it knowing to check paramiters. but im kinda driving my self nuts because i keep testing and testing and not getting anything. is it because i only had the angel up untill yesterday and he didnt put off that much ammonia and i was doing alot of wc's.

how long is the prime active in my tank. for example i put the prime in 3 days ago when i did a large wc. now that i have the danios is the prime still nutralizing the new amonia.

and i have read everything on cycling possible many many jack and cokes ago. can you refresh my memory just the few key things im looking for and when it is best to be doing my wc's

im sure i know this all but it is good to have a refresher mabe i forgot some stuff. thanks guys

[Taurus]

Prime will turn ammonia into ammonium (less toxic) for 48 hours. The the ammonium will convert back to ammonia after 48 hours. Your biofilter will still consume and grow on ammonium. The biofilter if mature will convert both ammonia and ammonium into nitrites, then into nitrates. Water changes if done within the 48 hour period with Prime will keep ammonia in the less toxic form of ammonium. Ammonia or Ammonium, the biofilter will still work turning both into nitrates.

I use Prime with every water change. Prime can detox a lot of nasty stuff in your water other than the big 3. It is my water conditioner of choice.

[MonkeyPox]

most of these products are just that BS...

I could not disagree more. When used correctly, I've seen a lot of people report great success.
The old Bio-Spira had problems with shipping and temp, but the current bottled supplements are quit sufficient.

[rookie]

will too many WC's slow the cycle process because im constently taking out the ammonia

[Taurus]

I'll stand up for Seachem's Stability. I used it earlier this summer when starting up my 29g and it worked very well. So it's not all BS. But there are a lot of variables that will produce different results for different people.

[Taurus]

will too many WC's slow the cycle process because im constently taking out the ammonia

If you're cycling with fish, then no because the fish will excrete ammonia.

If you're doing fishless, just add the ammonia back up to the necessary levels.

Water changes never slow down a cycle. That is a common misconception. :22:

[Wild Turkey]

I just bought nutrafin CYCLE do u think I have a chance of this actually cycling my tank or is it bs. I think I know my answer but just thought I would ask

Personally I would give it a straight 50/50 shot if you use it as recommended.

Let me explain;

The old cycle looks like this:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

That stuff is worthless. If thats what you have dont add it to the tank at all imo. If you did, do a few water changes and forget you have it. If you check the reviews in the product review section you will quickly see why.

The new cycle looks like this:
[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]
People have reported this stuff working a lot more like the good ones (bio-spira, tetra safestart, api stress zyme) with results of pretty much no ammonia spikes in most cases, some nitrite spikes and a fully cycled tank in about one week.

This makes me suspect the newer version does actually contain live bacteria. What else? Im not sure, and It wouldnt be my first choice because of it. However, this product does actually have a good shot of cycling your tank in the way the good bacteria culture products do.

[Taurus]

The only thing that I would add is keeping them water temperature near 80 degrees f will help the good bacteria multiply faster.

I should have taken a picture of the bacterial bloom I had using Stability on the second and third day of use. Massive. But then it had cleared up and into the filter media by the end of day 5. Just add a cap full each day for 7 days and with a water change after that for about another week. To me, the bloom is the indicator of whether or not the stuff is working. If you see a bloom, it work. No bloom, not so much. :22:

[MonkeyPox]

The only ones I've had personal success with is Stability and SafeStart. Each of those has yielded positive results 100% of the time.

[Wild Turkey]

I hear stability is excellent a lot; though thats one I havent tried.

Ive used all the ones I mentioned with good results except api stress zyme, However I use Big Al's Bio-support with good results and it advertises being the same formula, but cheaper of course :D

[bushwhacker]

all good advice here... ive just never belived in pour this bottle in and your tanks safe for fish.. you still have to check those parameters every day, and do your changes till you see things are right .. so why spend the money on em?

[BridalWreath]

I hear stability is excellent a lot; though thats one I havent tried.

Ive used all the ones I mentioned with good results except api stress zyme, However I use Big Al's Bio-support with good results and it advertises being the same formula, but cheaper of course :D


I have used API Stress Zyme with excellent results! Plus it has a good smell to it. xD

[Little Embers]

For me, I have always just left it up to "Mother Nature" to do her job...in her own time....and it's free.