Live Bacteria

[salman]

Hello, I'm on day 4 of the fish cycling process, my ammonia is at .50. Today i was at my LFS, and i saw this Biological Filtration Booster, it contains liquid live bacteria, i bought it. But, i dont know if i should use it or not. The bacteria will eat up all the ammonia, will it speed up the cycle... or not cycle it at all? Any help is highly appreciated but please do it fast before i do something i will regret lol.

[RobbieG]

If it came in the refrigerator it will help to cycle your tank - if not you probably got ripped off.

Either way it won't hurt anything to add it - and may help

Good Luck

[salman]

It's not refrigerated, and i was surprised when i saw in on the shelf. Then i read on the back that you dont need to refrigerate it. I just added it to my tank. How will the results change? Will is speed up? or just lower the ammonia?

[gm72]

It is snake oil. Of no use at all. Probably won't do a darned thing. Sorry to say you are the victim of false advertising. Similar to those products you see advertised as "Take this pill and lose 50 pounds in a single DAY!"

[jessie]

I personally have not tried it, but there has been much debate about "live bacteria" additives, and so far I have heard others say that the only one that actually works and contains live bacteria is a product called BioSpira.

[gm72]

jessie has it exactly right.

[MeganL3985]

Its probably just like that bottled cycle stuff I see at walmart.

[zackish]

I personally have not tried it, but there has been much debate about "live bacteria" additives, and so far I have heard others say that the only one that actually works and contains live bacteria is a product called BioSpira.

Biospira is the only one.
I wish a place around me had it.

[salman]

Well i guess i got ripped off. It was for 14 dollars.

But, if it were for it to work, how will it change the results?

[Darkness]

if it were to work, it would introduce a load of bacteria into the tank, instead of having to wait weeks for the bacteria to naturally grow. thats all

[Chrona]

Well i guess i got ripped off. It was for 14 dollars.

But, if it were for it to work, how will it change the results?

Should drop the ammonia/nitrite levels, while raising the nitrate levels significantly in a very short period of time and keeping them that way.

[zackish]

Dam $14!!!

[Lady Hobbs]

It will not hurt your tank so if you've added it, this is fine. Even if it helps just a bit it's worth it.

[salman]

After buying it, i read some reviews about it online, and a lot of people have been giving it good reviews. I added it about 24 hours ago, so i hope i see results soon! Common Nitrates.. lol

[zackish]

Even biospira takes several days. I remember someone on here used it and they said their tank was fully cycled in 4 days.
Either way, give it a few days.

[salman]

Even biospira takes several days. I remember someone on here used it and they said their tank was fully cycled in 4 days.
Either way, give it a few days.

I'm not really in a rush, i was in the beginning, i get so excited about buying stuff, after buying the tank, and the decorations and everything else.. Now im not in a rush lol. But hopefully it will finish cycling soon! ;p So i can welcome my new fish.

[zackish]

Are you adding pure ammonia or any kind of stuff that will break down into ammonia?

[j0hnh0lmes]

I've been using the stuff called Cycle, you do have to stick it in the fridge after you open it, and it helped cycle my tank in 2 weeks....technically 1 b/c I started to use it 1 week after I setup the tank... then again it could all be in my head.

[elmer]

Read this:

[Only Registered Users Can See Links.]

[salman]

I just tested my tank for ammonia, and it dropped from 0.50 to 0. I think it's working. The nitrites are at 0, still no sign of nitrites. When i see trace of nitrates, will that mean my tank is cycled?

[Lady Hobbs]

Salman, you have to have nitrites before you'll ever have nitrates. When the ammonia reads 0, and the nitrites also read 0, you will have your tank cycled. Just do a large water change then because your nitrates will be high.

ammonia>nitrites>nitrates

Your readings confused me. If you had .50 and they dropped, you should show some nitrites.

[salman]

I started cycling the tank about a week ago, day 3 had .25 ammonia, day 5 had .50 and day 6 had .50. I got up in the morning and i tested it, and it read 0 ammonia. 5 minutes ago i tested it again, i must have done something wrong in the morning, because now its between .25 and .50 The color is in between. So i am assuming its .35. But there are still no nitrites and its been a week.

[salman]

I think i may have a problem cycling my tank. It's been 9 days now and all i got was .25-.30 ammonia. I guess thats normal for a 100 gallon tank, But there are no nitrites. Is my cycle just delayed or am i not doing things right? I haven't changed the water, messed with the filters, changed the gravel or anything. I used to keep the lights on for 24 hours, but now reduced it to 12. I have 50 neon tetra's in the tank. Should i add something rotten to the tank to boost the ammonia, or overfeed them? Or should i just wait and hope the nitrites show up? I read that nitrites should show after 2 days of the ammonia.

[Dave66]

Salmon,
No tank cycles in nine days. Be patient, grasshopper :) Takes minimum a month for a tank to cycle and stabilize. Bacterial additives/ammonia removers do nothing other than short circut the natural processes that make keeping aquariums possible. When you get 0 on both ammonia and nitrite, you're there.
Dave

[salman]

Salmon,
No tank cycles in nine days. Be patient, grasshopper :) Takes minimum a month for a tank to cycle and stabilize. Bacterial additives/ammonia removers do nothing other than short circut the natural processes that make keeping aquariums possible. When you get 0 on both ammonia and nitrite, you're there.
Dave


I know that, but when do i get any trace of nitrites? When i get nitrites ill start to not worry.

[Dave66]

The Nitrobacter bacteria is so efficient in breaking down ammonia to nitrite its doubtful you'll see a nitrite spike on hobby level test kits.
By the way, what, if anything, is in the tank? Are you using ammonia to cycle it? I have tanks considerably larger than 100 and have never had detectable ammonia or nitrite.
You might want to invest in electronic monitors to test your water; far more accurate than commonly available reagent-based kits.
Dave

[salman]

The Nitrobacter bacteria is so efficient in breaking down ammonia to nitrite its doubtful you'll see a nitrite spike on hobby level test kits.
By the way, what, if anything, is in the tank? Are you using ammonia to cycle it? I have tanks considerably larger than 100 and have never had detectable ammonia or nitrite.
You might want to invest in electronic monitors to test your water; far more accurate than commonly available reagent-based kits.
Dave

I used to have 8 tiger barbs at first, (the first day) When i was told 8 barbs would do nothing to the tank. And that the toxic levels wouldn't get high. So i decided to get 50 neon tetra's because i was going to keep them. What would i do with 50 tiger barbs? lol. I'm doing a fish cycle because i couldn't find some pure ammonia. They all had some stuff with them.

I just found this graph, and it seems like everything looks normal, and that i should have gotten some nitrites today or tomorrow.
2138

[gm72]

As Dave said, be patient. Don't do anything. You'll get your nitrIte spike soon enough.

[jessie]

Good luck cycling with neon tetras...one of the most delicate fish to start the whole process with. I wish you luck, but wouldn't be suprised if many of them die during the process. They are not known to be really hardy fish.

[RobbieG]

Ordinarily I would agree 100% with Jessie on this - but with a 100 gallon tank the swings in water quality should be pretty moderate - they may be OK.

[salman]

Ordinarily I would agree 100% with Jessie on this - but with a 100 gallon tank the swings in water quality should be pretty moderate - they may be OK.

I had 8 tiger barbs at first, but then i was told i couldn't cycle a tank with only 8 barbs. So i move the barbs into another tank and went and got me 50 neon tetra's knowing that they aren't hardy fish, but in a 100 gallon the ammonia and nitrite won't get that high so i shouldn't worry a lot. And i only awnt 20-25 once the tank cycles, so if they all make it, ill move the other half to another tank.