Bacteria Supplements

**Kayfish** · 05-16-2011, 07:48 PM

Hello, I know from reading info on this forum that allot of people are saying that most bacteria supplements do nothing. I'm in the process of cycling my tank and I added the recommended amout at startup and now have been adding Nutrafin biological supplement after every water change. Is this nessasary? Also is it a good idea to use this after my tank is cycled? Meaning when added new fish or routine water changes?
PS- I have been adding seachems Prime to condition new water.
Advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Mike.

**Sandz** · 05-16-2011, 08:09 PM

Hey Mike, there are opinions on both sides of whether they work or not. Mine is that some do and some dont. A lot of people add products like Seachem's Stability to their tanks with addition of new fish. I dont think it can hurt but the only way to know you are cycling a tank properly is by your water tests. Keep a log of the water tests and how fast your bacteria churn through their ammonia and you will find that way a bit more telling than any opinion on here.

Now if you are doing fish in while you are adding this supplement, water tests are far more important. They will be the only key to tell you yes or no to the question of if its working.

I guess I should of asked this first but... if you are cycling currently, what is your source of ammonia? What are your test readings?

Lastly, with waterchanges it is completly unnecissary as you are not killing your bacteria when removing the water (bacteria doesnt reside in the water column).

**Spidyman** · 05-16-2011, 08:11 PM

Ihave heard it it not nessasary and does very little if anything. But if you want you can continue using it until it is done cycling but it is pointless to use it after.

**Sandz** · 05-16-2011, 08:20 PM

Oh... also... if you are cycling and want to use an external source outside of growing your own BB... why not just ask someone for a bag of mulm? Whether that be a friend with an established filter or a LFS, they all have to have something and I find most of them more than willing to help out. That will almost instant cycle the tank in most cases.

**Cliff** · 05-16-2011, 08:49 PM

I have used a few different bacteria additives for both fresh water and salt water. From my experience the supplements can and certainly do help, but you don’t “need” them. Wither or not to use them can be a personal choice. For me, I don’t think I’ll be using them again and save myself the money.

**Kayfish** · 05-16-2011, 11:42 PM

I am cycling with fish. Wasnt the ideal way but got in over my head before I knew what i was doing. The problem with getting BB from an established tank is kind of out of the question. I dont know anyone with a tank anymore and frankly dont trust the local PS do to bad advice so far and tanks with very sickly looking fish. :( I'm 3 and a half weeks in and havent seen a trace of nitrites yet. I have been testing the water twice a day and doing a WC everyday cause the ammonia levels seem to be rising 0.25 per day.

**Sandz** · 05-17-2011, 12:16 AM

Fish in cycles take a good while.. If you run out of the cycle stuff you are using now, give Stability by seachem a chance. I actually trust Seachem.

**Kayfish** · 05-17-2011, 01:19 AM

ok will do. Seachem stability is just a BB then? Someone told me it's no good when you have fish in the tank. If I did get some mulm from a PS, what do I do just dump it in and wait? Thanks for the help.

**Cliff** · 05-17-2011, 01:48 AM

Be careful getting mulm from a LSF. If they have any fungus, parasites, or other nasty stuff like that in their tanks, there is a chance it could be transfered to your tank. Just a risk you need to think about

And Seachem Stability is safe for use in tanks with fish. I have used it before with fish in my tank. As Sandz stated, it's among the better products. Just follow the instructions on the bottle and it will be fine