Bio Spira Questions

rlhaag

rlhaag

AC Members
Mar 9, 2007
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Lewiston, ID
Today after work I went and got some Bio Spira due to slow cycling. I read on the package that some water conditioners can kill the bacteria, and was wondering if Prime is one you have to worry about, as this is what I use. Also, do I need to wait any length of time before doing PWC's? I just want to make sure I don't mess up the Bio Spira because I am really ready to have a cycled tank!! Thanks! :)
 
rlhaag said:
Today after work I went and got some Bio Spira due to slow cycling. I read on the package that some water conditioners can kill the bacteria, and was wondering if Prime is one you have to worry about, as this is what I use. Also, do I need to wait any length of time before doing PWC's? I just want to make sure I don't mess up the Bio Spira because I am really ready to have a cycled tank!! Thanks! :)
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hehe im sure they specifically told you to use bio safe- the conditioner made by marineland. i have no experience with bio spira but i think they are just trying to get you to buy another one of their products.
 
If you are in the camp that spira works, then any conditioner will do that works for your aquarium.

Do you have fish, or no? If no, then just wait it our and test daily (but you will need to introduce a food source for the nitrificating bacteria.

If you do have fish, wait at least 24 hours to let the "bacteria" that you introduced settle. Again, test daily (or more once the cycle starts to kick in) and keep you water readings within tolerable levels.
 
unless you are heavely stocked you don't need water changes, unless they are really high to begine with.. if so water change first then add bio spira and then test 12 hours later and if all under 1ppm then leave alone and let it work, if you must water change then wait 24hours after you added the bio spira.. to let the bacteria settel down and get hold on substrate and filters and such.. if it hasn't been killed in route it should solve the problem in about 4 weeks... only water change if in danger levels or if fish are acting really stressed, otherwise leave alone...if after 3 12hour test the readings stay the same then its fine if they increase than 25% water ch. as longe as its at or below 1ppm and stays there than your fine.. feedonly 1x day till cycled.. just to lighten the load..
 
ct-death said:
If you are in the camp that spira works, then any conditioner will do that works for your aquarium.
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That is not true. Some conditioners contain "other" bacteria which can interfere with the Bio-Spira's effectiveness, however Prime will not do this.
 
H3D said:
That is not true. Some conditioners contain "other" bacteria which can interfere with the Bio-Spira's effectiveness, however Prime will not do this.
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Good to know (I actually did not know that!?!)... I wonder what type of bacteria is present? If this is true are they good to use in a aquatic tank dependent on these bacteria that are being adversely affected!?!? This seems counter intuitive to me, but maybe it's just me...?:confused: I wonder how large WCs effect the bacterial systems in this case? I could easily see how this could lead to some of the more preplexing scenarios of the "never ending cycle" when WCs are blamed for the delay?

Do you know which conditioners? I use Stress Coat myself, but I know there are 4-5 popular ones out there...

Thanks H3D ;)
 
ct-death said:
I wonder how large WCs effect the bacterial systems in this case? I could easily see how this could lead to some of the more preplexing scenarios of the "never ending cycle" when WCs are blamed for the delay?
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My understanding is that the bacteria generally lives on the surfaces within the aquarium. When you dump the BioSpira in the bacteria is floating in the water, and needs a chance to settle into it's new home. Were you to do a WC, especially a large one, before that happened you'd change out all the bacteria you just added. Once the bacteria is establised, it should multiply where it's at, so once it's had a chance to get on the surfaces it will multiply there as well.
 
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