About 13 hours ago I stocked a 12 gal. aquarium (my first) with a couple of dwarf Gourami, a couple of Corys, and a handful of Neons. I added a packet of Bio-Spira just before the fish went in. At this point, my ammonia is at 0.25 ppm and my nitrites are 0 (which I take to mean that I am not getting any bacterial action to speak to of). Should I, this soon? Did the Bio-Spira not take? Or am I okay?
USing Bio-SPira: What Numbers Should I see?
- Thread starter dimsem
- Start date
Okay, I won't get worried yet; thanks. Should I dose the water with Amquel+? I haven't been able to figure ot whether that would interfere with the Bio-SPira bacteria by depriving it of the ammonia it needs.
Do not dose with amquel+. It may affect your bacteria. The only water conditioner that is safe to use right now is the bio safe. Not sure if it helps with the ammonia or not though. Check for nitrates. That's when you will know the bio spira is working. Post your results here please! 
As it turns out, I have one sample of Bio-Safe I could use. I have a Marineland Eclipse system, so they included some freebies. But just out of curiosity, what ti s the difference between in and Amquel+? I was just reading about them both and they sound very similar (although maybe the page was talking about Amquel without the +). Also, Should I take my carbon filter out before using these... and can I readd it when I fiunish with them?Gunnie said:Do not dose with amquel+. It may affect your bacteria. The only water conditioner that is safe to use right now is the bio safe. Not sure if it helps with the ammonia or not though. Check for nitrates. That's when you will know the bio spira is working. Post your results here please!
Okay, I added nothing today. I'm at about 27 hours after adding BS. Ammonia is still at 0.25 pp. Nitrites at 0. I haven't fed them today; should I?
Do you have a nitrAte test kit? Seeing nitrAtes would be a good sign that the nitrifying bacteria have taken a foothold.
I can check that again. I guess I assumed that if nitrites are still zero then nitrates would be too.
Nope, in a cycled tank Ammonia should be 0, Nitrites should be 0 and nitrates should have a reading. The bacteria break the nitrites into less toxic nitrates.
I understand... but I am just starting to cycle. I still have ammonia, and my nitrites have stayed at 0 the whole time. Don't I need an initial nitrite spike before nitrates show up?