Bad batch of Bio-spira

how did you handle the bio-spira?

that stinks, sometimes it happens though.

Bio-Spira needs to be added all at once.

H3D said:

Bio-Spira needs to be added all at once.

Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Several people suggested to me to add it in 2 doses, one dose on one day and the other the next day to allow time for the "ammonia eating" bacteria to eat the ammonia and produce some nitrite for the "nitrite eating" bacteria to eat.

I added a 90 gal. packet of bio-spira to my 46 gal tank over a period of 4 days and it worked just fine. On day 1 my readings were as follows:

ammonia: 1 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 0 ppm

My readings today (day 5) were:

ammonia: 0 ppm
nitrite: 0 ppm
nitrate: 5 ppm

So obviously, it doesn't have to be added all at once for it to work.

While it may not "need" to be added all at once. Marineland recomends that you do.

Just some info. from Marineland web site :idea:



CRITICAL CARE INFORMATION:
For new aquariums, first condition water with BIO-Safe™. Adjust aquarium water temperature. Add BIO-Spira™ and BIO-Coat™ along with fish. See your retailer for advice on the number of fish appropriate the size of your aquarium. BIO-Spira may also be added with each water change, when adding additional fish, and established aquaria that are experiencing water quality problems due to disruption of the bio-filter.
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DIRECTIONS FOR USE:
Shake well before each use. Use 1 ounce (29.6 ml) of BIO-Spira per 30 gallons of water. BIO-Spira cannot be overdosed. Keep refrigerated. Be sure to shut off any UV sterilizers and remove medication by means of a water change or activated carbon.

IMPORTANT:
BIO-Spira is a "live" bacteria culture that is sold refrigerated and must be kept refrigerated until used. It can not be overdosed. Repeated dosing of your aquarium with ammonia removing liquids (such as BIO-Safe, Amquel, Ammo-lock and Aqua-Safe) can inhibit the beneficial action of BIO-Spira. Ammonia removing liquids should only be used to initially treat tap water. It is normal to have a small (<2 ppm) amount of ammonia or nitrate during the first few days after set-up. These concentrations are not harmful and will quickly drop to zero with proper use of BIO-Spira.

From Marineland FAQ:

Q: I have a 10 gallon aquarium; can I add the whole 1oz pouch of BIO-Spira®?

A: Yes, a 1oz pouch can treat up to 30 gallons. Adding the entire contents of a 1oz pouch of BIO-Spira® to a 10 gallon tank is recommended.

Borrowed from: http://www.marineland.com/cus_faq.asp#51

OK, you've proved you're point that it is RECOMMENDED, not required, to add the entire contents. You're first post to the OP gave the impression that one had to add the entire contents at one time to the tank or it would not work.

All I'm saying is that bio-spira can be added over a period of a few days with no ill effects on the bacteria. I think it all comes down to whether you have a good batch or not. I'm not arguing the fact that it is recommended to add all of it at once, I know that it is, I read the packet before I used it. But I also know that I didn't add it all at once and my tank cycled just fine.

Infact, I didn't follow the instructions at all. I didn't condition my water with bio-safe and I didn't add the bio-spira with a full load of fish. I added the bio-spira and then added fish 2 days later. The only reason that worked for me, however, is the fact that my tap water has an ammonia level of 4 ppm.