The whole point to using bio-spira, I thought, was so that you didn't have to be patient. Add fish, add bio-spira and wham!! instantly cycled tank. If it takes me two to three weeks to cycle my tanks with fish (with no losses I might add) why would I go out and spend a fair amount of money for a product that is also going to take the same amount of time?
At Wit's End: Why Isn't Bio-Spira Working??
- Thread starter dimsem
- Start date
Here is my story with BS. I started my 29G tank in Nov, and got ich probably 4 weeks later and went though 10 days medication. (BTW, before the mediacation, the nitrite is about 5ppm, I just wish I know more about cycle before.) I was using the Amquel+ to help keeping the ammonia and Nitrite down during medication.
After I heard of the wanderful story of BS, I got a pack after the medication is done, hoping it can speed up the cycle after the medication. After replacing the filter for couple of days, I added 1oz BS each week for three weeks. During the 3 weeks, Ammonia is getting as high as 0.5, and drop down to 0 within a week, but Nitrite is keeping at about 1-2ppm level until about 3 weeks passed. I was doing daily 20% water change in the first week and 3 days water change in the following 2 week. I have 11 guppies and 3 danios left after the medication, and added two corys and 2 dwarf gouramis during that 3 weeks.
So, In my case, BS does works (compare to what happened with my tank before the medication), but not as good as some people said that it can keep the ammonia and Nitrite to be 0 all the time. And it does take some times.
After I heard of the wanderful story of BS, I got a pack after the medication is done, hoping it can speed up the cycle after the medication. After replacing the filter for couple of days, I added 1oz BS each week for three weeks. During the 3 weeks, Ammonia is getting as high as 0.5, and drop down to 0 within a week, but Nitrite is keeping at about 1-2ppm level until about 3 weeks passed. I was doing daily 20% water change in the first week and 3 days water change in the following 2 week. I have 11 guppies and 3 danios left after the medication, and added two corys and 2 dwarf gouramis during that 3 weeks.
So, In my case, BS does works (compare to what happened with my tank before the medication), but not as good as some people said that it can keep the ammonia and Nitrite to be 0 all the time. And it does take some times.
In this case, I am surprised the BS worked as well as it did for you. If you started doing water changes right after adding the BS and everyday that first week, you probably sucked a lot of it right down the drain. It takes a few days to settle somewhere in your tank and is free-floating in the beginning. The trick to having a successful experience with the BS is of course to have a batch of living bacteria, and to dose it exactly as directed. Many folks add it after they already have an ammonia or nitrite reading and then wonder why their fish die. It still works in a tank with existing ammonia, but it has to play catch up, and with fish continually supplying more ammonia to the tank, it may not catch up fast enough to save those fish in the tank. It also seems to work better if a full bio load of fish is added from the beginning.
I have never used this product and from the stories I think I may just not bother with it. I don't see why I should when I could add a fish to tank and just be slow with it and use my old filter cartridge to jump start the tank. spooky stuff. :soda:
You are probably right: changing wanter daily isn't a good thing for BS, but I was trying to get rid of the medicine as soon as possible.Gunnie said:
BS may work best with a new tank, but I think I will not try that for quite a while
I used Bio-Spiro on my 29 gallon tank. I added 3 angels, 4 cories, and 4 zebra loaches plus the Bio-Spiro. My ammonia did get to 1.0 ppm after 4 days. I then did a water change and then my nitrites went to 1.0 ppm a few days later. By day 8 I had no ammonia and no nitrites. I am now doing regular water changes, 20% once a week and cleanings and have a cycled tank! I swear by the stuff. No fishy cycle or fishless cycle. Just a tank that is stocked with fish the same day I bought it. :bowing:
Dimsem, how is your tank doing? You never did mention the size of the tank which could be a factor. No matter how much Bio Spira you add it won't cycle an overstuffed tank.
For those worried about Bio Spira, there are plenty of success stories for ever bad story you hear. The stuff works well for those without access to filter seeding material. I used it very successfully for my first tank.
For those worried about Bio Spira, there are plenty of success stories for ever bad story you hear. The stuff works well for those without access to filter seeding material. I used it very successfully for my first tank.
I'm happy to report that for the first time today I am definitely seeing nitrates. Between 5 and 10 ppm. Ammonia is about 0.5 ppm. Nitrites are low; much closer to 0 ppm than to 5. My impression is that the nitrite-eating bacteria are in good shape, and that it was the ammonia eaters that didn't come on line as quickly as I expected. Hopefully my ammonia will start dropping significantly soon.
dimsem said:
Glad to hear its looking up. You're impression probably isn't too accurate though
The ammonia eating bacteria create the nitrites so their colony really has to be established first. In any event, progress is good!Tom
I follow your logic. I thought it was curious, though, that I could have ammonia and nitrAtes but no nitrites; it seemed like there had to be some explanation for why I would have the initial and final products but not the middle one. Anyway, this morning my nitrites are up (0.25 ppm) so it all makes more sense.tomm10 said:Glad to hear its looking up. You're impression probably isn't too accurate though
Tom
