bio spira question

B

bapski

newbie in the tank!
Feb 18, 2006
28
0
0
its been almost a week since ive put bio-spira. my water readings are:

high ph:7.8
ammonia:0.25
nitrite:0
nitrate:0

question: do i have to do a water change? if so by how much? 10%, 25% or 50%? reason im asking is because i was told at the lfs not to touch my water. and ive been advised in another forum to go on with my pwc. so now im confused.

i have btw a 55 gallon tank with 6 african cichlids (one is supposedly an american cichlid trying to ask help in id it on another thread).

i have two power filters. one EMPEROR 400 with HYDOR CERAMIC and HYDOR LAVA as additional filter medias. and one WHISPER 60.
 
A week is a VERY long time to be showing ammonia with Bio Spira. This isn't right. When Bio Spira doesn't cycle within 48hrs, it usually burps on the nitrites.

No, don't change the water. Leave it. Just make sure you use Prime or Amquel+ to detoxify the ammonia. Don't over dose it.

Did you add the fish in the same time you added the Bio Spira? Or did you put those in separately, or on another day, or what?
What kind of water conditioner did you use?
Did you add anything else to the tank water that doesn't come out of your tap?

Roan
 
Roan Art said:
A week is a VERY long time to be showing ammonia with Bio Spira. This isn't right. When Bio Spira doesn't cycle within 48hrs, it usually burps on the nitrites.

No, don't change the water. Leave it. Just make sure you use Prime or Amquel+ to detoxify the ammonia. Don't over dose it.

Did you add the fish in the same time you added the Bio Spira? Or did you put those in separately, or on another day, or what?

had the fish in first, ammonia was at 1.0 was advised to get bio-spira

What kind of water conditioner did you use?

used seachem's prime

Did you add anything else to the tank water that doesn't come out of your tap?

nope did not add anything save for something to clear haziness in water..think its WATER CLARIFIER by tetra

Roan
Click to expand...

........................................................
 
bapski said:
had the fish in first, ammonia was at 1.0 was advised to get bio-spira
Click to expand...
Okay, so it's been at 1.0 for a week AFTER you added Bio Spira? Sorry, but I have to clarify so we can help you figure this out.

nope did not add anything save for something to clear haziness in water..think its WATER CLARIFIER by tetra
Click to expand...
Okay, doing research on that. Don't add anything else to your tank, kay?

Roan
 
djmodifyd said:
don't mean to hijack.....but what does "burps on the nitrites" mean?
Click to expand...
The bacteria that consume nitrites are very fragile and sometimes have difficulty finding "room" to colonize in the tank. I use the term "room" loosely -- don't take that literally -- it's either that or a great big long speil and several links of reference because I can't quite simplify that one enough yet.

Hrm, lemme say that nitrite eaters get out-competed by the ammonia eaters and nitrate eaters. There are certain things that they require to establish and reproduce, but the ammonia and nitrate guys sometimes hog it all. I think that'll do.

Anyhow, so what I mean is that during regular fishy or fishless cycle, the ammonia part, in comparison to the nitrite part, goes real fast. It takes longer for the nitrite guys to establish themselves because they have to compete with the other hogs.

The same holds true for cycling with Bio Spira. You usually don't see the ammonia at all, especially in a 24 hour cycle. If there *are* any problems and the cycle takes over 24 hours, it "stalls" or slows down on the nitrites.

So what he is saying is rather weird and rather, IME, abnormal.

Roan
 
Roan Art said:
Okay, so it's been at 1.0 for a week AFTER you added Bio Spira? Sorry, but I have to clarify so we can help you figure this out.

Okay, doing research on that. Don't add anything else to your tank, kay?

Roan
Click to expand...

nope it was at 1.0 then i added the bio-spira....then ammonia went down to 0.25 up till now.
 
Okay, two more questions, bapski --

You didn't do a water change within 48 hours of using the Bio Spira, did you?
Are you using a UV?
Are you sure you shook the package thoroughly?

I know that one sounds a little insulting, but you'd be surprised how many people do not "shake well" even when the instructions say to. The bacteria settle on the bottom of the package and if you do not shake well, then all that will go in your tank is the liquid.

I did read a few things in regards to the Water Clarifier, but nothing that really points to this type of a problem.

What I would do is get another package of Bio Spira. Make sure you do NOT let it get warm. Drive straight home. Shake the bag until your arms fall off and dump it in the tank.

Wait 24 hours. Test the water. If ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates ~10ppm, post here. If not, wait another 24 hours and test again. If the results are not as the above, post here and we'll take it from there.

Do not change the water for 48 hours after adding the Bio Spira or you will just remove the bacteria.

Roan
 
Roan Art said:
Okay, two more questions, bapski --

You didn't do a water change within 48 hours of using the Bio Spira, did you?

its exactly 6 days after i put the bio-spira and i have not done any water change yet. i do plan to do one today if indicated. maybe a 25% pwc?

Are you using a UV?

nope

Are you sure you shook the package thoroughly?

yes i did

I know that one sounds a little insulting, but you'd be surprised how many people do not "shake well" even when the instructions say to. The bacteria settle on the bottom of the package and if you do not shake well, then all that will go in your tank is the liquid.

no not all. newbie and confused as i am, i need all the help i can get as i think it has been overwhelming and frustrating for me. so i appreciate and am grateful for all the help i can get.

I did read a few things in regards to the Water Clarifier, but nothing that really points to this type of a problem.

What I would do is get another package of Bio Spira. Make sure you do NOT let it get warm. Drive straight home. Shake the bag until your arms fall off and dump it in the tank.

so would i do a water change before adding some more bio-spira?

Wait 24 hours. Test the water. If ammonia 0, nitrites 0, nitrates ~10ppm, post here. If not, wait another 24 hours and test again. If the results are not as the above, post here and we'll take it from there.

Do not change the water for 48 hours after adding the Bio Spira or you will just remove the bacteria.

Roan
Click to expand...

.................................................
 
bapski,

When you do a quote, try not to include your responses in the blue part. Separate it out. When you do that and try to post the message, the code tells you your message is too short and you end up putting ------------ in there so that it will let you post. When I click on "Reply with Quotes" to your message all I get is -------------- and I have to copy and paste all your text. Bit of a pain in the butt :)

Anywho . . .

so would i do a water change before adding some more bio-spira?
Click to expand...
Yes, at least 50%. Use Prime to detoxify. Don't over dose, just dose for the tank.

Roan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom