Bio-Spyra cycling

Based on the advice I received that the biospyra was dead, I did a 40% water change, put in Amquel, ran my water parameters for the first time:

Ammonia - -0-
Nitrite - -0-
Nitrate - -0-
pH - 7.0 -7.2
GH - 125.3 ppm (or 7 dGH)
KH - same as GH

So these readings looked pretty good. I guess the biospyra was working. So I went to the LFS and showed them the results. They said the tank was cycled, but I bought some more biospyra anyway. Based on the recommendation of the LFS, I also bought 10 harlequin rasbora babies; they threw in one more for good measure. One of them looks sickly with part of his tail missing, and clamped fins, but he swims as actively as the rest. I'll keep an eye on him. I noticed the rasboras all head toward the filter outflow, and seem to enjoy surfing the current. I didn't know they were such active fish! I also put my beloved betta, Foo, into the new tank. I think he loves all the swimming room. I also bought two otos, which I put into Foo's old 5 gallon Hex, which I call the algae palace. they should be busy cleaning up the tank.

So in spite of all the conflicting information out there about biospyra, I think things look good right now. Of course, time will tell over the next few days. Speaking of conflicting info, the LFS guy said I should let the biospyra come down to room temperature before adding to tank! I ignored his info and put it in cold. I also dosed for the first time Flourish Excel, only at half dose. Hope my melting Crypts come back. Will report future activity soon.
 
If you are reading 0 ppm nitrate your tank is not cycled. A cycled tank will register some amount of nitrate, anywhere usually in the 10-20 ppm range. It looks like your bio-spira died off I'd go and add some more to prevent loss of fish with an ammonia spike, followed by a nitrite spike.
 
I think the possible biggest issue here is the use of Amquel. the way it binds ammonia compounds leads to issues when testing for ammonia etc.

also note that per Marineland (ref. Here specifically the Important note over on the right) "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."

It's been a few days, so how does that water test right now? you mentioned crypts in a previous post, is the tank heavily planted? that would affect Nitrate levels. If there's any uncertainty, try getting a second opinion by testing your water with a different kit (Maybe ask the LFS if they'd be able to do it).

I wouldn't add more biospira at this point, unless you start to detect ammonia or nitrite.

let us know if you think you may still need assistance.. I'll tip my hat to Chickie saying about putting the Betta in the tank, But right now there's a lot that has happened, let us know where you stand,
 
Just a couple of clarification points.

Ammonia is ammonia, Fish do not produce some magical form of ammonia that works differently with bio-spira. Fishless cycling with bio-spira is an excellent option.

Most likely the bacteria did starve in this case, But fish food does produce some ammonia, and is one method of fishless cycling. It is not as controllable or as dependable as other forms of ammonia addition, but it can and does work with enough fish food.

Bio-spira is a great product, but it has handling and care issues that cause it to sometimes arrive already dead. This is one more reason to prefer the fishless cycling method, if you get a bad batch of Bacteria and you already have your fish you are in a heavy workload situation until you can get a good batch of bacteria. If you are cycling fishless with bio-spira, there is no emergency when you get a bad batch.

And lastly just for the record,Nitrosomonas, and nitrospira are our bacteria. For many years, it was believed that Nitrosomas and notrobacter were the critters we needed, but that simply is not the case. I can find documentation if I need to, but I thought I'd clarify quickly for now. nitrobacter and notrosomas are the critters we need in saltwater, and in many sewage applications, but not in freshwater aquaria.

For more info on Cycling Daveedka's article can be found here: Cycling
 
Ammonia is not just ammonia, NH3 and NH4 are different and some test kits do not test for both.
 
I finally found Bio-Spira after searching Baton Rouge high and low today. YAY! I am setting up a 30g & 10g after a 4 hour drive with 5 adult guppies and ~30 fry, so I can't wait for a normal fishless cycle. If I ride with the Spira on ice, would it be ok by the time I got to school?? I am almost positive the only LPS in my college's city wouldn't have it to replace it.

Also, I'm not sure if my water condition treats for ammonia or not, is there a key ingedient that I need to look for? It's the Jungle brand Start Right. It says right out that it removes Clorine and Chloramine. I'm guessing it doesn't but I just want to be sure. It's my first setup knowing what a cycle is.

I was planning on conditioning the water, waiting a night, test the water, then add the biospira if there was ammonia. If ammonia wasn't present, I would add pure ammonia and test it again to see if the conditioner took it out. THEN add bio spira if it was still there. Good plan or no? All this with no fish until after the Bio-spira.
 
I think the only way to remove ammonia is with a water change. There are some products taht supposedly remove or detoxify ammonia, but I wouldnt waste the money, just moniter your water and do regular changes.
As for the BioSpira, its meant to be used with fish, there should be instructions on the package... Condition your water, ue the biospira and add your fish. Watch your parameters and cgange out water when indicated. Good luck!
 
I have used Bio-Spira successfully with my 20G, but for water conditioner, use only with Marineland's own Bio-Safe or Seachem's Prime (what im using since i couldn't not find Bio-safe). Any other water conditioner (especially with ammonia removing properties) and it can't be guaranteed for the Bio-Spira to work. Prime is the only other water conditioner that Marineland will give the thumbs up to.
 
Ammonia is not just ammonia, NH3 and NH4 are different and some test kits do not test for both.
Click to expand...

NH3 is ammonia, NH4 is ammonium, Not all test kits will show them seperately, I agree, but they are not the same obviously.

More importanly, Ammonium and ammonia are both available for our bacteria.
The ammonia produced by fish is no different than ammonia from a bottle, So Bio-spira will work with either, It does not require fish. The bacteria cannot tell the source, and therefore will convert the ammonia (or ammonium) regardless of the source.

It is really that simple, and live bi-spira really can be used to cycle with or without fish as long as as it has ammonia from some source.

The idea that it requires a live fish to get it's ammonia from is preposterous, Bacteria require their respective nitrogen compound, O2, and a surface to cling to. They have no other macro requirements and very few mico requirements (Carbonate comes to mind, but not much else I can think of)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom