BioSpira Water Changes

[SftWrmRain]

If I have added BioSpira to a new tank, with fish, what is the maximum amount of ammonia and nitrites acceptable for the first couple days? The Marineland site says "low levels" are to be expected and will not harm the fish, but it bothers me to see ANY of either. I badly want to do a water change.

Another question. If I am using Prime as my dechlorinator, is it true that whatever ammonia and nitrites I am seeing are rendered non-toxic, yet available for my biofilter?

Thanks!

 

[BioFilter]

The answer to the Prime question is yes.

 

[Star_Rider]

I don't use bio spira but use live bacteria from my other tanks..I try to keep ammonia down to .25 or less.

when it hits that monitor the levels..if it starts to climb you may want to do a water change.

 

[icecubez189]

if your batch of biospira is good, it will work effectively in removing the first signs of ammonia and nitrites. don't do any water changes, as you will remove a good amount of the bacteria that is trying to establish. although you might get some ammonia and nitrites, it will be no where near fatal levels. just keep monitoring daily in case. Marineland's Bio-safe and Seachem's Prime are the only recommended water conditioners to use with Bio-spira because they won't adversely affect the way the bacterias will consume the ammonia.

 

[tanhql]

i prefer to use seachem stability as they:

1) are bacteria in endospore state, meaning the bacteria cannot be killed by heating or freezing. being in endospore state also mean they don't need any food, so you will not be pouring bacteria food and by-product into your aquarium.

2) are 'stronger', according to seachem, as they are a completely different type of bacteria from biospira. there're aerobic, facultative and anaerobic bacteria in the bottle, so you can get denitrification as well if you have the right filter media.

3) can survive up to 7 days without food (fish wastes in this case).