Fishless cycle + Biospira

[Roan Art]

Yes. I thought I had a hunch too. So I tried doing exactly this...adding bio spira in the middle of a fishless cycle. It didn't work. Same with the other guy (or gal) in this thread. But knock yourself out, it's your money.

Why'd you add it in the *middle* of the cycle? Not what I'm going to do

Ammonia = fish. Like what Liz is doing, but I'm going to add some floated/aerated Bio Balls as well. Just to be sure because I know I've had a bad batch of Bio Spira before.

I'm also not dumping all my fish in at once. I need to keep the old tank's colony up because I have to transfer fish from another tank into that one.

Roan

 

[Xielos]

Since none of this thread has been of any help, this is what I'm gonna do:

I'll add half the BIOSpira into the filter (on the ceramic rings, below the micro filter) and let is go for a couple days. Once the nitrites start showing, I'll dump the other half to eat the nitrites and boost the cycle.

 

[ParadoxLiz]

Since none of this thread has been of any help, this is what I'm gonna do:

I'll add half the BIOSpira into the filter (on the ceramic rings, below the micro filter) and let is go for a couple days. Once the nitrites start showing, I'll dump the other half to eat the nitrites and boost the cycle.

I think this is reasonable, but note that nitrites will not appear if there's no ammonia - one type of bacteria eats ammonia and "poops" nitrite, a second type of bacteria eats nitrite and "poops" nitrate.

Just in case that wasn't clear.

BTW: The packet says to use it all at once, not to try to save an open packet - so you might get two small packets rather than one larger one.

Liz

 

[ozziegt]

You asked how you should add bio spira to the tank when your ammonia is at 5ppm. You were given advice that you shouldn't. I'm sorry that isn't helpful. But if you must do it, I would recommend adding it all at once and see what happens over the next couple of days. Adding it in 2 batches won't make a difference...if anything, it will slow your cycle down.

 

[Roan Art]

I agree with ozziegt. Dump it all in.

As for saving it: I usually have an opened package in the fridge and I add a little to each tank I do a waterchange on. I worked it out to ¼ tsp. per gallon and I do 50% waterchanges. The package is usually used up during the course of a week's regular water changes.

Was just something I started doing once we started our first tank. I'm glad I do do it because I just tested my tap water today and it has 1ppm of ammonia. Not to mention the phosphates, UGH!

Last week when I changed the water on the 36g I didn't add any 'cause I didn't have any on hand atm. Ammonia was .25 1 hour after the water change. It went to 0 the next day but I did NOT like that! Nope, not one bit.

Roan

 

[ozziegt]

Was just something I started doing once we started our first tank. I'm glad I do do it because I just tested my tap water today and it has 1ppp of ammonia. Not to mention the phosphates, UGH!

Last week when I changed the water on the 36g I didn't add any 'cause I didn't have any on hand atm. Ammonia was .25 1 hour after the water change. It went to 0 the next day but I did NOT like that! Nope, not one bit.

And how long did it take for the ammonia to go down with the bio spira? I would imagine the bacteria in the bio spira is very small compared to the amount in your tank...I wouldn't expect adding the bio spira to speed up the ammonia removal. If you are really worried about it use ammolock or something else which processes the ammonia instantly.

 

[Roan Art]

And how long did it take for the ammonia to go down with the bio spira? I would imagine the bacteria in the bio spira is very small compared to the amount in your tank...I wouldn't expect adding the bio spira to speed up the ammonia removal. If you are really worried about it use ammolock or something else which processes the ammonia instantly.

Must have gone down within an hour because I always do the basic 4 an hour after a water change. Ammonia was always 0 before last week and that was the first time I'd done a change without adding any Bio Spira.

Heh, ¼ tsp per gallon doesn't sound like a lot, but I change out 50% on every tank, so that's a little over a ½ package of 30g Bio Spira for my 36g. More than enough, I think, to fix the problem.

As for Ammolock, well, the Bio Spira seems to work and if it ain't broken, don't fix it Yah, it probably costs more, but I consider it a more, er, "natural" way of handling the problem. Adding bacteria vs. a chemical, I mean.

Roan

 

[mishi8]

Ok, I have the ammonia in my tank up to 5ppm and a 1 oz. pack of BioSpira in my fridge. How should I go about doing this? Add it straight to the water? Into the filter media? Half now, half later? Any help is appreciated :dance:

I'd add the BioSpira to your filter. With 5ppm ammonia, it may not be an "instant" end to your cycle, but it should significantly shorten your cycling time. Still better to continue this way fishlessly than to go the fishy cycling route. If the BioSpira isn't viable, then you haven't harmed any fish.

 

[Xielos]

I'd add the BioSpira to your filter. With 5ppm ammonia, it may not be an "instant" end to your cycle, but it should significantly shorten your cycling time. Still better to continue this way fishlessly than to go the fishy cycling route. If the BioSpira isn't viable, then you haven't harmed any fish.

Thats all I'm trying to do here.

 

[anonapersona]

I don't know if I've made myself clear or not. I don't intend on adding fish untill the tank is completely cycled, which with the BIOSpira ahould take 1-2 weeks. The entire point of a fishless cycle is to add a full load of fish at one time.

Wow, I am really tempted to say something unkind here, but I'll hold that thought.

Have you read the instructions on the BioSpira? Does it say anything that indicates to you that you ought to add the BioSpira and then wait 1-2 weeks to add fish????