UGF Setup

rbishop said:
Bio Spira has ammonia and nitrite bacteria in it, not just one.
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true, but in a tank without nitrite (like a new uncycled one) the nitrite eating ones quite possibly will die before the amnonia eating ones make enough to sustain them, thus the double dose thing. ;-)

Second dose on the nitrite spike.. may not always be the case, but it's kinda better to have a little left just in case, imho.
 
kasslloyd said:
true, but in a tank without nitrite (like a new uncycled one) the nitrite eating ones quite possibly will die before the amnonia eating ones make enough to sustain them, thus the double dose thing. ;-)

Second dose on the nitrite spike.. may not always be the case, but it's kinda better to have a little left just in case, imho.
Click to expand...

not likly..the nitrifying bacteria begin consuming and producing waste within hours.
meaning the bacteria that consume ammonia will produce waste to feed the bacteria that consume nitrite..within hours of feeding.

this is why you need to feed the nitrifying bacteria immediately upon adding them.
basically plop the fish in add biospira..
 
Ok, Bio stars & additional bio media added into the XP2, biospira added (2nd dose available if needed). 1/2 hour after add- Ammonia is still reading high, Nitrite=0, Nitrate=5, PH was lowered to 6.5. I'm going to retest late tonight to see if I show any improvement. Thanks for all the advice and keep your fingers crossed for me! :O)

By the way... is low alkalinity (30) or low water hardness (75) a big problem? How can they be increased safely?
 
is that your normal pH?

are you adding ammonia to a uncycled tank with bio-spira?
(you can add bio spirat to a tank with fish in it to cycle )

stay on top of the water parameters some times bio-spira doesn't work
 
Slightly below normal for the pH. I've not added ammonia, it's been high and I've been doing lots and lots of water changes (knew nothing about cycling and took some bad information as truth). I believe I was under filtered before, I'm hoping the addition of the Xp2 along with the bio media and biospira helps. I'm testing multiple times a day with an API kit.
 
Give us an update with readings soon!
 
xp2 should help, but it won't fix your problem right away. partial water changes, testing your water, and patience will be the key!

best wishes with your tank!
 
Ok...

6 Hours after Biospira
Nitrate: 5
Nitrite: 0
Hardness: 50
Alkainity: 30
PH: 6.6
Ammonia: 4.0

Just did a 50% water change / Gravel vac... Worried about losing all benefits of biospira if I do more.
 
i hate to recommend addatives, but if you're worried about your fish dying, try adding some amquel to help nutralize the ammonia and nitrites until your tank cycles. not a cure, just a temporary remedy to help with that high ammonia.

and you're right about not wanting to change too much water as it will just keep the cycle process going longer. i over stocked my first tank when it wasn't cycled and it was a mission to keep the levels in check and let the tank cycle. give it time, and it will all take care of itself.
 
Thanks Chris. I read that the Amquel (I have some) will kill the biospira so I think I'm gonna let it go at least overnight.
 
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