Bottled Bacteria

Elricsfate · 12/13/2016, 12:47 PM

I'm looking for opinions on how effective the various aquarium starter bacteria products are. The bottles say things like "Makes an aquarium safe for fish instantly!" But there are obviously lots of threads on this board concerning cycling of tanks.

If these products actually work as advertised, that would imply that the tank is "cycled" on day 1. But I would think if that were the case, everyone would buy them, skip the weeks of cycling, and start adding fish right away.

Tring to learn some new things here. Opinions/experience welcome.

vashawn · 12/13/2016, 12:50 PM

i see them but i dont trust em! im sure there a lot of reefers that use em and swear by it but why rush where your dumping tons of money.
I mean it takes what about 30-60days to cycle a tank.

ncaldwell · 12/13/2016, 12:51 PM

I wouldn't say instantly, but I did just start a completely new 100g tank with dry rock and sand (nothing live) with biopellets and bacteria. Complete cycle as far as testing showed was 5 days with another 2 to make sure. It was ready for fish but I'm still cautious about corals for a few more weeks

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

Elricsfate · 12/13/2016, 12:58 PM

I just started a 75 with about 30 pounds of LR in it. Added Biospira (actually double the dose) and one fish. I'm monitoring parameters constantly. Other than spending a good bit of time peeking out from an overhang in the rock, the fish does not appear to be in any distress at all. He's eating (sparingly) and swimming around (some), but he really likes the rock right now.

No spots, no heavy breathing, no signs of any medical issue whatsoever. He's been in the tank for 3 days now.

I guess I should have asked before I tried it, but I decided to ask now. :-)

AK707 · 12/13/2016, 01:06 PM

my tank took a solid 3 weeks to fully cycle using bio spira...in a 40g nuvo i used 35ish lbs of live sand, 30ish lbs of dry reef saver rock, and 5 lbs of dry fiji rock....dumped in a big bottle of bio spira, heavily fed the tank with pellet food (about 20ish pellets) the next day i fed another 15ish pellets, day 3 i fed 10-15 pellets and checked water on the 3rd or 4th day.
I had like 1 ammonia for a few days then it dropped down to like .5 and nitrites showed up, can't remember how much off top of my head but about half way of what the red sea kit tests, it stayed like that for a few days then nitrates showed up at 15-20 if i remember right. Lightly feeding the tank a few pellets every day for first 2 weeks. The 3rd week didn't feed pellets, my ammonia and nitrite started dropping daily, nitrate stayed the same at 15. At the 3 week mark my ammonia and nitrite was 0 and nitrate still at 15. I fed the tank again and tested next day still zero. Then just for insurance i dumped in a small bottle of bio spira and added 2 clown fish then a few days later added 2-3 snails, 3 hermits, fire shrimp, skunk cleaner and a peppermint shrimp...everything is doing great except 1 hermit and 1 snail died. Since then i put in 3 more hermits and 7 more snails, everything is doing great.
For me bio spira worked great and ill definitely use it again if i ever get another tank.

Elricsfate · 12/13/2016, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK707

my tank took a solid 3 weeks to fully cycle using bio spira...in a 40g nuvo i used 35ish lbs of live sand, 30ish lbs of dry reef saver rock, and 5 lbs of dry fiji rock....dumped in a big bottle of bio spira, heavily fed the tank with pellet food (about 20ish pellets) the next day i fed another 15ish pellets, day 3 i fed 10-15 pellets and checked water on the 3rd or 4th day.
I had like 1 ammonia for a few days then it dropped down to like .5 and nitrites showed up, can't remember how much off top of my head but about half way of what the red sea kit tests, it stayed like that for a few days then nitrates showed up at 15-20 if i remember right. Lightly feeding the tank a few pellets every day for first 2 weeks. The 3rd week didn't feed pellets, my ammonia and nitrite started dropping daily, nitrate stayed the same at 15. At the 3 week mark my ammonia and nitrite was 0 and nitrate still at 15. I fed the tank again and tested next day still zero. Then just for insurance i dumped in a small bottle of bio spira and added 2 clown fish then a few days later added 2-3 snails, 3 hermits, fire shrimp, skunk cleaner and a peppermint shrimp...everything is doing great except 1 hermit and 1 snail died. Since then i put in 3 more hermits and 7 more snails, everything is doing great.
For me bio spira worked great and ill definitely use it again if i ever get another tank.

Thanks for the reply. This kinda gets at my initial post. Obviously 3 weeks is not "instant", but "instant" is what they advertise. I'm wondering how these manufacturers can make these claims?

Hal · 12/13/2016, 01:17 PM

I would say that generally a reputable bacteria-in-a-bottle will get you 75% of a normal cycle. I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers have included the same biodiversity in their product that you'd find in live rock. I could be wrong on this.

The caveat is that there are a lot of snake oils out there claiming to be greatness. Stick with a well known brand and you should be ok. Having said that, I still wouldn't dump a fish in my tank in the first 4 weeks, even with the bacteria supplement. But I'm the cautious type.

Sk8r · 12/13/2016, 01:35 PM

Brand new water with no rock or sand is 'safe for fish instantly.'
That's deceptive.
When a set-up has just bacteria added it's still safe.
But after the fish eat, breathe and poo, it becomes less safe, as they eventually do so in excess of what the water, rock and sand bacteria can process---and you get ammonia. Ammonia in any amount for any length of time is damaging, and very quickly fatal to fish.
READ THE STICKIES ON SETTING UP AND WATER PARAMETERS.

GimpyFin · 12/13/2016, 03:00 PM

There does tend to be a bit of skepticism with these, especially because a lot of people don't use them and continue to do what they know and have done for years when it comes to cycling tanks. If it isn't broke and works, why fix it? Nothing wrong with that at all.

However, I'll speak from experience with Bio Spira since I've used it many times in lieu of waiting for a tank to cycle. If you follow the dosage instructions, it does make your tank fish safe pretty much instantly. You're seeding the tank with bacteria to prevent the big ammonia spike you get when cycling a tank normally. (In the times I've used it, I haven't seen ammonia show up after the fact when using it to start the tank.) You do still want to take things slow when stocking so you don't overload the bio filter initially.

Although, some people get confused when using it. They add Bio Spira AND feed the tank with an ammonia source and start waiting for the cycle to happen, which you don't need to do since you are preventing the spike in the first place. I'll use it to get my QT running/cycled quickly when needed, and I even used it as sort of a bio booster when moving to my new tank almost a year ago (Also moved some of my existing rock.) I can't speak for some of the other bacteria products, but Bio Spira does work quite well as a starter, IME.

zsuman101 · 12/13/2016, 07:09 PM

it is possible to set up a reef in one day and put a couple small fish in, all you need is quality cured live rock .

Mark9 · 12/13/2016, 08:30 PM

I've used biospira a few times, it definitely speeds up the cycle.
But you still need to go slow adding fish.
Don't let the fear mongers who have never used it scare you.

StatelineReefer · 12/14/2016, 01:10 AM

Starting a cycle and having biological stability are entirely different. I kickstarted my 75RR with 'a nitrobacter product' which I won't name here. Yes, the nitrogen cycle started, and ammonia read 0.00, nitrates stabilized quickly, and I could have added fish within two weeks.

I still took my time adding livestock, and now three years later, I added a coral!

...Which my sailfin tang immediately began picking at.

CrayolaViolence · 12/14/2016, 03:35 AM

Ok, I admit. I've never cycled a tank. Instead I've always begun with some amount of sand from an active tank and active rock. Not just cured live rock or fresh live rock, but rock out of a tank that's functioning. I've also used denitrate rock from an active tank. This combo has let me start several tanks in a matter of days. Sometimes as quick as 1-2 days if I also incorporate water from an established tank.

ru4serious · 12/14/2016, 03:43 AM

I've used with success as a booster after new set ups . But would always suggest take it slow and check parameters after each addition to tank.

Elricsfate · 12/14/2016, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sk8r

Brand new water with no rock or sand is 'safe for fish instantly.'
That's deceptive.
When a set-up has just bacteria added it's still safe.
But after the fish eat, breathe and poo, it becomes less safe, as they eventually do so in excess of what the water, rock and sand bacteria can process---and you get ammonia. Ammonia in any amount for any length of time is damaging, and very quickly fatal to fish.
READ THE STICKIES ON SETTING UP AND WATER PARAMETERS.

Thanks for the reply Sk8r. I did read the stickies, and I do understand how to cycle a tank. My question is how products like Biospira and others, from reputable companies that we ALL buy products from, can claim that their bottle of fluid makes it so you can add fish right away.

In any event, I cannot go back and change history. I put Biospira in my tank along with liverock, sand, and a single fish. I am monitoring my parameters and I will do what I can to assist said fish if there is in fact an ammonia spike. However, this fish has been in the tank for going on 5 days now, and the ammonia tests and the leave in the tank ammonia indicator, both indicate 0 ammonia at this point.

So...I guess we'll see what happens.

Elricsfate · 12/14/2016, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GimpyFin

There does tend to be a bit of skepticism with these, especially because a lot of people don't use them and continue to do what they know and have done for years when it comes to cycling tanks. If it isn't broke and works, why fix it? Nothing wrong with that at all.

However, I'll speak from experience with Bio Spira since I've used it many times in lieu of waiting for a tank to cycle. If you follow the dosage instructions, it does make your tank fish safe pretty much instantly. You're seeding the tank with bacteria to prevent the big ammonia spike you get when cycling a tank normally. (In the times I've used it, I haven't seen ammonia show up after the fact when using it to start the tank.) You do still want to take things slow when stocking so you don't overload the bio filter initially.

Although, some people get confused when using it. They add Bio Spira AND feed the tank with an ammonia source and start waiting for the cycle to happen, which you don't need to do since you are preventing the spike in the first place. I'll use it to get my QT running/cycled quickly when needed, and I even used it as sort of a bio booster when moving to my new tank almost a year ago (Also moved some of my existing rock.) I can't speak for some of the other bacteria products, but Bio Spira does work quite well as a starter, IME.

Thanks Gimpy. This is my experience thus far as well. I am using it to jump start a QT tank, and after 5 days with one fish in a 75g, there is no detectable ammonia in the tank.

I also agree with your assessment. I think a lot of people do what they have always done, and tell everyone else to do it that way too. While I do completely agree that if something isn't broke, don't fix it... I also believe that if everyone does everything the exact same way, simply because everyone else does it that way...there is no innovation or progress.

I will update this thread as days pass, if for no other reason than to document how well this product does or does not work.

Thank you all for your replies! I will in fact be "going slow". I have no plans to add additional fish right now. I just wanted to get the quarantine process going while I finish putting together my main DT, so that when it is ready for fish I will have fish ready for it.

Nick30G · 12/14/2016, 07:04 AM

When I setup my first reef tank in a few months, a 37 gallon and a 10 gallon sump, I plan on using a shrimp to get ammonia to spike up to 1-3 ppm and adding biospira, test in about a week and see if the ammonia converts the nitrite than another week or two later check to see if it converted to nitrates. Than do a big water change to get rid of the remaining nitrates. How does sound to you guys? I plan on adding cuc first when my nitrates are low, which I expect in about 3-4 weeks than adding a few fish a few weeks later

Mark9 · 12/14/2016, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick30G

When I setup my first reef tank in a few months, a 37 gallon and a 10 gallon sump, I plan on using a shrimp to get ammonia to spike up to 1-3 ppm and adding biospira, test in about a week and see if the ammonia converts the nitrite than another week or two later check to see if it converted to nitrates. Than do a big water change to get rid of the remaining nitrates. How does sound to you guys? I plan on adding cuc first when my nitrates are low, which I expect in about 3-4 weeks than adding a few fish a few weeks later

You can buy ammonia in a bottle, Dr. Tims is what I use.
Way easier to hit your target ammonia, 1 drop/gallon, done.

Amazon link

GimpyFin · 12/14/2016, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick30G

When I setup my first reef tank in a few months, a 37 gallon and a 10 gallon sump, I plan on using a shrimp to get ammonia to spike up to 1-3 ppm and adding biospira, test in about a week and see if the ammonia converts the nitrite than another week or two later check to see if it converted to nitrates. Than do a big water change to get rid of the remaining nitrates. How does sound to you guys? I plan on adding cuc first when my nitrates are low, which I expect in about 3-4 weeks than adding a few fish a few weeks later

Again, this is where some of the confusion happens with Bio spira. You don't need to add an ammonia source like shrimp and do Bio spira both. If you want to use Bio spira, you can skip the shrimp altogether unless you want to cycle the tank normlly and not use Bio spira. The bacteria in bio spira will break down ammonia in lieu of waiting for that bacteria to establish with the cycle and ammonia spike. Just take it slow when adding liveatock.

1sttimer · 12/14/2016, 11:24 AM

I've used aquaforest products with success during a cycle.

JeffyT · 12/14/2016, 11:40 AM

I've had two tanks in my reefing career. My 30g starter tank was a nightmare because of impatience. I did the whole live sand, "seeded" live rock from my LFS, used their display tank water all to accelerate and let the tank cycle for 2 weeks and then I added fish. This was supposedly the best way as I was coerced by my LFS. Once the algae starting showing up I couldnt help but to fidget. I kept trying to tweak things and dose things and water change really often.

The 2nd time around with my 20g shallow, is probably the most success i've had in reef keeping. This time it was all patience. And one of the most important things I'd have to say when starting a reef tank slowly. Is that you don't have to restart the process all over again. Imagine you cut short your cycle or start dosing things unnecessarily and then have to redo the entire process over. I highly suggest you just do things the right way.

I cycled this tank for 8 weeks, no light, a block of marine pure, 20lbs live sand and 10lbs live rock. I used a bottle of Dr. Tims and no protein skimmer. At about week 8 I turned on the skimmer and added my clowns. From there on after it was about 1 coral a month, and my BTA about 4 months after my fish to ensure that the HOB filter and Protein Skimmer could handle everything.

Elricsfate · 12/14/2016, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeffyT

I've had two tanks in my reefing career. My 30g starter tank was a nightmare because of impatience. I did the whole live sand, "seeded" live rock from my LFS, used their display tank water all to accelerate and let the tank cycle for 2 weeks and then I added fish. This was supposedly the best way as I was coerced by my LFS. Once the algae starting showing up I couldnt help but to fidget. I kept trying to tweak things and dose things and water change really often.

The 2nd time around with my 20g shallow, is probably the most success i've had in reef keeping. This time it was all patience. And one of the most important things I'd have to say when starting a reef tank slowly. Is that you don't have to restart the process all over again. Imagine you cut short your cycle or start dosing things unnecessarily and then have to redo the entire process over. I highly suggest you just do things the right way.

I cycled this tank for 8 weeks, no light, a block of marine pure, 20lbs live sand and 10lbs live rock. I used a bottle of Dr. Tims and no protein skimmer. At about week 8 I turned on the skimmer and added my clowns. From there on after it was about 1 coral a month, and my BTA about 4 months after my fish to ensure that the HOB filter and Protein Skimmer could handle everything.

Not sure who this was directed at, but just to be clear. I personally am not dosing anything. I am also not going to "start over", or "rush" or overload my tank.

The simple fact is that the purpose of cycling a tank is to establish the bacteria necessary to perform and complete the Nitrogen cycle. If you start the tank with sand and rock which already contain this bacteria, and you increase the bio-load in a slow and reasonable manner, then the bacteria is already established. All the months of darkness, etc. works...sure. And it is definitely the "long way". I'm not as certain that any particular way can be referred to as "the right way". Based on the fact that right here in this thread there are people who have done it in different ways and had success.

Sk8r · 12/14/2016, 03:47 PM

What you're doing is what we used to do back in the 70's and 80's...which is add a bacterial source, add a fish to poo into the sand, and if you do it carefully enough the fish will live and the ammonia it produces will get handled fast enough that it doesn't die. It's very simple. But if poo gets ahead of the bacteria, ammonia will arise that doesn't get handled and the fish will die. The other old method of cycling a tank was to toss in a dead fish and wait for it all to process....so if the fish dies, you just leave it in. It's all the same biology. I just prefer to toss in a little fish food and let it decay, which also does the same thing.

Elricsfate · 12/14/2016, 05:06 PM

For the record Sk8r, I have read with great interest many of your posts and have a lot of respect for your thoughts and experience. So I really appreciate you posting to this thread.

Just by way of update, for anyone who is curious.

Fish went in the tank Saturday at 4 pm. It is now Wed at 6pm. Ammonia: .25
Nitrite: .25 Nitrate: 5.0

Raintree · 12/14/2016, 06:20 PM

I think adding a bacteria source and then immediately adding fish is risky and a bit irresponsible to say the least. You owe it to the animal that you are taking from the nice, clean, "cycled" ocean to at LEAST drop some ammonia in the tank to see how it's handled.

Why not test the effectiveness with ammonia or fish food instead of with a living animal?

12/13/2016, 12:47 PM	#1
Elricsfate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 482	Bottled Bacteria I'm looking for opinions on how effective the various aquarium starter bacteria products are. The bottles say things like "Makes an aquarium safe for fish instantly!" But there are obviously lots of threads on this board concerning cycling of tanks. If these products actually work as advertised, that would imply that the tank is "cycled" on day 1. But I would think if that were the case, everyone would buy them, skip the weeks of cycling, and start adding fish right away. Tring to learn some new things here. Opinions/experience welcome.

12/13/2016, 12:50 PM	#2
vashawn Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: queens, NY Posts: 179	i see them but i dont trust em! im sure there a lot of reefers that use em and swear by it but why rush where your dumping tons of money. I mean it takes what about 30-60days to cycle a tank. __________________ Shawn Current Tank Info: 300gal reef

12/13/2016, 01:17 PM	#7
Hal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 1,889	I would say that generally a reputable bacteria-in-a-bottle will get you 75% of a normal cycle. I find it hard to believe that the manufacturers have included the same biodiversity in their product that you'd find in live rock. I could be wrong on this. The caveat is that there are a lot of snake oils out there claiming to be greatness. Stick with a well known brand and you should be ok. Having said that, I still wouldn't dump a fish in my tank in the first 4 weeks, even with the bacteria supplement. But I'm the cautious type. __________________ Some days it's not even worth chewing through the restraints. Current Tank Info: 250g starphire: 72x28x30, BeanAnimal drain with an oversized non-durso emergency drain, 4 inch DSB, 3x Reefbreeders Value LED fixtures, SWC/MSX 300A skimmer, Geo kalk reactor, 3 Vortechs w/bb, carbon reactor, and a RKL

12/13/2016, 01:35 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Brand new water with no rock or sand is 'safe for fish instantly.' That's deceptive. When a set-up has just bacteria added it's still safe. But after the fish eat, breathe and poo, it becomes less safe, as they eventually do so in excess of what the water, rock and sand bacteria can process---and you get ammonia. Ammonia in any amount for any length of time is damaging, and very quickly fatal to fish. READ THE STICKIES ON SETTING UP AND WATER PARAMETERS. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%. Last edited by Sk8r; 12/13/2016 at 01:44 PM.

12/13/2016, 03:00 PM	#9
GimpyFin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 2,032	There does tend to be a bit of skepticism with these, especially because a lot of people don't use them and continue to do what they know and have done for years when it comes to cycling tanks. If it isn't broke and works, why fix it? Nothing wrong with that at all. However, I'll speak from experience with Bio Spira since I've used it many times in lieu of waiting for a tank to cycle. If you follow the dosage instructions, it does make your tank fish safe pretty much instantly. You're seeding the tank with bacteria to prevent the big ammonia spike you get when cycling a tank normally. (In the times I've used it, I haven't seen ammonia show up after the fact when using it to start the tank.) You do still want to take things slow when stocking so you don't overload the bio filter initially. Although, some people get confused when using it. They add Bio Spira AND feed the tank with an ammonia source and start waiting for the cycle to happen, which you don't need to do since you are preventing the spike in the first place. I'll use it to get my QT running/cycled quickly when needed, and I even used it as sort of a bio booster when moving to my new tank almost a year ago (Also moved some of my existing rock.) I can't speak for some of the other bacteria products, but Bio Spira does work quite well as a starter, IME. __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 110 gallon

12/13/2016, 12:51 PM	#3
ncaldwell Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 241	I wouldn't say instantly, but I did just start a completely new 100g tank with dry rock and sand (nothing live) with biopellets and bacteria. Complete cycle as far as testing showed was 5 days with another 2 to make sure. It was ready for fish but I'm still cautious about corals for a few more weeks Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using Tapatalk

12/13/2016, 12:58 PM	#4
Elricsfate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 482	I just started a 75 with about 30 pounds of LR in it. Added Biospira (actually double the dose) and one fish. I'm monitoring parameters constantly. Other than spending a good bit of time peeking out from an overhang in the rock, the fish does not appear to be in any distress at all. He's eating (sparingly) and swimming around (some), but he really likes the rock right now. No spots, no heavy breathing, no signs of any medical issue whatsoever. He's been in the tank for 3 days now. I guess I should have asked before I tried it, but I decided to ask now. :-)

12/13/2016, 01:06 PM	#5
AK707 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Bay Area, California Posts: 170	my tank took a solid 3 weeks to fully cycle using bio spira...in a 40g nuvo i used 35ish lbs of live sand, 30ish lbs of dry reef saver rock, and 5 lbs of dry fiji rock....dumped in a big bottle of bio spira, heavily fed the tank with pellet food (about 20ish pellets) the next day i fed another 15ish pellets, day 3 i fed 10-15 pellets and checked water on the 3rd or 4th day. I had like 1 ammonia for a few days then it dropped down to like .5 and nitrites showed up, can't remember how much off top of my head but about half way of what the red sea kit tests, it stayed like that for a few days then nitrates showed up at 15-20 if i remember right. Lightly feeding the tank a few pellets every day for first 2 weeks. The 3rd week didn't feed pellets, my ammonia and nitrite started dropping daily, nitrate stayed the same at 15. At the 3 week mark my ammonia and nitrite was 0 and nitrate still at 15. I fed the tank again and tested next day still zero. Then just for insurance i dumped in a small bottle of bio spira and added 2 clown fish then a few days later added 2-3 snails, 3 hermits, fire shrimp, skunk cleaner and a peppermint shrimp...everything is doing great except 1 hermit and 1 snail died. Since then i put in 3 more hermits and 7 more snails, everything is doing great. For me bio spira worked great and ill definitely use it again if i ever get another tank.

12/13/2016, 07:09 PM	#10
zsuman101 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 434	it is possible to set up a reef in one day and put a couple small fish in, all you need is quality cured live rock . __________________ Full zeovit 24x24 starfire ati t5 radions ecotech and sicce pumps tunze skimmer apex gold yeah its nuts

12/13/2016, 08:30 PM	#11
Mark9 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Atlanta Posts: 2,497	I've used biospira a few times, it definitely speeds up the cycle. But you still need to go slow adding fish. Don't let the fear mongers who have never used it scare you.

12/14/2016, 01:10 AM	#12
StatelineReefer Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 34	Starting a cycle and having biological stability are entirely different. I kickstarted my 75RR with 'a nitrobacter product' which I won't name here. Yes, the nitrogen cycle started, and ammonia read 0.00, nitrates stabilized quickly, and I could have added fish within two weeks. I still took my time adding livestock, and now three years later, I added a coral! ...Which my sailfin tang immediately began picking at.

12/14/2016, 03:35 AM	#13
CrayolaViolence Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 1,867	Ok, I admit. I've never cycled a tank. Instead I've always begun with some amount of sand from an active tank and active rock. Not just cured live rock or fresh live rock, but rock out of a tank that's functioning. I've also used denitrate rock from an active tank. This combo has let me start several tanks in a matter of days. Sometimes as quick as 1-2 days if I also incorporate water from an established tank.

12/14/2016, 03:43 AM	#14
ru4serious Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Sikeston missouri Posts: 68	I've used with success as a booster after new set ups . But would always suggest take it slow and check parameters after each addition to tank.

12/14/2016, 07:04 AM	#17
Nick30G Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Posts: 265	When I setup my first reef tank in a few months, a 37 gallon and a 10 gallon sump, I plan on using a shrimp to get ammonia to spike up to 1-3 ppm and adding biospira, test in about a week and see if the ammonia converts the nitrite than another week or two later check to see if it converted to nitrates. Than do a big water change to get rid of the remaining nitrates. How does sound to you guys? I plan on adding cuc first when my nitrates are low, which I expect in about 3-4 weeks than adding a few fish a few weeks later

12/14/2016, 11:24 AM	#20
1sttimer Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2016 Posts: 173	I've used aquaforest products with success during a cycle.

12/14/2016, 11:40 AM	#21
JeffyT Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Fountain Valley, CA Posts: 263	I've had two tanks in my reefing career. My 30g starter tank was a nightmare because of impatience. I did the whole live sand, "seeded" live rock from my LFS, used their display tank water all to accelerate and let the tank cycle for 2 weeks and then I added fish. This was supposedly the best way as I was coerced by my LFS. Once the algae starting showing up I couldnt help but to fidget. I kept trying to tweak things and dose things and water change really often. The 2nd time around with my 20g shallow, is probably the most success i've had in reef keeping. This time it was all patience. And one of the most important things I'd have to say when starting a reef tank slowly. Is that you don't have to restart the process all over again. Imagine you cut short your cycle or start dosing things unnecessarily and then have to redo the entire process over. I highly suggest you just do things the right way. I cycled this tank for 8 weeks, no light, a block of marine pure, 20lbs live sand and 10lbs live rock. I used a bottle of Dr. Tims and no protein skimmer. At about week 8 I turned on the skimmer and added my clowns. From there on after it was about 1 coral a month, and my BTA about 4 months after my fish to ensure that the HOB filter and Protein Skimmer could handle everything. __________________ 30g IM Nuvo - Retired 08/2012-04/2016 It was a very expensive lesson :P Current Project: 20gL JBJ AIO Frag Tank \| Shallow Reef Livestock : 3 Clown Fish, Rose BTA, Flame Shrimp Current Tank Info: 20gL JBJ Shallow Reef

12/14/2016, 03:47 PM	#23
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	What you're doing is what we used to do back in the 70's and 80's...which is add a bacterial source, add a fish to poo into the sand, and if you do it carefully enough the fish will live and the ammonia it produces will get handled fast enough that it doesn't die. It's very simple. But if poo gets ahead of the bacteria, ammonia will arise that doesn't get handled and the fish will die. The other old method of cycling a tank was to toss in a dead fish and wait for it all to process....so if the fish dies, you just leave it in. It's all the same biology. I just prefer to toss in a little fish food and let it decay, which also does the same thing. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

12/14/2016, 05:06 PM	#24
Elricsfate Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Fredericksburg, Va Posts: 482	For the record Sk8r, I have read with great interest many of your posts and have a lot of respect for your thoughts and experience. So I really appreciate you posting to this thread. Just by way of update, for anyone who is curious. Fish went in the tank Saturday at 4 pm. It is now Wed at 6pm. Ammonia: .25 Nitrite: .25 Nitrate: 5.0

12/14/2016, 06:20 PM	#25
Raintree Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Seattle Posts: 116	I think adding a bacteria source and then immediately adding fish is risky and a bit irresponsible to say the least. You owe it to the animal that you are taking from the nice, clean, "cycled" ocean to at LEAST drop some ammonia in the tank to see how it's handled. Why not test the effectiveness with ammonia or fish food instead of with a living animal?