BIO Spira

[Edgar Newbie]

Has anyone used this? Does it work?
I'm going to put some in the tank and I have five Damsels. Instructions say you can add fish within minutes, or for water changes. Is it ok to use while I have those five Damsels inside???

 

[Oscar47f]

Are you trying to start a cycle? or using it to help with ammonia ??

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wow! Five damsels!!!

Oh, I'm sorry, yes, BioSpira is a nitrofying bacterial additive to get a cycle going. I'm not sure why you'd be adding it after fish have been added? I'm hoping you've already completed the cycle. Otherwise the ammonia will most likely kill the fish. To answer your' question, BioSpira shouldn't have any effect on the fish.

 

[bubbaque]

I have used biospira on a couple of tanks I started. It always worked just as the bottle says. I believe it is just bacteria and it says to add fish so the bacteria has something to eat and grow on.

 

[Edgar Newbie]

Are you trying to start a cycle? or using it to help with ammonia ??

Starting a cycle

 

[redfishbluefish]

Starting a cycle

Ouch! Get that BioSpira in there real quick....with 5 fish. Best of luck.

 

[Oscar47f]

I wouldn't cycle the tank with so many fish or with fish in general use a piece of dead shrimp or something...

 

[Edgar Newbie]

Ouch! Get that BioSpira in there real quick....with 5 fish. Best of luck.

Thx, how fast can I cycle in general? Had it tested today levels where ok, I had live sand in there a few days already with heater and filter of course.

 

[redfishbluefish]

No, the tank has not cycled. If you have fish in there already, get the BioSpira in NOW! Otherwise, what will happen is that the waste from the fish (ammonia is the bad guy), will kill the fish. The bacteria quickly converts the bad ammonia first to nitrite, and then to nitrate, and nitrate is tolerable to the fish (so is nitrite).

 

[redfishbluefish]

Let me take a step back.....how long has the tank been running (without fish or anything live, other then rock and sand)....and did you use live rock?

A new tank set up without priming it with a nitrifying bacteria typically takes a month or so to go through its cycle. Note that this time could vary dependent on a number of factors.

Those that are in a rush (and I don't recommend this), greatly shorten the cycle by adding one of the nitrifying bacteria products to jump start their cycle. What I've found is that the slow and steady wins the race when it comes to saltwater aquariums.

If you already have the fish in the tank, and it hasn't cycled, please get the BioSpira in there....... and pray.

Otherwise, if I've made an error on what I perceived has happened, I apologize.