Fritz Aquatic TurboStart

[Tom Boyle]

Good afternoon!

I recently set up an IM SR80 and had a question regarding cycling the aquarium. I was told by my LFS to use Fritz Aquatic TurboStart and it would expedite my cycle. I have never used Live Nitrifying bacteria before, but my LFS said to introduce 10-15 hermit crabs (as a bioload) that I should see an Ammonia spike within 24 hours to "start the cycle". 48 hours later, and I have not see a spike in anything. I know the back of the Fritz bottle says to introduce fish within 24 hours. Should I give it more time for the Ammonia to spike, or should I be adding fish to this now?

Thank you for your help!

 

[FUNGI]

Your hermits will starve.......what you going to feed them?

 

[unclejed]

You can actually use Dr. Tims' amonia to kick start the cycle.

 

[Tom Boyle]

Your hermits will starve.......what you going to feed them?

I have been feeding them a bit of mysis (by instruction from LFS

 

[Tom Boyle]

You can actually use Dr. Tims' amonia to kick start the cycle.

How long would the cycle take if I use Dr. Tim’s?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

The turbo start will likely prevent a rise in ammonia, and all is well.

 

[Tom Boyle]

The turbo start will likely prevent a rise in ammonia, and all is well.

So should I consider my aquarium “cycled” and add fish? Or do I need to manually spike ammonia?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So should I consider my aquarium “cycled” and add fish? Or do I need to manually spike ammonia?

It is likely done, and adding ammonia will confirm it, but isn't needed to be done.

 

[Tom Boyle]

It is likely done, and adding ammonia will confirm it, but isn't needed to be done.

Do you think it’s worth confirming it? If so, would you manually add Dr.Tim’s Ammonia or add a fish and see if that spikes it? Also, thank you for your help!

 

[Devaji]

I normally use ammonia after a bottled Bac. product does to 2PPM then let the process run normally a week but sometimes faster. I test every other day or so. ( after the 1st test to confirm 2PMM )

after a week it will read zero ( or .25 if you are using API test kit ) then does back to 2ppm if cyceld it will be back to zero with in 24 hrs.

I have never heard of using hermits...
turbo start is good stuff.
did you use the 9000 or the normal stuff?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Do you think it’s worth confirming it? If so, would you manually add Dr.Tim’s Ammonia or add a fish and see if that spikes it? Also, thank you for your help!

It cannot hurt to do so. If you are a pentient person, I'd do it.

If you are anxious to get going, I'd just go with adding fish slowly.

 

[Tom Boyle]

I normally use ammonia after a bottled Bac. product does to 2PPM then let the process run normally a week but sometimes faster. I test every other day or so. ( after the 1st test to confirm 2PMM )

after a week it will read zero ( or .25 if you are using API test kit ) then does back to 2ppm if cyceld it will be back to zero with in 24 hrs.

I have never heard of using hermits...
turbo start is good stuff.
did you use the 9000 or the normal stuff?

So if I used the bottled bac over 48 hours ago at this point, do I need to buy more? Or can I just buy Dr.Tims now and add it? I used turbo start 900 I think it was called

 

[Atalien2005]

My experience with TurboStart is you can add fish right after. No need for Dr. Tim’s and as Randy said, ramp up slowly with your fish load. Two clownfish can go in today with no problem.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

So if I used the bottled bac over 48 hours ago at this point, do I need to buy more? Or can I just buy Dr.Tims now and add it? I used turbo start 900 I think it was called

No. No need to get more. More nitrifiers are neither needed nor desirable, assuming the Fritz was not dead for some reason.

 

[Tom Boyle]

My experience with TurboStart is you can add fish right after. No need for Dr. Tim’s and as Randy said, ramp up slowly with your fish load. Two clownfish can go in today with no problem.

At this point (48 hours later), is all the bottled bac I added dead? Do I need to re-add before adding clowns?

 

[Tom Boyle]

lol nvm Randy already answered me!! Thank you all!!

 

[pattepa]

Fritz Turbo Start and Dr Tim’s come in multiple size bottles. Does it really matter? Can you use the smallest bottle and get the same result?

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Here's a comparison thread where the Fritz was compared to a variety of other bacteria sources.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/n...-whos-who-and-what-do-they-need.989780/page-8

 

[unclejed]

How long would the cycle take if I use Dr. Tim’s?

It may take 7-10 days or a tad longer but in my opinion you will be assured a total cycle has completed.

 

[Spare time]

Don't bother trying to add ammonium chloride at this point.