Strange experience cycling with bio spyra

[Bluefish9]

At the end of week one cycling my 150 tall... I've always used the shrimp method in the past but I really wanted to give the bacteria in a bottle method a try. Ive heard good things about it and the only negative Ive heard is from those who have no experience using it so I figured... nothing ventured, nothing gained in this hobby. Anyway, last Monday I added two of the larger bottles of bio spira and twenty minutes later, two darwin black clowns. First let me put everyone at ease by stating the clowns seem just fine. I have zero ammonia present and they are eating well enough. Im feeding a combo of hikari mysis soaked in garlic guard and NLS pellets. They prefer the mysis.

Here are my test results over the past week:

Day 1 - 12/5/16 9pm (skimmer and reactor off)
Ammonia-0
Nitrite- 0.1
Nitrate-2
PH- 8.2

Day 2 - 12/6/16
Ammonia-0
Nitrite- 0.2
Nitrate- 2
PH- 8.2-8.3
Alk- dkh 7/meq/L 2.5

Day 3 - 12/7/16
Ammonia-0
Nitrite- 0.1
Nitrate-2
PH- 8.3 (lights left on too long today)
Skimmer and carbon reactor turned back on today

Day 5 - 12/9/16
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0.1
Nitrate- 2

Day 7- 12/11/16
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0.2
Nitrate- 3
PH- 8.3
Alk- dkh 8 / 2.9


Im using the Red Sea Marine care test kit and as you can see, my levels haven't really changed at all. Is this common?

I cant figure out if the stuff just works really well or if the two small clowns aren't producing enough ammonia.

I have zero algae showing up with the exception of what looks like corralline specks on the black silicone joints - Is that impossible this early on? Granted the tank was filled and started running over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Anyone have a similar experience using this stuff or care to add anything?

 

[Monroereef]

I have used biospira for many years. I have cycled many tanks with it with great results. It is supposed to cycle the tank overnight. The mistake people do is that they do not add fish at the same time when they add biospira which kills the bacteria. You did the right thing by adding fish at the same time and what you are seeing is normal.

Hope this helps.

Sunny

 

[Bluefish9]

I have used biospira for many years. I have cycled many tanks with it with great results. It is supposed to cycle the tank overnight. The mistake people do is that they do not add fish at the same time when they add biospira which kills the bacteria. You did the right thing by adding fish at the same time and what you are seeing is normal.

Hope this helps.

Sunny

Reassuring, thanks!
What about the ever so slight and non-changing nitrite and nitrate levels?
Also, shouldn't the algae bloom/diatom uglyness occur as well, by now?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

how did you cycle? Live rock live sand?

imo the ugly phase should come in the next few weeks but the severity will depend on a number of factors and the Q i asked from above.

 

[Bluefish9]

Dry rock and dry sand.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Dry rock and dry sand.

yea. the dinos are coming. it takes time to grow that stuff. your starting with a blank canvas and it takes time once you add water. the uglies should last a few months.

you haven really had an ammonia source or time to develop an ammonia source starting it that way and the Bio SP is eating what there is now being produced.
The fish method like your doing it were referred to as sacrificial fish. as there were there only to provide ammoina and poop. Some times they survive. The Bottle bac will probably help.

 

[Bluefish9]

yea. the dinos are coming. it takes time to grow that stuff. your starting with a blank canvas and it takes time once you add water. the uglies should last a few months.

you haven really had an ammonia source or time to develop an ammonia source starting it that way and the Bio SP is eating what there is now being produced.
The fish method like your doing it were referred to as sacrificial fish. as there were there only to provide ammoina and poop. Some times they survive. The Bottle bac will probably help.

Cycling with bio spira is a LOT different the the sacrificial fish method.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Cycling with bio spira is a LOT different the the sacrificial fish method.

kinda. yes. the only difference is the bacteria is added rather than being developed over time.

 

[RMS18]

yea. the dinos are coming. it takes time to grow that stuff. your starting with a blank canvas and it takes time once you add water. the uglies should last a few months.

you haven really had an ammonia source or time to develop an ammonia source starting it that way and the Bio SP is eating what there is now being produced.
The fish method like your doing it were referred to as sacrificial fish. as there were there only to provide ammoina and poop. Some times they survive. The Bottle bac will probably help.

Why would you say the dinos are coming? You mean diatoms?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Why would you say the dinos are coming? You mean diatoms?

yes I did. Mondays......

 

[Bluefish9]

kinda. yes. the only difference is the bacteria is added rather than being developed over time.

Yes. And also one method is harsh and cruel to the fish. The bio spira method is not

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes. And also one method is harsh and cruel to the fish.

agreed.

 

[tankstudy]

The increase in nitrite and nitrate confirms the bacteria are working. Just continue to monitor.

 

[RMS18]

yes I did. Mondays......

I was gonna say why put that into the atmosphere for this reefer lol.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I was gonna say why put that into the atmosphere for this reefer lol.

yea def, thanks dude. I had some more coffee. I feel better.

 

[Brew12]

At the end of week one cycling my 150 tall... I've always used the shrimp method in the past but I really wanted to give the bacteria in a bottle method a try. Ive heard good things about it and the only negative Ive heard is from those who have no experience using it so I figured... nothing ventured, nothing gained in this hobby. Anyway, last Monday I added two of the larger bottles of bio spira and twenty minutes later, two darwin black clowns. First let me put everyone at ease by stating the clowns seem just fine. I have zero ammonia present and they are eating well enough. Im feeding a combo of hikari mysis soaked in garlic guard and NLS pellets. They prefer the mysis.

Here are my test results over the past week:

Day 1 - 12/5/16 9pm (skimmer and reactor off)
Ammonia-0
Nitrite- 0.1
Nitrate-2
PH- 8.2

Day 2 - 12/6/16
Ammonia-0
Nitrite- 0.2
Nitrate- 2
PH- 8.2-8.3
Alk- dkh 7/meq/L 2.5

Day 3 - 12/7/16
Ammonia-0
Nitrite- 0.1
Nitrate-2
PH- 8.3 (lights left on too long today)
Skimmer and carbon reactor turned back on today

Day 5 - 12/9/16
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0.1
Nitrate- 2

Day 7- 12/11/16
Ammonia- 0
Nitrite- 0.2
Nitrate- 3
PH- 8.3
Alk- dkh 8 / 2.9


Im using the Red Sea Marine care test kit and as you can see, my levels haven't really changed at all. Is this common?

I cant figure out if the stuff just works really well or if the two small clowns aren't producing enough ammonia.

I have zero algae showing up with the exception of what looks like corralline specks on the black silicone joints - Is that impossible this early on? Granted the tank was filled and started running over the Thanksgiving weekend.

Anyone have a similar experience using this stuff or care to add anything?

Agreed that this is completely normal. 150g tank volume along with any sump volume (if you run one) and you have 2 small fish in it. If anything, I'm surprised you are able to measure any nitrite. I would have expected both ammonia and nitrite to stay at 0 and nitrate to slowly rise.
Biospira or Dr Tims are how I set up my QT when I need it, wouldn't do it any other way. The one thing I prefer to do is instead of adding fish, I like to dose ammonia to make sure the product is working. Both of these products are only good for around 1 year and can go bad if exposed to extreme temperatures. Dosing ammonia is a great way to make sure the tank is safe for fish.

 

[Bluefish9]

Agreed that this is completely normal. 150g tank volume along with any sump volume (if you run one) and you have 2 small fish in it. If anything, I'm surprised you are able to measure any nitrite. I would have expected both ammonia and nitrite to stay at 0 and nitrate to slowly rise.
Biospira or Dr Tims are how I set up my QT when I need it, wouldn't do it any other way. The one thing I prefer to do is instead of adding fish, I like to dose ammonia to make sure the product is working. Both of these products are only good for around 1 year and can go bad if exposed to extreme temperatures. Dosing ammonia is a great way to make sure the tank is safe for fish.

Yep, I run an icecap 36 sump. It holds around 40g but I'd say I have about 15 gallons flowing through it.

Yes, the nitrites are VERY low. Sometimes I wonder if its just how that particular test reads zero. Thought of buying a cheapo API just for comparative reasons.

I could def agree with expiration theory. I think I felt better about that since they are now putting expiration dates on the bottom of the bottles. Mine were pretty new.

Going to monitor for 2 more weeks and then introduce a foxface if all is well.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yep, I run an icecap 36 sump. It holds around 40g but I'd say I have about 15 gallons flowing through it.

Yes, the nitrites are VERY low. Sometimes I wonder if its just how that particular test reads zero. Thought of buying a cheapo API just for comparative reasons.

I could def agree with expiration theory. I think I felt better about that since they are now putting expiration dates on the bottom of the bottles. Mine were pretty new.

Going to monitor for 2 more weeks and then introduce a foxface if all is well.

there not yet really anything in the tank to give you numbers. it was dry, the only thing now is the fish and food. as those rot you'll see numbers rise. itll be different though as you started w a huge bacterial population.

 

[klp]

Or you can do it the way we used to cycle an aquarium years ago. One hermit crab and ONLY 6 weeks later you could add 1 small fish!

 

[Bluefish9]

So far so good. Nitrites and nitrates have risen but barely even measurable:
Nitrites 0.3
Nitrates 3

Getting a slight bit of diatoms now. Fish are happy. Looking good and eating even better

Have a foxface in a bio spira'd QT right now.