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Where is a good place on the net to buy Bio-Spira? There isn't a place in my town that sells this stuff and I was curious if there were any good websites that actually do sell this. I am having trouble finding some. Thanks Or also this product called "New Improved Cycle".

Last edited by 91Bird305 at 11-Nov-2004 09:40

BioSpira is tough to find...it needs to be kept cold (ie, refrigerated), so it needs to be shipped "on ice", so to speak. I *think* that http://www.thatfishplace.com carries it...

NIC (New Improved Cycle) has worked extremely well for me in the past, although typically I have doubled the dosing frequency--this can't hurt--since I have always overstocked/overfiltered my tanks (being careful to avoid having a fishy tornado effect).

NIC works well at doing what it is intended to do...it lowers the spikes of ammonia and nitrite so that your fish don't get as stressed out when "cycling" a new tank.

Also, it is good for using in established tanks to maintain the diversity of the biofilter, which is important in keeping your aquarium "adaptable" to sudden, unexpected changes, such as temporary power loss, temperature shift, overfeeding, decomposition of a fish, etc. Essentially, if everything is running smoothly for a long time, the less-well-adapted species of biofilter organisms will die off, with the best-adapted species taking over...when one of the above-mentioned things changes, these organisms may no longer be the best adapted, and may become dormant or die off, leaving you hanging in terms of biofilter performance. By adding NIC on a regular basis, you ensure that there is some biodiversity in your biofilter, which, if something changes, will allow sufficient population of a given, better-adapted-to-the-new-conditions biofilter species to proliferate and keep your tank from experiencing too harsh a shift in water quality.

Plus, NIC is easier to find, and only requires refrigeration once you open it.

Good luck!

Last edited by jungle-jim at 11-Nov-2004 09:53

thatfishplace.com didn't have the bio-spira or New Improved Cycle.

But that other place did have Bio-Spira.

Also, which Bio-Spira do I get? Do I get the 3oz. bottle since it says 90 gallon and I have a 60?

Plus, NIC is easier to find, and only requires refrigeration once you open it.

I've never seen on any bottle of Cycle, new and improved that it requires refridgeration. I believe that's one of the selling points of the new and improved version, that it doesnt' need refridgeration. Most every store carries it, including most chain petstores.

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

Any online places carry New Improved Cycle?

Because of the refrigeration requirement of Bio Spira, many stores will not provide the space required to stock it...

It's my opinion that the product will fade from stores completely and be replaced by NIC, a product just as effective and never needing refrigeration.

NIC is available at several local and mail order houses.

--garyroland.

Try [link=that fish place]http://www.thatfishplace.com" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] or [link=big als]http://www.bigalsonline.com" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] or any of the chain stores.

^_^
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Can anyone, anywhere, point to any kind of measured examination of NIC actually working? I've never seen one, nor heard a serious scientific explanation of its workings, and I'm left with the sincere belief that it's rebottled snake oil. Bio-Spira at least has both research behind its workings and data points from unscientific-but-careful examination by people out on the 'Net.

(I'd do the work myself but I really don't have room for ten tanks to do tests with.)

In my experience, I cycled a 40g tank with NIC, and it took me approx. 5 weeks. On the other hand, I just recently switched over from the 40g to a new never before cycled 80g and put 4 Discus, BGK, 10 Cardinal Tetras, 3 zebra danios, 2 harlequin rasboras, 3 black widows and 2 ottos and a 3oz bottle of bio spira and my tank cycled in 2 weeks with no fish deaths and very minimal stress. I can't say that NIC doesn't work, but I do know that Bio Spira works awesome.

Your local fish store will carry it

both petsmart and petco carry it.

Big als carries it
[link=here]http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=27853;category_id=2767" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

As does that fish place
[link=here]http://www.thatpetplace.com/Products/KW/cycle/Class//T1/F85+0171+0001/EDP/7206/Itemdy00.aspx" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link]

Interesting side note, TFP carries the old one ....most likely simply oversight in not updating their site.

^_^
[link=H2g2]http://hitchhikers.movies.go.com/upgrade.html" style="COLOR: #EB4288[/link] 2005 Don't Leave Home Without it[/font]

Since Bio Spira is "live" bacteria, you can bet the cycling action is superior to NIC...

Bio Spira will begin cycling a tank immediately whereas NIC, containing dormant (sleeping) bacteria will take slightly longer.

But don't be misled. NIC is living bacteria in a dormant state that once dosed into a warm environment rapidly develop into beneficial bacteria, a sort of "waking up" scenario.

--garyroland.

Last edited by garyroland at 12-Nov-2004 09:23

That would be great. I wish I could do it, but I can't get a grant to pay for the tanks or my time, and I don't have the room for them either.* But by all means it'd be great to see a link to some decently-run experiments on the subject.

*Not to mention that it's a far cry from what I'm actually supposed to be researching....

Last edited by Silverlight at 11-Nov-2004 19:02

Your local fish store will carry it

both petsmart and petco carry it.

Big als carries it
here

As does that fish place
here

Interesting side note, TFP carries the old one ....most likely simply oversight in not updating their site.

Yeah I found those later on but I also found out that my LFS sells the NIC for cheap too so I went ahead and bought that instead. I will let u know how it goes. Thanks people

I actually have dealt with the owner of the store that sells the Bio-Spira, and he strikes me as a person who makes sure he knows products before he offers them. (I also live in TN, and I have purchased from him as well as had discussions about fish clubs and other questions.)
There is another forum where people have done controlled experiments with Bio-Spira and other cycling products, using various controls, fish/fishless cycles, etc. There are also discussions on how the products work. I can post links, if that is OK?

I don't want to repeat things I have read as fact, because while I may agree, it's still secondhand information.
But I am under the impression that when used and stored properly, Bio-Spira pretty much cycles a tank instantly. The other products simply speed up the cycling process, and they work in different ways, some better than others. People have reported a tank 'crashing' when using some products (water levels are fine, then one day they have huge ammonia and nitrite spikes).

I have used NIC, Seachem's Stability, and Bio-Spira. But I haven't done anything to test which works best, but I think it would be a great idea to have a section where people do 'controlled' experiments w/ products and post results!

Christina

You know, Silver old boy, you may have a point there...

We could probably use a "Scientific" Forum dedicated just to the Scienceheads who wish to expand their minds and delve into the itsy-bitsy workings of product concoctions.

I know I'd read it.

--garyroland.

Gary, there's a reason why anecdotes and testimonials aren't considered scientific evidence.

91BIRD305, what exactly are you looking for, NIC or Bio Spira? and where do live? Maybe I can help.

Scientific examinations bore people to death on these Forums...

It would probably take pages to explain the function of the bacteria starter in scientific terms.

The testimonials of success with NIC describe the many claims of new/experienced hobbyists who've tried the product and saved untold fish from suffering the effects of new tank syndrome.

--garyroland.

Bigalsonline.com doesn't have it and neither does thatfishplace.com. Anyone actually buy this stuff and if so where did u get it?

Marineland told my boss that he didn't have to keep it refrigerated. They haven't changed the packaging since they started selling it again.

I don't just spout off info, especially important stuff like this, without being extra sure on it. I've played around with non-refrigerated Bio Spira several times (at least five instances), sold it to customers, and talked to people who have used it... all with no problems. They sent fridges with the first few shipments of the stuff when it came out and actually called to tell us we didn't have to use them anymore. It's seriously okay; if you want, call Marineland and ask. If they say I'm on crack, I'll send you ten free aquatic plants.

Last edited by wolfie8113 at 18-Nov-2004 22:23

thanks Gary. I hope it clears up soon. This is ANNOYING!

The quotes were taken from the current Marineland website about Bio Spira...

I would insist the live bacteria present in Bio Spira, no matter what is rumored, will not survive room temps. It would seem the website agrees with me.

NIC bacteria is protected in "flocs" in a dormant state thus no refrigeration is required.

--garyroland.

Hobbyists always panic when they see their tanks turn cloudy...

New tanks have a habit, almost always, of turning cloudy and older tanks, those whose biological balance has become disrupted, will turn cloudy also.

As long as nothing is being overdone like feeding and still surface water, etc., the tanks will balance out and clear.

The clearing period is a time-consuming process that requires patience and observation. If the tank is not becoming progressively worse, you will notice, looking from one end of the tank to the other, slight improvements day by day.

--garyroland.

I order biospira 3 days ago and it arrived today in my mailbox. no idea how long it was sitting there. no icepack just tinfoil and bubble wrap. this is different then the last time i orderd it. it was shipped with a icepack and showed up at my door.
is this pack viable at 50-60F?

Gary, I'm not going to argue this point any further here, but I think I will see if I can get someone from Marineland to back me up in a thread sometime soon. I swear it's okay to leave it at room temp.

Sin, go ahead and try it. It won't hurt.

You do what you have to do, Wolfie...

But take a peek at their website in the meantime.

I'm not sure of the degradation rate of bacteria in Bio Spira that has been left unrefrigerated for a few days.

There is a purpose, other than keeping the bacteria chilled, and that is to slow down the rate of food consumption of the live bacteria.

Be aware that live bacteria have to have a food source in order to survive. I would imagine when bottle temps increase so do the appetites of the living bacteria in the bottle solution.

It's very possible that many of the bacteria die off after a few days of room temps and above.

--garyroland