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  L# Bio Spira
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SubscribeBio Spira
ELT888
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Has anyone here ever used Bio Spira? Did it work for you? Were you able to find it at a local store or did you have to order via mail?

Just wondering about this product and if it works.
Post InfoPosted 10-Jun-2007 18:27Profile PM Edit Report 
Hooben
 
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Most people that I know, do not agree with this product. None the less, I have used it before. The question is, did my fish survive becuase I lightly stocked my new tank at first? Or was it because of the Bio Spira? I would say that you can use it, but always be careful when stocking a new tank. There is just no way that I could justify fully stocking and feeding a 24 hour old tank.

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Post InfoPosted 11-Jun-2007 17:51Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
djrichie
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I have used this product and Cycle as will, however I use it when I clean out the media in my canister filters, I add it directly to the filter. I feel that it give that boost when you have to clean the filter. As far as cycling a tank with it, you will only shave a week at the most off the the cycling process. The best way is just to wait for the process to be complete and then slowly stock your fish a week or two at a time.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams
Post InfoPosted 11-Jun-2007 18:35Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Doedogg
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I used it when I first started my 29gal a couple of years ago and I never had readings for ammonia or nitrites and I started with a full stock. I don't remember where I ordered it from or I would include a link. It was very expensive, but it did work.



I used to be Snow White, but I drifted.
~ Mae West
Post InfoPosted 11-Jun-2007 20:43Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ELT888
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Thanks for the info everyone. I never would have cycled with my fish from my established tank if I would have known about "cycling". I was told from "a reputable" dealer that I could add the fish after 24 hours of running my new tank. Of course, after I did this, then I heard about cycling the tank. Now, I'm deperate to save my little friends from high ammonia and nitrite levels.
I am measuring the levels everyday and the cycle is underway but I still haven't hit the huge ammonia spike yet. I'm desperate to do anything I can to undo my huge mistake. I feel so guilty and stupid.

Thanks for the advice everyone.
Post InfoPosted 12-Jun-2007 01:15Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
kitten
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I used Biospira to start my ten gallon tank a couple years ago and had good luck with that tank. Never any ammonia or nitrite, stayed very even and stable even with nearly full stocking not a week later. I started the tank with three danios and within a week was given three guppies. Within the month, the three supposedly single-sex-group of guppies (which were pretty young when I got them), turned out to be a mixed trio. Of course in due course I had fry...

In short, this tank went from being stored in a friend's garage for 5-10 years to being full and happy and never a spike in the cycling.

In completely the opposite turn of events, when I started my 20 gallon long, there was a shortage of Biospira and I had to cycle it without additives. The cycle took longer (whereas no obvious cycle with Bio Spira besides a slow build up in the nitrates), with obvious peaks in both ammonia and nitrite.

Did I get to the same point with Bio Spira and without? Yes. However, the additive made it easier on my fish and cycled the tank faster. I would definitely use it again if I didn't have another way to cycle the tank in another way (seeding with gravel, filter material, etc). So sue me, I like the cheap way of doing things.

~Meow. Thus spoke the cat.~
Post InfoPosted 12-Jun-2007 02:25Profile Homepage AIM MSN Yahoo PM Edit Delete Report 
djrichie
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If your tank is stocked and you are worried bout ammoina ans nitrate spikes it safe to assume that you you have a good testing kit. That being said than just watch your levels and when it gets to high than do a 20% water change. Don't vacuum the gravel just get the lower level of the water. This I would have to say would be the old fashion way, but very effect and time consuming.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams
Post InfoPosted 12-Jun-2007 06:26Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ELT888
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Well, out of deperation I used the Bio Spira... and my Ammonia went down a bit to .25ppm, Nitrites are steady at 2ppm, and Nitrates went from 5 to 10ppm. I guess this means the cycle is underway, but did not get the 24 hours results that Bio Spira promised. Oh well, I'll just have to wait it out.

Thanks for the info.
Post InfoPosted 15-Jun-2007 02:50Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
sham
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Biospira will only cycle the tank for a very small amount of fish. Their promise only works if you had something like a couple small tetras. For a fuly stocked tank you're still going to see quite a bit of ammonia and nitrite before it's done cycling. It may speed it up by several weeks though which could save the life of a few fish.
Post InfoPosted 15-Jun-2007 03:56Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
fishmonster
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I used Bio-Spira on a fairly large amount of fish, probably say about 15 iches worth in a 30gal tank. I used 2 pouches and it stablised my tank and sped up the cycling process alot. So i would say it works.

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html
Post InfoPosted 15-Jun-2007 09:06Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ELT888
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Well, I only have 4 fish in a 75g tank, but they are rather large fish. A 7" shark, a 6" dojo loach, a 4" Midnight Catfish, and one small lonely Black Phantom Tetra.

The levels were the same today, so I did a small water change to kind of buffer the Nitrite effects a bit. But the levels didn't change any. I would try more Bio Spira, but no one around here sells it and the shipping costs double the price. So, I guess I will just wait it out.

Patience, who needs it?! lol

Post InfoPosted 16-Jun-2007 03:31Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
djrichie
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You said you did a small water change but it had no effect, how small of a water change did you do. On a 75gal tank, you need to do a 20% to 25% water change, that's 15 to 19 gals of water. That will bring the levels to at least a safe range. You may have to do this everyday or every other day, just keep checking the ammonia and nitrate levels and when they get high: water change. If you can't find Bio Spira, I know most Petco carry a product called "Cycle". It all natural and is really just concentrated bacteria.
If you do these thing you will have a better chance of not losing fish. If you just wait it out not so good of a chance.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams
Post InfoPosted 16-Jun-2007 03:57Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
Big E
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Was your Bio-Spira constantly refrigerated or just on the shelf in the store (or shipped without a cooling pack)? If it's not kept constantly cool, the bacteria will die and it won't do any more for you than Cycle (which I've never heard convincing proof it did anything). Puffer keepers recommend Bio-Spira all the time and puffers are HIGHLY sensitive to ammonia and nitrite.

Eric
Post InfoPosted 16-Jun-2007 07:03Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ELT888
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djrichie,

When I said I did a small water change, I did about 10%, made no difference. I know that is a small water change, but it's a job and a half to do 20% since I have to empty and fill by 5 gallon water jug. I'm no spring chicken. lol Man those jugs are heavy!
I checked my levels again last night, still the same; Ammonia at .25ppm, Nitrites at 2ppm, and Nitrates at 10ppm. I did a 20% water change, 15 gallons. Checked Nitrites again, no change. When I said I would just have to wait it out, I just meant not trying anymore BioSpira. I will still test daily and do water changes as necessary. I think "as necessary" will mean daily (unfortunately). I should look like the terminator by the time the tank cycles! hee hee

Big E,
The BioSPira was delivered with a cold pack and I kept it cold until I used it a few hours after I got it. Who knows how it was stored before I got it though.

Well I'm going into week 3. I figure in another month, maybe I will be outta the woods.

Thanks for the input everyone!
Post InfoPosted 18-Jun-2007 03:05Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
fishmonster
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Well ELT im sorry you have been having problems with Bio-Spira. I bought mine at a local LFS so i knew it had been refridgerated.

What i would suggest is this, I would test your water every two days. If the readings are steady that probably means IMHO that the water is being changed to frequently to do any kind of work. What i would suggest is wait until you see a slightly higher spike in one of the three parameters than you have. The reason for this is because when a tank is truly cycling it will peak 3 times. Ammonia first, then Nitrites then Nitrates.

If you watch for those spikes you will know at which point your tank is at in the process. let me know how it goes.

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html
Post InfoPosted 18-Jun-2007 04:55Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
ELT888
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fishmonster,

I finally have a reading of ZERO for my ammonia. I haven't done any water changes since Saturday and today is Wed. The Nitrites have stayed steady at 2ppm and Nitrates are steady also at 10ppm. I am thinking the cycle has stalled a bit with the prdouction of the bacteria to change Nitrites to Nitrates. At least I have made some progress with the zero reading. I will just be patient for the cycle to finsh. The fish do not seem to be in any distress. Whew!

I am setting up my old 20g tank as a QT and since I can't find pure ammonia around here for a fishless cycle, I am trying to cycle it with daily feedings. Do you know how long it takes for the food to decay and produce ammonia? Just wondering what I should be looking for.

Thanks for the advise!
Post InfoPosted 21-Jun-2007 04:17Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
djrichie
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I never cycled with food but from posting I read it takes a really long time. Sorry I could not be much more help than that. I glad you finally feeling comfrontable with you other tank. Keep checking the water.

Djrichie
"So Long, and Thanks For All The Fish" Douglas Adams
Post InfoPosted 21-Jun-2007 05:49Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
fishmonster
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ELT, thats good news. It sounds like its on to the second stage og cycling in the NITRITE stage. You will still want to keep the nitrites fairly low, lower than 1ppm. Once you see the nitrites dissapearing then you will be on the last section of the cycle. Now once you have your main tank cycled, you can then move some of the substrate into the new tank and then you can almost insta cycle. What you can also do is put the filter media from your new tank into your existing tank to build but biobugs from the existing tank to help the cycle along in the new QT tank

Thanks for your input as always, Shane
http://thetanklog.blogspot.com/ - [ Thanks to ScottF ]
http://www.natureaquariumclubofutah.com/main.html
Post InfoPosted 22-Jun-2007 01:38Profile PM Edit Delete Report 
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