Bio-Spir, anyone use this?

[jshev]

I'm just wondering if anyone has used this product. It says to pour it in and than add a fish. The theory makes since. I'm thinking about using this product.

What can you tell me from your experience with this product similar product?

[ReefSafeSolutions]

I've never used it but I've used similar stuff. I think generally people don't add a fish right away like it says. They usually wait a week or two because the bacteria doesn't work as fast as claimed.

[jshev]

I've never used it but I've used similar stuff. I think generally people don't add a fish right away like it says. They usually wait a week or two because the bacteria doesn't work as fast as claimed.

I have read some post with similar replies. However, I think that adding a fish right away gives the bacteria something to feed on and multiply. Do you dis agree?

[jeffmr4]

Worked well for me. I added stuff right away. I also had live rock and live sand.

[Tamberav]

I have read some post with similar replies. However, I think that adding a fish right away gives the bacteria something to feed on and multiply. Do you dis agree?

 

Do not add fish to cycle your tank, it is cruel and harmful to the fish. The bacteria WILL not work fast enough regardless of what the bottle says. Especially with dry rock. You can add fish food instead of a fish if you want, organics is organics. The bacteria don't need a fish, most of the tanks you find on nano-reef did not cycle using a fish because a fish isn't needed.

 

Don't rush your tank.

[Water Dog]

I used BioSpira to help begin the cycle of a new tank. Still took 2 1/2 weeks to process 2ppm of ammonia and nitrite to 0 over a 24 hour period. Don't rush the cycle. Test for NH3, NO2 and NO3 to ensure the cycle is complete before adding livestock. Adding livestock too soon and will usually end up in casualities even with the help of a cycle booster.

[jshev]

ok, I bought a test kit. I tested the water prior to adding the bio-spir. My tank hadn't completed its cycle yet obviously. Ammonia and nitrite still detectable. I just added the hole bottle. I will wait on the fish even thought the bottle says to add them. I wouldn't want to endanger my new family members

I will test the water tomorrow and let you know if the bottle made a difference.

[Water Dog]

Have you introduced an ammonia source yet (fish food, pure ammonia a small piece of raw table shrimp)?

[jshev]

Have you introduced an ammonia source yet (fish food, pure ammonia a small piece of raw table shrimp)?

I did a few days ago, a shrimp. I only left it for a little while than took it out cause I was reading that it could actually harm it. Other than that, nothing. Live sand and dry rock. but before I added the bottle of Bio-Spira my ammonia was about 1ppm and Nitrate was about 5 ppm. Nitrite was about .25ppm.

[Water Dog]

Cool... so you at least do have some ammonia to be processed. I too started with a raw shrimp. Had it in for about a week and was told to take it out as well. Ended up getting a bottle of Dr Tim's pure ammonia from ebay for like $3. I dosed my tank with the ammonia till it read 2ppm. At first it took like 4 days to process down both ammonia and nitrite to 0 with the BioSpira added. Then I kept dosing from 0 ammonia and nitrite back up to 2ppm ammonia until it could process the ammonia and nitrite to 0 zero over a 24 hour period. That took like 2 or so weeks. Then, I knew my cycle was complete after a total of around 3 1/2 weeks... at least that's how I did it!

[Dylan.N]

I will wait on the fish even thought the bottle says to add them.

I'm pretty sure the bottle doesn't say "to" add fish. It probably says you could. But I would never add any fish or corals until 4 weeks after setting up the tank at the earliest. Most people on here will wait even longer. You will likely need to wait longer, especially since you are using dry rock.

[jshev]

I'm pretty sure the bottle doesn't say "to" add fish. It probably says you could. But I would never add any fish or corals until 4 weeks after setting up the tank at the earliest. Most people on here will wait even longer. You will likely need to wait longer, especially since you are using dry rock.

Just looked at the bottle. It says "add entire bottle to aquarium, aquarium is than ready for fish". So.... pretty much the same. I'm cycling my tank either way.

It also states on the bottle that adding contents into aquarium makes water fish safe instantly.

[Dylan.N]

That's fine. But if you look through these forums, you will find that people who rush things and add things too quickly go through major problems. Waiting for the tank to cycle is the hardest part of setting up a tank. But I promise you that if you just take it slow and not touch the tank for at least 4 weeks (other than topping off the water with RODI water), and then do a large water change, you will have a well-established, livestock-ready tank.

[ReefSafeSolutions]

That's fine. But if you look through these forums, you will find that people who rush things and add things too quickly go through major problems. Waiting for the tank to cycle is the hardest part of setting up a tank. But I promise you that if you just take it slow and not touch the tank for at least 4 weeks (other than topping off the water with RODI water), and then do a large water change, you will have a well-established, livestock-ready tank.

 

 

Very much agree! I'm on week 2 of my tank with rock, Dr. Tim's bacteria, and pure ammonia. Nitrites aren't down to zero yet, but I get a kick out of just looking at my rocks. I won't be adding any kind of livestock until the end of August, just to be safe.

[Tamberav]

Just looked at the bottle. It says "add entire bottle to aquarium, aquarium is than ready for fish". So.... pretty much the same. I'm cycling my tank either way.

It also states on the bottle that adding contents into aquarium makes water fish safe instantly.

 

The bottle is wrong. It is as simple as that. As others are telling you, they are using/have used this product and it is not safe to add fish or corals. Especially with dry rock.

 

There is no bottled product in the hobby that will cycle a tank instantly. If there was, we would be using it. There isn't.

 

Many products make outrageous claims in this hobby to sell their products. Local fish stores often do the same thing. Question everything.

[jshev]

Yesterday My ammonia was almost 1 ppm same with the nitrite. Does it look like its starting to cycle? middle of cycle? or not started yet?

[Elizabeth94]

Looks like its just starting to cycle seeing that there is no nitrate, and a small amount of nitrite.

 

It will probably take a week or two for all the ammonia and nitrite to process. Dont rush things or you will end up hating the hobby. Nothing evergoes right when it is rushed.

[reeferfoxx]

Bio-Spira works. I used it with 100% dry rock and carib sea live sand. I dosed a little more than recommended amount. Waited 48 hours. Added a damsel. Tank ran 30 days without lights with the damsel. Never had an ammonia, nitrite or nitrate spike in that 30 days. Then I turned lights on and let the damsel stick around for 1 more month before I returned him to the LFS. In the first week with lights on, I had a diatom bloom with copepods everywhere.

[Tamberav]

Yesterday My ammonia was almost 1 ppm same with the nitrite. Does it look like its starting to cycle? middle of cycle? or not started yet?

 

id you add ammonia, or food or something? Since you started with dry rock.

[Tamberav]

Bio-Spira works. I used it with 100% dry rock and carib sea live sand. I dosed a little more than recommended amount. Waited 48 hours. Added a damsel. Tank ran 30 days without lights with the damsel. Never had an ammonia, nitrite or nitrate spike in that 30 days. Then I turned lights on and let the damsel stick around for 1 more month before I returned him to the LFS. In the first week with lights on, I had a diatom bloom with copepods everywhere.

 

There is water conditioner in bio-spira. I would question what all is in the bottle and how it effects testing results. It can't hurt though and should speed up the cycle, I have a few kinds I use now and again.

 

FYI: Adding a fish one does not intend to keep can possibly introduce unwanted parasites.

[reeferfoxx]

 

There is water conditioner in bio-spira. I would question what all is in the bottle and how it effects testing results. It can't hurt though and should speed up the cycle, I have a few kinds I use now and again.

 

FYI: Adding a fish one does not intend to keep can possibly introduce unwanted parasites.

Agreed. But my source keeps copper pumping through there fish tanks and this fish had been observed for a few weeks as nobody wanted him. He was a healthy specimen and it's common for these types of fish to not become ill. There were no side effects of doing this method. But you are correct the possibility is there.