Cycling With Bio-Spira
Posted: Mon Aug 11, 2008 3:40 pm
I found this article on "instant cycling" with Bio Spira, I'm sure you could use the same rules with Dr Tim's Aquatics.
http://www.flippersandfins.net/CyclingBioSpira.htm
Bio-Spira™ (from Marineland) contains the actual living bacteria responsible for nitrification in an established tank.
Bio-Spira™ is useful to:
Cycle a new aquarium.
Replenish beneficial bacteria to a damaged bio filter, such as can occur from medications.
Add more bacteria to a bio filter, such as when adding more fish.
Bio-Spira™ should not be used though as an attempt to expand a tank’s bio filter beyond its’ recommended limit. For example, if you have severely overstocked a 20-gallon tank with 6 goldfish, then adding Bio-Spira, in an effort to make the bio filter larger in an attempt to neutralize the very large amount of ammonia produced by the goldies, is not the answer.
There are separate versions of Bio-Spira™ for freshwater and saltwater tanks. You can get Bio-Spira™ in a one-ounce size to treat up to 30 gallons or three-ounce size for 90 gallons for freshwater usage and a three-ounce size for up to 55 gallons for the saltwater cycling.
Set-up a tank with filter, gravel, any decorations and heater (not needed for some goldfish). Be sure that you are using tank and filter sizes and aeration that are appropriate for the fish that you plan on housing in this tank.
Be sure to remove any carbon used in the filter or other ammonia, nitrite or nitrate absorbing pad.
Fill your tank with tap water. Bio-Spira™ works best in water temperatures of 60*-87*F (16*–31*C) and in pH ranging from 7.0 to 8.5.
Add dechlorinator/dechloraminator of choice . Water must be conditioned before using Bio-Spira™ or the bacteria will die from the chlorine or chloramines normally present in tap water. However, ammonia-removing products like Ammo-Lock and Bio-Safe, which will give the bacteria of Bio-Spira nothing to feed on, must be avoided. However, water conditioners such as AmQuel®, Prime™ and Ammonia Detox may still used and should be used if you have to neutralize chloramines in your tap water.
In order for Bio-Spira™ to work, there must be a source of ammonia, therefore most keepers add Bio-Spira when adding the fish into a new aquarium.
Be sure to shake the Bio-Spira™ bag well before you add it!
The average time for cycling when using the proper amount of Bio-Spira™ is about 1-4 days, with nitrite and ammonia levels not exceeding .25 ppm, though your mileage may vary!
Cloudiness is sometimes seen about 24-48 hours afterwards. This “bacterial bloom” will go away in a day or two, once sufficient quantities of the bacteria have settled in the gravel, filter, etc. and out of the water column.
The nitrates then slowly build, usually starting at about 5 ppm after 24 hours and ending around 20 ppm in a week or so. This rate will be dependent however on a number of factors, including the number and size of fish, live plants, the size of the tank, etc.
Some keepers do find small jumps in nitrite and ammonia (usually under 1 ppm) over a period of two weeks while the nitrate builds, then the tank becomes stable.
Since this product contains live bacteria, Bio-Spira™ is a product that requires refrigeration. If either you or your local fish store allows this product to be warmed (i.e. to room temperature) and allowed to stay there for a period of time, it may no longer be effective.
Bio-Spira™ will not work if it has been frozen because the bacteria will die.
Once the bottle has been opened, the container can be reclosed and stored in a refrigerator for up to 6 months, after which time, it may not be effective.
Antibiotics, which harm beneficial bacteria (the bio filter), should not be used. A short list of these include erythromycin, tetracycline, penicillin/amoxicillin/ampicillin, nitrofurazone and kanamycin (at higher dosages).
UV light filters will kill the bacteria in Bio-Spira™ when it remains in the water before it adheres to the gravel, filter media, tank walls, etc. A UV filter may be used 48 hours after Bio-Spira has been added to the tank.
Bio-Spira™ is safe for plants, animals, and aquatic life, and so is non-toxic and one cannot overdose with it.
Bio-Spira™ has been noted to cause minor skin irritation in people, so wash it off with soap and water if your skin comes into contact with it.
http://www.flippersandfins.net/CyclingBioSpira.htm
Bio-Spira™ (from Marineland) contains the actual living bacteria responsible for nitrification in an established tank.
Bio-Spira™ is useful to:
Cycle a new aquarium.
Replenish beneficial bacteria to a damaged bio filter, such as can occur from medications.
Add more bacteria to a bio filter, such as when adding more fish.
Bio-Spira™ should not be used though as an attempt to expand a tank’s bio filter beyond its’ recommended limit. For example, if you have severely overstocked a 20-gallon tank with 6 goldfish, then adding Bio-Spira, in an effort to make the bio filter larger in an attempt to neutralize the very large amount of ammonia produced by the goldies, is not the answer.
There are separate versions of Bio-Spira™ for freshwater and saltwater tanks. You can get Bio-Spira™ in a one-ounce size to treat up to 30 gallons or three-ounce size for 90 gallons for freshwater usage and a three-ounce size for up to 55 gallons for the saltwater cycling.
Set-up a tank with filter, gravel, any decorations and heater (not needed for some goldfish). Be sure that you are using tank and filter sizes and aeration that are appropriate for the fish that you plan on housing in this tank.
Be sure to remove any carbon used in the filter or other ammonia, nitrite or nitrate absorbing pad.
Fill your tank with tap water. Bio-Spira™ works best in water temperatures of 60*-87*F (16*–31*C) and in pH ranging from 7.0 to 8.5.
Add dechlorinator/dechloraminator of choice . Water must be conditioned before using Bio-Spira™ or the bacteria will die from the chlorine or chloramines normally present in tap water. However, ammonia-removing products like Ammo-Lock and Bio-Safe, which will give the bacteria of Bio-Spira nothing to feed on, must be avoided. However, water conditioners such as AmQuel®, Prime™ and Ammonia Detox may still used and should be used if you have to neutralize chloramines in your tap water.
In order for Bio-Spira™ to work, there must be a source of ammonia, therefore most keepers add Bio-Spira when adding the fish into a new aquarium.
Be sure to shake the Bio-Spira™ bag well before you add it!
The average time for cycling when using the proper amount of Bio-Spira™ is about 1-4 days, with nitrite and ammonia levels not exceeding .25 ppm, though your mileage may vary!
Cloudiness is sometimes seen about 24-48 hours afterwards. This “bacterial bloom” will go away in a day or two, once sufficient quantities of the bacteria have settled in the gravel, filter, etc. and out of the water column.
The nitrates then slowly build, usually starting at about 5 ppm after 24 hours and ending around 20 ppm in a week or so. This rate will be dependent however on a number of factors, including the number and size of fish, live plants, the size of the tank, etc.
Some keepers do find small jumps in nitrite and ammonia (usually under 1 ppm) over a period of two weeks while the nitrate builds, then the tank becomes stable.
Since this product contains live bacteria, Bio-Spira™ is a product that requires refrigeration. If either you or your local fish store allows this product to be warmed (i.e. to room temperature) and allowed to stay there for a period of time, it may no longer be effective.
Bio-Spira™ will not work if it has been frozen because the bacteria will die.
Once the bottle has been opened, the container can be reclosed and stored in a refrigerator for up to 6 months, after which time, it may not be effective.
Antibiotics, which harm beneficial bacteria (the bio filter), should not be used. A short list of these include erythromycin, tetracycline, penicillin/amoxicillin/ampicillin, nitrofurazone and kanamycin (at higher dosages).
UV light filters will kill the bacteria in Bio-Spira™ when it remains in the water before it adheres to the gravel, filter media, tank walls, etc. A UV filter may be used 48 hours after Bio-Spira has been added to the tank.
Bio-Spira™ is safe for plants, animals, and aquatic life, and so is non-toxic and one cannot overdose with it.
Bio-Spira™ has been noted to cause minor skin irritation in people, so wash it off with soap and water if your skin comes into contact with it.
