Tetra Safestart for full Cycle?

[mrgreen]

How long does Tetra Safestart last? I bought a large bottle and have used it at each water change. Just wondering if it is still good if constantly refridgerated for a while, or I should get a new bottle? (I'm getting a new tank in a couple weeks.)

[Idontknow]

It should have a shelf life date on the bottle. I think I read it is good for one year without refrigeration.

[Dadof4]

How long does Tetra Safestart last? I bought a large bottle and have used it at each water change. Just wondering if it is still good if constantly refridgerated for a while, or I should get a new bottle? (I'm getting a new tank in a couple weeks.)

Just curious, why are you using Safestart for water changes? As long as your filter is cycled you should only have to use a dechlorinator like Prime or Amquel not a live bacteria at water change time.

[Pufferpunk]

I still don't get what keeps this bacterteria alive for so long, in a bottle w/o food. Goes against everything I know about nitrifying bactertia.

[Idontknow]

Just curious, why are you using Safestart for water changes? As long as your filter is cycled you should only have to use a dechlorinator like Prime or Amquel not a live bacteria at water change time.

Sorry, I didn't read this.

If you open the bottle the bacteria will die. The one year shelf life is only for unopened bottles. From what I've read the bacteria is dormant until exposed to air. You will just be putting dead bacteria in.

[coldmachineUK]

I still don't get what keeps this bacterteria alive for so long, in a bottle w/o food. Goes against everything I know about nitrifying bactertia.

Me too!

[liquid88]

Ok...the tank seems to be coming along nicely!
Ammonia: 2ppm
Nitrite: 0-25ppm (slight purple tinge)
Nitrate: 10-20ppm

Dosing 2ml of ammonia per day.

[mrgreen]

I looked at the bottle and although it doesn't expire until next year, it says to add the whole bottle at once. So I guess without taking a microscope and looking, I'll assume they're all dead. Need to get a fresh bottle for order biospira online..

[coldmachineUK]

I've heard good, quantifiable, things about biospira and I believe it's stored refrigerated which is (obviously) necessary. I'd go with that if you have the option.

[mrgreen]

Thanks. I think I will order it online when I've gotten my tank set up and am ready to add my F8s.

[LilGreenPuffer]

You don't need to add SafeStart for water changes. Are you thinking about AquaSafe? That's the dechlorinator from the same brand.

[liquid88]

So in that case ur saying that Biospira still works for freswater then?

[crazedpuffer]

It's called Dr. Tims now but yes it works great,

[coldmachineUK]

Okay, I think my replies might have been unclear so I'll lay down what my opinion is right here:

The basic info:
1. BIO-spira, by Instant Ocean, is for SW setups. It has a good record and apparently works from everything I hear.
2. Tetra purchased the equivalent version of 'bio-spira' from Marineland for FW, and that's your Tetra SafeStart. It doesn't come refrigerated and I've not heard much good about it.

My views:
1. I'm personally extremely sceptical about any cycling product in a bottle, and I definitely don't believe it works when it comes unrefrigerated.
2. Fishless cycling by dosing ammonia or using market prawns or other low-tech methods is proven to work.
3. Patience is a virtue. Cycling a new tank is a necessary thing, and a quick-fix solution in a bottle sounds too good to be true, and you know what's said about that: if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
4. Read the fishless cycling article, and follow through with that. You won't go wrong.

[Nick]

My only guess on why the safe start stays good for that long is if there is some kind of food in the bottle which very, very slowly time releases. I guess you could tell by testing the nitrate level in a fresh bottle vs a bottle near expiration.