Problems with Bio-Spira?

[Phledge]

How excited was I to discover a product where I could literally insta-cycle? Oh I was pretty excited. This meant that I could get my feeshies! Yay! So Rudy and Winky, and a packet of Bio-Spira, came home with us on Sunday.

I read the instructions on Bio-Spira and used it as directed. Tank got to 2 nitrites and 20 nitrates in about 72 hours. Poop. So I did a 50% water change and put another dose of Bio-Spira in it. Yay, tank is now up to 3 nitrites and 20 nitrates in about 24 hours. I read the sticky on Bio-Spira and, , I did everything the way I should have. Is my bacterias broken, or is there another trick to this that I don't know? Dilution is the solution to pollution, but am I thinning the microbial herd if I do big water changes? How come nitrites went up but nitrates didn't, and are in fact at a non-urgent level? I know--o Maude do I know--that puffers are more sensitive to this stuff and though Rudy and Winky are swimming around, eating, pooping, playing in the current, and generally being silly fish, I don't want to let this get out of hand. Halp!

[emartin]

Biospira is a joke.

You're better off doing instant cycles with media from an established tank, a seeded sponge filter, etc.

[Pufferpunk]

Not in my book... It has saved crashed tanks 3x for me. Is this for a SW system? There used to be a FW version but as far as I know, that is the only application for this particular product now. The FW versions are Tetra's Safestart or Dr Tim's. Also, it is best to pour the product directly into your filter. Is there an expiration date on the package? The biggest problem with B-S is it must be kept refrigerated. If at any time during shipping it has been left out, it could be rendered totally useless.

[Phledge]

It is SW. I added it to the water, though, so I hope if I just add it to the filter that will help. My LFS keeps it refrigerated and it was still cool when I put it in the tank, but you're right--it's impossible to know what happened between the manufacturer and the store. I'll be able to get some first thing tomorrow, but in the meantime do you recommend a large WC or just small frequent ones? Dilution, pollution, all that...

[emartin]

WAIT A MINUTE....

If this is for a saltwater tank, why don't you just buy live rock or borrow some from someone local (check aquarium clubs)? That would be instant established cycle for you.

[Pufferpunk]

+1, I never really understood the need for an instant cycle product with SW, when all you have to do is stock it with live rock from an established tank.

[Phledge]

If this is for a saltwater tank, why don't you just buy live rock or borrow some from someone local (check aquarium clubs)? That would be instant established cycle for you.

I actually do have live rock in the tank, both crushed in the filter canister and freestanding; I also have live sand (though I suspect that's less effective). Some posters have suggested that I don't have enough, that's all, and between it and the "dead rock" (lacerock pulled from my FW tanks) there isn't enough room for more. So, yeah, there's some biological filter there, but it's not working as expected.

[Phledge]

I went ahead and went with my gut instinct, which was to do a half WC and take some of the "dead rock" out of the tank, with my rationale being that there might be some die-off in the FW organisms hitching a ride on the rock (including but not limited to algae and snails...guess I should have "quarantined" it first). Fortunately the ammonia's still <0.02, and these little ones seem to be happy. I just fed and their little bellies are all full and round!

Oh, here's some pictures:

Winky--http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt34 ... G_0669.jpg
Rudy--http://i626.photobucket.com/albums/tt34 ... G_0674.jpg