any evidence to support this jonny?
don't mean to sound harsh but i've heard no evidence anecdotal or otherwise to show that stress zyme does anything but dechlorinates the water, we often get asked which of the 'bacteria in a bottle' products works to start a cycle and the answer is invariably not many but a few have had some hit and miss sucess. If you have another method which is more reliable than what we currently use and recommend then we would be delighted to hear more about it so please can you provide some more details and evidence to back up your statement.
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Oh plenty, it has never failed for me and it is one thing i am always gob smacked by - the fact that people struggle for 5 - 8 weeks with cycling the tank just astonishes me.
OK, For the benefit of maths i will base this on a 100 litre tank.
Set up your tank: gravel/sand, plants, filter, heater, de-chlorinate and de-chloramines and leave it for 24 for hours to settle down (this isn't essential but i think it helps). I can't remember the last time i read the back of a bottle of stress zyme so i can't state what they say you should dose your tank with, if you do read it then just forget it again cos its about as useful as a chocolate tea pot.
So you've got your bottled gold, add three full caps once a day for 7-10 days - this depends on your finances and tank size cos its not the cheapest stuff around, although what is in this hobby!!!! (remember this is for 100 litres, adjust amount accordingly, 200 litre=6 caps etc).
This is where you can fork off in 1 of 2 different directions depending on your morals (fish or fishless).
For fishless fans. Stop dosing for 3 days then add 3 full caps once a day for three days then leave for 3 more days and repeat, do this until the tank is cycled. Time span = 25 days max
For less moralistic aquarists. Get yourself 2 or three baby goldfish (the idea been that they will not have totally acclimatised to certain water conditions) once added leave for three days then add 3 full caps once a day for three days and your tank should be fully cycled. Time span = 15 days (approx)
NB# I've used baby goldfish several times and have never noticed any ill affects as by the time i put them in the aquariums the majority of the cycling is done. Don't forget to reduce the temp if you plan to use goldfish, don't turn off the heater completely though, i always reduce from 79F to 66F then add the goldfish after slowly tipping water into their bag for a hour or so, for the next couple of days slowly raise the temp up to 74F. I have always returned the goldfish to my lfs and have never had any negative feedback on their condition.
Which ever route you take test your NH, NO2 & NO3 after 12-14 days and you will be gob smacked by the progress without using either fish or ammonia.
Miss W, i really hope you try this, I think you will be pleasantly surprised. As for all you pessimists out there, try before you judge.
I hope this helps......correction, i hope you appreciate once it has helped.
Jonny