Using Cycle

[jeff_hopkinson]

Hi, i have just changed from internal to external but have a small question for such people who use cycle or stress zyme or bacterlife, how do you use do you just put it in the tank as usual or put it direct into the filter. if you put in the tank how does the bacteria get into the filter.

 

[rdd1952]

I doubt you will get much positive feed back on those products. The general concensus is that they are pretty much useless. I have tried both Cycle and Stress Zyme and found that they had no effect cycling process. Those tanks cycled in basically the same amount of time as the tanks that I didn't use anything on. I just don't think it's possible for bacteria to live for days, weeks, months in a bottle at sometimes extremely high temperatures (in trucks and warehouses) and without a food source. I would suggest trying Bio-Spira instead but make sure you get it from a reputable source as it is also useless if it hasn't been refrigerated all the time. I personally haven't tried it but everything I have read says it works.

 

[jeff_hopkinson]

I doubt you will get much positive feed back on those products. The general concensus is that they are pretty much useless. I have tried both Cycle and Stress Zyme and found that they had no effect cycling process. Those tanks cycled in basically the same amount of time as the tanks that I didn't use anything on. I just don't think it's possible for bacteria to live for days, weeks, months in a bottle at sometimes extremely high temperatures (in trucks and warehouses) and without a food source. I would suggest trying Bio-Spira instead but make sure you get it from a reputable source as it is also useless if it hasn't been refrigerated all the time. I personally haven't tried it but everything I have read says it works.

Hi, thanks for the reply i have heard of bio-spira before but does anyone know where to get it from.

 

[rdd1952]

I'm not sure if you are in the US or not but this is supposed to be a good source in the states. True LFS may have it too. There is one near me that stocks it in a refrigerator but as I said, I haven't tried it yet.

 

[Notsofab]

There is also another product available in the UK that 'claims' to fully cycle a new tank in 24 hours. The product is called Bactinettes. It is basically small dissolvable pearls containing the live bacteria needed by your filter.

You can read more about it here : http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115315

 

[love_fish]

I'm using Bio Spira right now in my tank. It's been in for like 5 days or so, and still no results. I'll keep you updated and tell you if it works.

 

[rdd1952]

I'm using Bio Spira right now in my tank. It's been in for like 5 days or so, and still no results. I'll keep you updated and tell you if it works.

I haven't used Bio-Spira before but my understanding is that it almost instantly cycles a tank and makes it safe for fish. Can you even do a fishless cycle with it? I guess you canand just add ammonia as usual.