Commonly Used Bacteria Starter Products?

[Gvilleguy]

Since I'm getting a new quarantine tank this week, I would like to conduct an experiment on fishless cycling with and without a commercial bacteria product. I'm not a scientist, so, no, this won't be perfect, but I would like to:

1. Do a fishless cycle without any additives other than measured ammonia, with fresh media, and log daily results until cycled.

2. Purge and clean the tank and filter, add fresh media, and start again, hopefully keeping everything exactly the same except adding a bacteria starter as per its directions.

I saw the thread posted in the scientific section showing that ammonia processing started immediately after such a product was used. But I'd like to see that translated into a "how much faster is it, really?" scenario.

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions for the most common products you have seen mentioned or used - something I could buy in the USA. Thanks.

 

[Axyadbad]

Well i've already said it to you, but so you have it in this thread...API Stress Zyme+

Axy!

 

[JohnDyer]

Nutrafin Cycle and Tetra EasyBalance+

 

[raptorrex]

Since I'm getting a new quarantine tank this week, I would like to conduct an experiment on fishless cycling with and without a commercial bacteria product. I'm not a scientist, so, no, this won't be perfect, but I would like to:

1. Do a fishless cycle without any additives other than measured ammonia, with fresh media, and log daily results until cycled.

2. Purge and clean the tank and filter, add fresh media, and start again, hopefully keeping everything exactly the same except adding a bacteria starter as per its directions.

I saw the thread posted in the scientific section showing that ammonia processing started immediately after such a product was used. But I'd like to see that translated into a "how much faster is it, really?" scenario.

Anyway, I'm looking for suggestions for the most common products you have seen mentioned or used - something I could buy in the USA. Thanks.

you saw a thread in the science section stating an UNKNOWN commercial product caused ammonia to drop, immediately. and it was SUGGESTED it was a branded product.

there are a few products on the market, that claim to use bacteria to reduce ammonia. none use or husband the bacteria we need for cycling.
there are a few products that SEEM to help. as noted by posters here.

but, apart from quoting the scientific research on which the product is based. nothing but empiric evidence exists that the "bottled Bacteria" from DR Tim. does what it says. its also not directly imported into the UK (it would need to be properly tested for that) and is very expensive.

personally i use a good hand full of high humus or compost soil, added to the water then pee in the tank for ammonia (on I'm not joking).
it seems to work a treat, with cycles of around 21 days.
lol, Ill be a bit presumptuous and answer a few questions, before you ask them:

No its not dangerous or dirty. urine is, to all intents and purposes sterile.
urine breaks down to ammonia very quickly. once it meets O2/air.
the system has been used of decades in Koy farming. and was also used by a commercial fish firm (one i cant remember the name of just now) to cycle the pond, in there buildings atrium.

as an ADDITIVE to aid cycling, it represent good value for money. lol

 

[gilaesther]

Just a reminder, urine is only considered sterile if it comes from a healthy person. If you're not feeling well, then don't use your own

 

[Gvilleguy]

Thanks for all of the information - especially Raptor. But I'm guessing that you have not posted any instructional videos on youtube for your cycling method!!!

So from what I'm hearing this testing would be a waste of time, due to the products not containing the right type of bacteria that we need to encourage in our filters?

 

[Gvilleguy]

Looks like Dr Tim's 2 oz of nitrifying bacteria costs $15. I may consider ordering that just to see how it goes. That amount covers up to 30 gallons for a cycle.

 

[Gvilleguy]

Wow - directly from the web site, Dr. Tim's nitrifying bacteria would have been about $24 with the hefty shipping charge. But I saw the "pay with Amazon" link, and checked the Amazon site directly. $12.91 and free 2 day shipping, since I'm a Prime member. So saved myself a lot of money for this experiment! My fastest fishless cycle so far has been 30 days, so I'll try to cycle with this stuff and see how long it takes.