Fishless Cycling Kit, Research Poll

[rabbut]

Hi,
Please can you help me with a preliminary research section of my business coursework? For one of my units, I need to develop a product and marketing strategy, based upon a gap that I have found in the market. I have noticed that nobody sells fishless cycling kits. I was wondering if this is because of a lack of interest in them, or if this is a doable product?
I have thought of the ethical side for a marketing approach (not exposing fish to poisons) and also have thought of marketing it as an easier and safer solution to the keeper.

However, this is an A-level business coursework, not a business venture.

Thanks in advance
Rabbut

P.S. note to mods. If you feel this in inappropriate, feel free to remove. TBH I am not 100% certine of the rules arround this, but think it is OK as this isn't a commercial venture, or an advert, but knowing what I'm like, I'd have missed a clause somewhere

 

[joecoral]

i think a fishless cycling kit would be an excellent idea, ideal for beginners
Waterlife do a product called BioMature which is in a similar vein but doesnt seem to be very widely used
you certainly right, there is definately a gap in the market, and if you can advertise it right and get LFs' to recommend it beginners instead of cycling with fish then you could be onto a winner

 

[littlest]

I've thought in the past that a fishless cycle kit would be a good idea. For one thing, when you tell newbies they need to add ammonia, they often ask if you can buy it in the lfs, which you can't. There's also been many posts about from people having trouble finding the right type of ammonia

As far as I can tell, a fishless cycle kit would only be ammonia and test kits though wouldn't it? or am I missing something? well I guess a guide too. I suppose, since it would be targeted at newbies, it could also contain a dechlorinator.

Depending on what your research is supposed to be, I often thought that it would be a good idea to sell tanks (particularly all-in-one kits with the filter, heater etc) with a fishless cycle kit (guide, ammonia, test kits) as a freebie, like an offer (buy this tank get a free cycling kit kinda thing)

 

[pat3612]

I think its a great idea too I acually had a fight with a guy in a fish store because he tried to tell me there was no such thing as fishless cycle and tryed to sell me fish. Then he told me if I bought plants they would die with no fish in the tank. told him to get a life. I think it would be exellent.

 

[mhfan06]

Nope, sorry but i really don't think its a good idea. I mean sure, it could help the beginners. But would they really go for it if they learn that they have to have an empty tank just sitting there with no fish for a couple of weeks? Besides, fishless cycling can be done w/ some household chemicals if they look into it. (so neither the beginner nor an expert would be interested in the product.) Unless you convince me other wise, id think it would be a waste of money. Id rather buy a little hardy fish that will cycle the tank any day. As for those people that think its cruel, they can always add some ammonia to the water. (for the humanitarians out there, it would be a better bet if you packaged water test kits w/ the fishless cycling chemical) id buy that over just some ammonia product that claims to "help cycle" your tank.

just my 2 cents, well im not saying its a horrible idea, just that if you don't sell them w/ water testing kits id think it would be a waste.

 

[Juice]

I dunno, I picked no. When I think of fishless cycling, I thought you might try to sell mature media. To me, that would be like buying a used toilet.

I'd much rather wait a month on a brand new filter then to add any chemicals to the tank; for me naturally grown bacteria in the media seems cleaner & healthier for the fish.

 

[rdd1952]

I voted "Other" as I'm not sure. As mentioned, it would mainly be a test kit and ammonia. As hard as it is to find ammonia in some places, I can see that it would possibly sell IF you could get fish stores to stock it.

On the other hand, I could see a possible market for seed media. If you could keep a huge amount of ceramic material and sponges cycled so that you could ship them to those ready to start a new tank, I think that would sell simply because it eliminates the need to cycle. Order your media, set up your tank and the next day, put the media in. Obviously, there are logistic problems with that though as you would want to ship overnight to keep the time frame as short as possible.

 

[Mr._Fishy]

I said "Other" too. I think the biggest turn off for fishless cycling is staring at an empty tank. I don't think that getting the supplies is too big of a hassle, but having no fish can be for some. Maybe if you included it in one of those starter kits, they would sell. The question is, would people actually use them?

I second what rdd1952 said, although I think it would only be practical if you owned your own lfs. Maybe if you included a bit of the mature media with the kit to speed up the cycle, it would sell.

Ryan

 

[Tolak]

I clicked no, I clone tanks. I would suggest this for a beginner though. Cycled media can be shipped, within reason, I've done it before for a couple of members. If you add this into the mix you would be giving the aquarist a good start.

I have bought cycled sponge filters & had them shipped, they worked just fine, this was more to answer any questions anyone at the receiving end of shipped cycled media might pose.

It sounds like a good project to me, I would give it a go.

 

[rabbut]

OK, thanks every one.

From the feedback, this kit would probibly do well if it bundled ammonia, test kits, user guide and possibly a bacteria seed. Say bactinetts, or mature sponge/ceramic....

I see the point of logistic problems with mature media....and keeping it cycled during and before shipping would be a problem...A refridgerated product such as bactinetts would be more covinient...

Thanks again all, for your input.
Rabbut

 

[rdd1952]

If you had tanks running that you were feeding ammonia every day so that you had plenty of seed media, you could easily ship it in 24 hours and not have a bacteria loss. The down side to that would be the cost. If you were talking a large amount of media, you would be going through a lot of ammonia to feed it.

 

[CFC]

A complete kit with an instruction booklet explaining the nitrogen cycle and how the fishless cycle works, water conditioner, pure ammonia, test kits and maybe a little basic introduction to fish keeping guide would probably sell like hot cakes. Its a good idea, if i had any business sense i'd probably steal it off you

 

[wolfwolf]

Marketing might be difficult. "Why buy Bio-Spira and add fish the same day when you can buy this kit and wait 6-7 weeks." Not a very catchy slogan.

Maybe if you made a science project out of it. Add a log book and a mailer that you sent in every week to get a bacteria count (or something similar).

 

[nicnak]

I would add a droper or pippet to the kit

 

[nickelplates]

I think it could be a real goer with the right marketing. Call me cynical if you like but one of the reasons so few beginners do fishless is that the lfs doesn't push it and they don't push it cos there's no money in it for them. Give the lfs a kit with a starter (ie not many tests) version of the required test kits a bottle of ammonia a manual, a DVD about fishless cycling, fish welfare and the hobby in general a cute little ammonia measuring eye dropper. They could charge 25 quid for it and hey presto suddenly they recommend fishless cycling.

Play your cards right and the test kit manufacturers would be clamouring to supply the test kit part at cost or less, other manufacturers would want to contribute shameless advertising, sorry content for the DVD. It could be like those expectant mother packs that get handed out cheaply or free to promote nappies and stuff.