Interesting Experiment With Bio-spira

[FishWishDish]

I've looked for the Biospira at the local Petsmarts but they don't carry it, either

Petsmart (or any chain for that matter) won't carry Bio-Spira as it has to be refrigerated constantly and they don't have the facilities to handle it (they ship on non refrigerated trucks). You will have to get it at a true fish store

changed carbon and rinsed sponge with tank water and now ammonia

When you change carbon, you are throwing almost all of your bacteria away. Next time you need to change carbon, throw it away anc get a different type of media such as ceramic rings or something like the Matrix from Seachem. Carbon is primarily a chemical filter and although it does house beneficial bacteria well, there are better products that don't have to be changed every week or so.

Thanks yeah we have a sponge and a bag of (ceramic?) cylinder-shaped things in there too, but apparently we lost a good deal of bacteria on the carbon filter b/c the nitrates are lower and ammonia higher...grrrr. Wish we knew about fishless cycling before getting the fish...they need to post something in the pet stores. Will look for rings and anything else to add...all the help we can get is not enough! Been cycling too long.

 

[FishWishDish]

Here's a thread on another forum site about the bio-spira:

http/www.aquaria.info/index.php?name=PNp...a66d0c1d292e039