Live Gravel?

[DiscusKeeper403]

Hi,

We started carrying "Live Gravel" at the store I work at. When I took a look at it, it was a bag of gravel with water in it. It says on the package that it contains live bacteria that will cycle your tank automatically. Do you guys think that the bacteria could stay alive in bags like this? Has anyone used it and it actually worked? I would like to know, because if it actually works, then I will offer it to my customers.


Thanks,

DL

 

[Davo86]

never heard of anything like this before, do you know what company supplies it?

when you think how little bacteria the gravel in a tank actually contains I would be skeptical to start with, more so knowing it has been in an airtight bag for an extended length of time.

 

[JenCliBee]

Hi,

We started carrying "Live Gravel" at the store I work at. When I took a look at it, it was a bag of gravel with water in it. It says on the package that it contains live bacteria that will cycle your tank automatically. Do you guys think that the bacteria could stay alive in bags like this? Has anyone used it and it actually worked? I would like to know, because if it actually works, then I will offer it to my customers.


Thanks,

DL

I wouldnt of imagined it would stay alive long even if it was alive in the first place.

factors like drop in temps and no oxygen in the bag i would imagine be the to main problems

 

[Underwurlde]

The water in the bag will need to be slowly fed with ammonia, changed to some extent to prevent an excessive build up of ammonia & aerated using a filter of some kind. If this is the case, then yes, you have 'live gravel', if not, pure hokum & snake-oil I'm afraid. Oh & it would probably want refidgerating too, just like that Cycle rubbish that people sell.

Andy

 

[jonnyf84]

probably rubbish, it may contain some bacteria and beneficial bacteria for plants like caribsea eco complete but there is no way it will cycle a tank on its own.

 

[bae1994]

the only way i could see this working is if there was something that slowly released amonia but you would still have to wait and do waterchanges

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I'm guessing it's like live sand; It's been sitting in a warehouse for who knows how long and at who knows what temperatures before being shipped to a store, all in a sealed plastic bag that doesn't allow any gas exchange. So no, I don't think it will work unless you get it within hours of it being made.

 

[Underwurlde]

^ Crikey, you're not agreeing with me are you!!! LOL

 

[TylerFerretLord]

I think our views are pretty similar in regards to this.

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

Not sure which brand supplies it, but I was skeptical and you guys have confirmed my thoughts. Too bad our store doesn't carry BioSpira.

 

[Underwurlde]

BioSpira is the same kind of hokum IMHO, or is that what you meant?

Andy

 

[DiscusKeeper403]

BioSpira is the same kind of hokum IMHO, or is that what you meant?

Andy

No I actually thought BioSpira worked. I guess even that stuff doesn't!

 

[Underwurlde]

Some people say it works.... then good for them.

But again I think along the same lines, if the pot it comes in is slowly fed with ammonia, changed out to some extent to prevent an excessive build up of ammonia & aerated using a filter of some kind then the bacteria should thrive.... but hold on, it isn't!

Yes they do refridgerate it to slow the bacteria, and hence their needs down, but unless it is very new, then what's the point? And HOW MUCH IS THE STUFF?!?!?!

You'll never beat fresh mulm for insta-cycle.

Andy