Septo-bac/bio-spira Question

[Pl*co]

When using septo-bac or bio-spira (both are used to cycle tanks) there should be no fish in the tanks (since it could kill them?), correct?

 

[Paavn]

i don't think they're meant to kill fish... if bio-spira is just like SafeStart then you can use it with fish already in your tank.

 

[drobbyb]

You want to add the fish and the Bio-Spira at the same time per the instructions. I have used it to start several tanks with success. All of the tanks I started have been running at full fish load for over a year and I have yet to see any trace of ammonia or nitrite. Period.

 

[OldMan47]

BioSpira is intended to be used as the first bacterial colony in your filter. If it is fresh and viable, it will instantly cycle the filter. Since our fish always live with bacteria in the filter, it should be safe to use with fish in the tank. On the other hand, if you are not certain about the health of the biospira product, it would be safer to use it in a fishless cycle situation and if it proves itself you would be able to stock the tank very quickly.

 

[Pl*co]

Ok, thanks.
D o you know how much bio-spira is and whether i can buy it at petco or petsmart?

 

[waterdrop]

Right, *finding* BioSpira that you trust has been kept refridgerated and is not old is the "random chance" part of the equation for most people. In the ideal world, you've got a wonderful LFS owner who you trust and who knows his BioSpira distributor, his refridgerated truck driver, etc. and it all works for you. Somehow that sort of warm, fuzzy feeling doesn't come to me in my PetSmart, not that they're bad folks or anything...

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Pl*co

It's usually worthwhile to seek out an independently owned lfs even if you have to travel a ways to find one. They are the ones that will carry this kind of product and might even special order some for you. They also tend to carry a wider variety of fish and foods too.

 

[OldMan47]

I checked at my local Petsmart when setting up my first new tank about 2 years ago. At that time the fish person told me that they didn't carry it but that they had used it to cycle their big central filter when the store was first opened a couple of years before. They did offer to sell me the nostrums they had on the shelf but not the real thing.

 

[Pl*co]

Aw, I don't have any lfs near me, that I know of.

Does anyone know anything about septo-bac? I read that isn't as good as bio-spira but its still sucessful. and is cheap and easy to find. I think i remember someone saying that you have to do a fish-less cycle when cycling with septo-bac though because it will kill the fish (not that it matters all that much that it will hav to be a fish-less cycle, but I want to make sure before I do it)... I don't see HOW though. if that stuff is dangerous to them then what difference does it make if I add the fish after the cycle or before? the septo-bac will still be in the water.. maybe not as strong, but all the same...

 

[OldMan47]

I have not seen the product so I can't say what the problems might be. It may be that the Septo-bac is nothing but a bottle of ammonia with labels telling you how much to use. In that case it would injure or kill the fish if you tried to use it with fish in the tank.

 

[Pl*co]

oh, nevermind that was ammonia that you shouldnt cycle a tank with while having fish in the tank.