Sera Ammovec & Nitrivec

[The-Wolf]

Hi
I sell sera products at work and got curious about the ammovec & nitrivec
which we sell to people that buy new set ups.
the idea is use this 24hrs before adding fish and then for the next 9 days.
here is a copy of an email I sent to Sera and their reply.

Hello
I work in an aquatics shop that sells your products.
I have a question concerning Ammovec and Nirtivec.

Both products state they are a "special mixture of purifying bacteria"
is that saying they contain Nitrosomonas (ammovec) and Nitrobacter (nitrivec) bacteria?

It is my understanding, of these nitrifying bacteria, that they need a continual supply of O2 and nutrients to keep them alive, as this can not be achieved in the bottle is is hard to belive that your products contain them and if they do that they are alive for anything after 4hours of being bottled. The only known (to me) product on the market to contains live nitrifying bacteria is Biospira by Marineland, which must be kept refrigerated untill use.

I would appreciate you clarifying what your products contain.
Mr P. Roots

Dear Mr. Roots,

sera nitrivec and sera ammovec contain mixtures of heterotrophic bacteria,
which are existent as resistant dormant bodies to the largest part
decomposing organic material. Only if this decomposition is finished, the
other bacteria (nitrifying bacteria) can work effectively in tanks.

Yours sincerely,
sera GmbH

so does that clear it up for you?
it dosn't for me.
I did find this about heterotrophic bacteria
http/www.bioconlabs.com/autoheterobac.html

 

[@ombomb]

Here's how I read that...

Dear Mr. Roots,

sera nitrivec and sera ammovec contain nothing of any value whatsoever and are produced purely as a means of rinsing as much cash as possible out of people who are new to the hobby.

Yours sincerely,
sera GmbH

 

[ncjharris]

LOL.

personally, to cycle my tank, I rip fivers and tenners into small shreds and then sprinkle them in.

Having said all this though, have you had any feedback on if they work Wolf?

 

[The-Wolf]

We do have many customers that swear by these products
and I have tested a few tanks through the 10 day "cycle"
it does appear to work but then again that could just be due to the fish
in the tank

 

[CFC]

The answer is then to test it on a fishless cycle. Add some ammonia to a tank to a level of 5.0ppm and then pour in the recomended ammount of the product and see if it reduces the ammonia significantly within a few hours.

Personally i think these products are a load of crap but ive never used them so cant really form an opinion

 

[rdd1952]

I am seriously considering buying a 10 gallon tank (small but doesn't take up much room) and using it for nothing but testing of fishless cycling methods and bacteria starter products like Cycle, Prime and even Bio-Spira. I have a spare filter and heater so the tank is all I would need. That will most likely be my new year's project so I can confirm that those products either do or don't work.

 

[Squid]

I will be testing Bactinetts (see link below.) as CFC described. Im willing to see if it works, but will not rely on it by adding fish straight away until i have tested its effectiveness. NOTSOFAB is testing at the moment too, as can bee seen in the link.

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=115315&hl=

Squid

 

[Notsofab]

NOTSOFAB is testing at the moment too, as can bee seen in the link.

Before I get a roasting for 'testing' a product with my live fish, I'd just like to clarify that I am 'using' the product recomended to me by my LFS who themselves swear they use it. Therefore I'm not actually testing it - I prefer to believe that the testing has been done by the LFS, before they whole heartily recommeded it.

If things go wrong then the LFS will be refunding me the cost of my fish and the cost of the product.

Not good for my fish - but easier on my pocket.

 

[Squid]

NOTSOFAB is testing at the moment too, as can bee seen in the link.

Before I get a roasting for 'testing' a product with my live fish, I'd just like to clarify that I am 'using' the product recomended to me by my LFS who themselves swear they use it. Therefore I'm not actually testing it - I prefer to believe that the testing has been done by the LFS, before they whole heartily recommeded it.

If things go wrong then the LFS will be refunding me the cost of my fish and the cost of the product.

Not good for my fish - but easier on my pocket.

sorry chap.. didnt mean to put you in the firing line.. i cant vouch for my LFS and its use of it like you can, hence why i may do some testing first... didnt mean you were a bad lad or laddette, sorry if I wasnt clear on that. ) )