Tetra Safe Start

[drobbyb]

So I wanted to find out if the new shalf stable version of Tetra Safe Start (formerly refrigerated bio-spira) actually worked. The LFS close to where I live was expanding their fish department and added 6 new 56 gal tanks. I suggestes that he try the new Safe Start made by tetra. He used it exactly how the directions stated. All 6 tanks cycled in 24 hours with readings of 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 10 nitrates. These tanks have been running for over a month with zero problems.

Long story short, yes it works!

 

[rabbut]

Without the information and detail, I'm sceptical

Any chance you could post details of how they tested that the product worked? Did they add the product and a full load of fish, the product and a few fish, the product and liquid ammonia or what?

With all due respect, it wasn't your test also, so is there no way that this experiment was fixed by the shop to promote the product?

All the best
Rabbut

 

[drobbyb]

Without the information and detail, I'm sceptical

Any chance you could post details of how they tested that the product worked? Did they add the product and a full load of fish, the product and a few fish, the product and liquid ammonia or what?

With all due respect, it wasn't your test also, so is there no way that this experiment was fixed by the shop to promote the product?

All the best
Rabbut

No it wasn't fixed. He simply followed the instructions. He set up the 6 tanks, added fish and added safe start. That was it. I know this guy very well.

He has about 15 OB Peackocks in one tank from day 1 and his daily log shows thet there was literally no ammonia or nitrite spike.

 

[Truck]

id be amazed if this stuff really works.

 

[drobbyb]

id be amazed if this stuff really works.

I was skeptical of the refrigerated version of Bio-Spira Freshwater until I tried it and it worked. I was really skeptical of the shelf stable version but I have seen enough evidence to win me over. Others will probably take more time and testing (as they should!) If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes I wouldn't believe it.

 

[rabbut]

You've not exactly thrown information at us, so I can't realy say where I stand with what you are trying to say. You claim that the product works due to a test a frined of yours whom works at/owns an LFS has done on 6 tanks in the shop after upgrades, when there are several people whom have followd the Safestart instructions on fish-in cycling tanks with no success. I want to try to figure out here a) is your friends test valid, b) if the test is valid, why has it worked for him but precious few others? c) what can be done to improve the chances of future fish-in cycles getting success with the product.

For all we know, these 6 tanks could be on a centralised system, and just been patched onto it. Media transferes could have gone on... There is no information about tank size, so we cannot see how bigger stocking there is in the tanks. Realy, we have very little info here from your posts, hence why I'm still sceptical. I realy would like a readily available product that worked to exist, but I have never seen any evidence of this from products that don't need refrigeration

You have given a long-story-short version of the test, so now could you please give a long-story-long version, so that myself and other members can see what the test actually involved, how it was carried out and why the product worked? ATM there is nowhere near enough information posted to state answers to any of the three points I have here. Please, tell us as much about this test as you can so that we may form our own conclusions here

All the best
Rabbut

 

[Truck]

I'm still skeptical

 

[drobbyb]

Ok I got ya Rabbut. These tanks are 56 gallon column's with new out of the box Emperor 280 filters on each. The filter media used is the replaceable marineland cartridges. The substrate used varied from tank to tank ie: crushed coral for the Africans and pea gravel for the South Americans. All tanks were new out of the box. Tetra safe start (two 30 gallon sized bottles) was used on each tank as the fish were going in. After 24 hours the ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels were taken and logged. The results after 24 hours were: zero ammnia, zero nitrite, and 10ppm nitrate. Readings were taken every day for 7 days and then weekly thereafter. These tanks have been running for over a month with all test results showing normal (0 ammonia, 0nitrite, and 5 to 15 nitrates)

I'm not trying to convince anyone, but rather this is 1 confirmed test that shows positive results.

 

[Truck]

im might try this on a betta tank with some juvis

 

[flash22]

I have tried a few of these while setting up tanks, one thing i noticed with safe start is the nitrite ->- nitrate was around a week to 10 days quicker. i have tried cycle with no noticeable difference at all

 

[minxfishy]

Tried this stuff back in February(ish) time on a tank, I will give ya it seems to work pretty well on ammonia, but left the tank with a pretty serious nitrIte spike several weeks into its use. I wouldnt use it again, waste of money.

 

[Truck]

i knew there would be a hitch

 

[drobbyb]

Tried this stuff back in February(ish) time on a tank, I will give ya it seems to work pretty well on ammonia, but left the tank with a pretty serious nitrIte spike several weeks into its use. I wouldnt use it again, waste of money.

The test tanks have been up for 4 weeks. How long until the nitrite spike?

 

[tenohfive]

I daresay its going to vary from tank to tank.

I don't know how much this stuff sells for - if its fairly cheap I'd encourage people to give it a punt in addition to another method, but not rely on it to cycle a tank. I am slightly skeptical as are others and until its 100% effective 100% of the time its not something I'd advocate as a replacement to other methods - and its far from below that figure.

Just out of interest why was this guy setting up 6 tanks that run off seperate filters? One of two display tanks I can understand, but for that number I'd expect him to be using a centralised system?

 

[drobbyb]

I daresay its going to vary from tank to tank.

I don't know how much this stuff sells for - if its fairly cheap I'd encourage people to give it a punt in addition to another method, but not rely on it to cycle a tank. I am slightly skeptical as are others and until its 100% effective 100% of the time its not something I'd advocate as a replacement to other methods - and its far from below that figure.

Just out of interest why was this guy setting up 6 tanks that run off seperate filters? One of two display tanks I can understand, but for that number I'd expect him to be using a centralised system?

Seperate filters. All his tanks are indipendantly filtered except his coral reef tanks. They share a sump.