FL CommunityFans

Lots of new people joining the forums every day, myself included in the last month, and CYCLE has been brought up countless times. Having used it myself on a 10gallon, I now understand why it is not recommended. This product does NOT 'complete' a cycle process. What it DOES do is creates a cycle long enough til the next water change, at which time you must add more CYCLE in. If you want to be bothered with constantly buying this product, it DOES work, as long as you use it repeatedly (read: do weekly water changes and add CYCLE as directed). This is more $$ in the long run but does in fact work. However, if you ever forget to add CYCLE or want to quit using it all together, you could cause serious harm to your fish as you will definitely see a new cycle take place - the natural cycle.

Do yourself a favor and don't buy the product CYCLE unless you plan to use it religiously, in which case it works fine. Complete the cycle process as described in these articles here at Fish Lore. There are several various ways that work, whether you have fish in the tank or not already.

This is just another PSA that the product CYCLE is not what it claims and is something that requires constant use, not just a 1 time dose and your done.

Hope this helps some new folks out there.

capekate

Great thread on the reason why we dont use the product Cycle!

~ kate

sirdarksol

This is an excellent way of putting this.
We normally state that the product doesn't work. This is a simplification that is technically incorrect. You state it better, I think, that it does work under the conditions you describe. Perhaps a bit more simple than allowing the normal cycle to complete, but, in the end, much, much more expensive.
Also, as you say, if you miss a dose, you could kill your fish.

Thanks for a superbly written description of the product.

Gargoyle

What about API stuff like...

StressCoat and StressZyme.. Also the Melafix and Pimafix products.

I have used them all... The melafix and pimafix I would say do not use at all if you have a labyrinth fish as it will kill them. The StressCoat and StressZyme I have used here and there. This new tank I have I used the Stress products on and plan on following it through as the directions state..

I guess I would like to see some feedback and thoughts on these products as well. Perhaps a new thread if need be.

Thanks!!

FL CommunityFans

I personally have had no experience with those products; you may want to make a specific thread about it so those who have used/are using it can educate you better on them. sorry no help there

sirdarksol

These products are all different from Cycle.
Cycle claims to cycle your tank.
Stresscoat helps your fish build a slime coat, and is helpful. The 'fix's are antibiotics that, as you say, are not usable with labyrinth fish, as they will kill the fish.
Not sure about Stresszyme

Gargoyle

I will create a new thread.. Thanks!!

Shawnie

I used cycle as I couldnt get a hold of bio-spira for a few days...I know its crazy but the amonia was bad.....since using cycle, I change the water 50% daily, and Im hoping the bio-spira comes in soon!!!!

COBettaCouple

Cycle is expensive water with the wrong kind of bacteria in it. It gives the illusion of cycling a tank but has to be maintained forever and is actually creating a series of mini-cycles and hindering the cycle from happening.

MelissaF

I used cycle to start my tank. Is there anything I can do to let my tank continue to cycle without it or am i stuck having to use it forever now. Ps I have a fish in my tank.

Gamer

One of my LFS's tries to sell every customer on CYCLE. They use it for all their tanks and the employee's are even made to squirt a little bit of it in the bags they put your fish in to take home with you. I suppose it doesn't hurt...and might work if you want to use it constantly. I don't use it but I usually bring some of it home with me from that one LFS I just mentioned. Then again, it never enters my tank as I don't add the water from the store.

Blub

chickadee

Yes you can continue to cycle the tank without the CYCLE but it will practically have to start over. The most effective way to go in my opinion would be to buy some Bio-spira and just do a major water change (like 50%) and when the Bio-spira gets here shake the pouch up and dump the whole pouch in the tank and your tank is cycled. Just do not do any water changes for 7 whole days and you will have a cycle completed. It is an expensive solution but safer and healthier for your fish. Otherwise you can go through the cycle process like you would have to begin with and do the daily water changes and daily testing until it cycles normally. Depending on how many bacteria have grown in the tank, and that is probably not many as CYCLE is the wrong type of bacteria and will not support the right kind it could take up to 4 to 6 weeks.


http://www.aquariumplants.com/Bio_Spira_s/47.htm Here is a new source for the Bio-spira as the old source of Drs. Foster & Smith.com is no longer going to carry it. They only are carrying the Marine form of the product until the sell out on it.

There is another product that does the same thing called Turbostart700 that is available online at:
http://www.fritzpet.com/store/catalog/2/2/

Here is information about the product.
http://www.fritzpet.com/store/product/18/ This should give you more information on the product. It must be shipped refrigerated also so is not cheap. BUT it is worth the expense if you want a quick cycle and not to take chances with your fish.

I do hope this has answered a question but of course the choice as to which way you go with your tanks is up to you and will work either way.

Rose

Shawnie

thanks soooooo much for that link chickadee...all LFS either dont have bio-spira or its on backorder! grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr so this company will have it at my door withing 6 days...couldnt afford 35 bucks for over nite so ill continue with daily water changes until it arrives!! im still at 2.0 amonia in my 75 gal... boys lemme tell ya the 5gallon buckets of water really build up those muscles!

Tom

But I have used Cycle since I don't have access to Biospira and I have never had a problem with the product. I used it every week and then got really lazy and add it now every 2 weeks and nothing has ever happened to my tanks since it is now every 2 weeks. I even used it when I first started out and there were no problems in the tanks when I started out.
Tom

Shawnie

I never cycled my tank tom...as the "newbie I thought I knew it all fishowner", I had never heard of cycleing until this amazing site!! ....so maybe cycle is good once you have all the issues under control, but not to begin with?

FL CommunityFans

It works fine as long as you constantly use it, every week (when a water change is done basically). Tom's tanks are probably developed enough now that he doesn't have to worry about missing it on occasion or all together.

MelissaF

Well since I'm in Canada I can't get BioSpira. I'll look into the Turbostart700. I just don't want to restart my cycle because it's pretty far along and I have a fish that I don't want to die on me.