Shawnie

agrees LOL i meant the deep thourough cleaning alaska was talking about

susitna-flower

If you will read this link you will see what has happened to your tank. As Sir said with the bio-spira even if you did have uneaten food and an ammonia spike the bacteria should have taken care of it....this link describes in good detail what is going on.

www.fishlore.com/fishforum/aquarium-nitrogen-cycle/17805-don-t-use-prime-bio-spira.html

So you must do the water changes, or add prime...now that the bacteria to convert ammonia is disrupted it is rather like you never used the bio-spira.....sorry this has happened.

Shawnie

but it was a week n a half after that he used prime with a water change..thats not enough time for the bio spira to work? hmmm im confused now LOL which dont take much

cousinav

I had gone a full week after adding the Biospira without adding/changing water or using Prime. I added water (enough to fill what had evaporated and replace a little that was lost when the tank had to be moved -- Water was drained and the same water was returned to the tank but some was lost) and Prime on Friday, a full 8 days after adding the Biospira.

I would be willing to buy more biospira if I thought it would help.

susitna-flower

All I am saying is for a seasoned, old tank Prime is great....OR if you have issues with heavey metals in your water, but if you are using it in a new tank because of ammonia issues....don't if you have used bio-spira.....

If you need to add water, or change water in a new tank with bio-spira in it use a different conditioner, one recommended by the manufacturer of bio-spira.....something proven not to disrupt the cycle....

The bio-spira just seeds your tank, it is a very delicate balance for the first couple of months, keeping all the bacteria healthy and growing...

Evelyn1919

sustsina-flower is right. i once heard that you should not use prime with bio spira because it might mess up the cycle. prime makes the ammonia non-toxic for fish but the bacteria in bio spira can't use it therefor it will die and not do much to cycle your tank.
you should really try to get some other water conditioner if you want to use bio spira again. otherwise just keep doing water changes.
i used bio spira to cycle my tank and it worked great but then when adding more fish the entire cycle got screwed up and since i've been just doing daily water changes.
bio spira is very good i just stoped buying it because at my LFS they only had little packages and it was costing me almost twice as much which by the way i had gotten 3 times enough for 90gals. for your little tank it should be worth it just make sure to buy another water conditioner.
also if you use bio spira again you should wait a few days and do 50% water changes to get rid of the prime in the water so that when adding bio spira most of the prime will be gone and the beneficial bacteria will be able to feed on the right form of ammonia.


good luck with your tank!!!

Evelyn1919

just one question. would anybody know if it's bad to be using prime when the tank is cycling without bio spira?
i'm still cycling my tank after 3 months (with fish in it) and i started using prime. after doing 40% water changes (every day) in my tank the ammonia still doesn't go down so is prime maybe disrupting my cycle?
any information would be appreciated.

susitna-flower

If you have ammonia, prime will de-toxify it for the fish, up to a point, but it will still read on your tests....I worry also about your question myself. There are times when you really have to use it, and as I said, I would worry less on a WELL established tank.

susitna-flower

HI, ALASKA! WELCOME TO FISHLORE!

Be sure to stop by the welcome page and tell us something about yourself.....Juneau!....I like your design....

The nitrogen cycle is probably the #1 problem we help with here on fishlore. Our general recommendations, especially for a new tank would be to NOT scrub anything....we want to grow that good bacteria on all surfaces. Rinsing filter media in discarded tank water is safe, no chlorine, not to hot OR cold....

I do agree plants will help, but in this particular case there are other problems going on, and short of seeding the tank with bacteria from an established tank, using bio-spira, or turbo-700, it is just a matter of feeding the tank, (fish), water changes, and waiting it out.....

cousinav

I did a 50% water change (with Prime, oops) yesterday and again today (without Prime). Ammonia down to .25 but nitrates still less than 10 (but more than 5). Nitrites zero. Should I skip the water change tomorrow and see how it goes or continue until the ammonia gets to zero? If I hadn't used the Biospira I would just continue with the water changes, but I'm not sure what to do now.

Shawnie

daily changes until you get zero...your bacteria isnt in the water so you are ok changing it ...its getting there!!