acidpope

Well after looking in all the LFS and online, I don't seem to have Biospira or Safestart as an option (can't find BS for FW anywhere and SS costs more than I can afford - darned shipping!). I do have ready access though to Biozyme and Stress Zyme at some, if not all, my LFS. I just have a few questions on these:

1. Has anyone had any experience with BZ or SZ and cycled their tank with these?
2. Can I use both at the same time?
3. Would the raw shrimp method be an adequate source of ammonia?

Both say they contain the bacteria used for starting a new tank and have instructions for it, and I've heard I think Shawnie say SZ is like BS-lite.

38g, fishless, fake plants

jdhef

I'm not familiar with BZ, but I am familiar with SZ. SZ is not really a subsitute for BioSpira. It may make cycling go a bit faster, but unlike BS you can't just pour some in your tank and add the fish.

The raw shrimp would work, but from what I understand the smell can be a little offensive. You could just add some fish food flakes a couple times a day, or you could add drops of ammonia. If you do use ammonia make sure there is no perfumes or additives.

Alessa

II only used stress zyme to cycle once (cycling fishless with ammonia drops) and It did speed up the cycle. Again, as jdhef said, it wont cycle it like BioSpira but it will speed up the cycle a bit.