Chozon1

OK, I added Stress Zyme a few weeks ago. I realize my mistake now, and haven't added it since. But I managed to get in two doses before I asked whether or not Stress Zyme worked. Anyway, despite the fact that Stress Zyme is supposedly just dead bacteria, my ammonia has been set rock solid at 4.0 for the past several weeks.

And more so, I placed a few drops of Stress Zyme on a glass slide, then put it under my microscope, to see if it actually had live bacteria in it. Sadly, I discovered my microscope was broken. But I forgot to clean the slide, and let it dry. Now, the stuff on the slide looks exactly like what's covering the dry glass in my tank (water evaporated). So my question is whether or not the SZ bacteria will kill any good bacteria I add through means of a used filter or gravel? Should I give it a water change?

ABCDemily

Stress Zyme does indeed contain the wrong kind of bacteria to initiate a cycle correctly. The bacteria is TSS needs ammonia to get it going, and off it trots to cycle the tank. Where, as I am LED to believe (Correct me if I'm wrong guys!) That the stuff in stress zyme needs ammonia non-stop, which isn't good, as your fish will be suffering through it.

I wouldn't say it kills the good bacteria, but I think it may starve it of the good stuff it needs to keep the cycle going.

I'd do a 50-70% W/C, re-fill with dechlorinated water and then add the used filter or gravel. Hopefully this will reduce enough of the SZ to get your cycle up and running.

Good luck!

Lucy

You're close Emily.
The bacteria in stress zyme isn't aquatic and dies off quickly.

Aldric

i use stress zyme+ everytime i do a water change and acording to the bottle it does contain live bacteria and speeds up the development of the biological filter so i take it the stuff i use is different ?

Lucy

No we're talking about the same stuff, but if your tank is properly cycled, you won't need stress zyme with every water change. You'd only need a good conditioner.
Not only will it save you money but if you stop using it, you risk your losing cycle because it's not self sustained.

It may contain live bacteria, but not aqautic bacteria.

mare2009

hi..from my understanding and reading the bottle recently, is you will need to use stresszyme+ every time you change the tank water. Where as with say, Tetra Safe Start, after initially conditioning your water, you add TSS and do not need to add anything again, and your tank will cycle under most conditions..

Chozon1

OK, thankee. I changed water completely and also added some plants. Another smaller tank I have managed to start cycling while all this was happening, so if I tend it carefully then I'll be able to get some filter medium from it. Both tanks are empty, too. So it's all good now.

Thanks. ^_^

aquarist48

Keep us posted Chozon1. Have a great weekend.