neupane00

hey guys, how come no one is fan of seachem stability? ok so i have 2 new tanks.. i am treating one with tetra safe start and other with seachem stability. So far, i think Stability is doing a far better job than TSS. Stability started working right from the beginning. i have 0-0-8 reading and its about my fifth day (my tap water nitrate is about 6 or 7). I am using API master test kit. My bigger tank i am using TSS and reading are 1-0-6 (so all of the ammonia is still there). just wondering why i dont hear better reviews about seachem stability.

Lucy

I have limited experience with TSS and none with stability
From what I understand about stablity is that you have to keep adding it but with TSS if done correctly is a one shot deal.

neupane00

no. stability too, you are supposed to use for only 7 days.. u dont add forever. atleast thats what the instruction says. and it seems to start working right away. AT THE LEAST i can tell that for those impatient people who wanna add fish right away, stability stands better. maybe combine stability with TSS will give best results?? i dont know. Cuz stability seems to work right away and TSS doesnt seem to show any result till 7-10 days (that is if it works?)

Lucy

Since you're using both in 2 different tank, it'll be interesting to see what your results are down the road a bit.
Please keep us informed.

harpua2002

I'm interested in the results as well.

I personally don't use any products to cycle tanks. I cycle with media transfer, but if I didn't have that option I'd just chuck a raw shrimp in there and wait for the fishless cycle.

kimb

The instructions say for "maximum results" use with each water change, when adding new fish and once a month. (similar to cycle product). I use media or pure ammonia. Little cautious with anything you have to keep adding. Is it a water conditioner as well?

Fishies-for-me

I used stability a year ago when I started my 2 new tanks....it seemed to work pretty well as I lost no fish ..but I did not have a test kit then. I did not keep adding it after the 7 days and everything seemed well.

Shawnie

you are probably going to have a huge crash with stability ...its totally like cycle and isnt the right bacteria....I dont even think you would have the 0-0-8 without nitrates already in your water...did you ever see a rise in ammonia or nitrites in the tank with stability? once you stop using it after the 7 days, be ready for some major water changes

as far as the TSS , give it the 7-10 days before you freak

and how do you get a 6 or 8 nitrate reading on the master kit? just curious

kimb

I'm jealous OP has access to both stability AND safestart! I would love to try TSS!

Shawnie

If it wasnt illegal to send it to you kimb, I would!! but I need some kinda permit as I tried to send to another member in canada grrrr

neupane00

my water nitrAte is about 5or 6. lil darker than 5. But less dark than from tank i am using seachem stability with. No i never saw rise in ammonia or nitrites.

master kit has 5 and 10... anything thats darker than 5 but lighter than 10 would be about 6-8.

Shawnie

ahhh....well im still very leary about the stability...once you stop using it, you probably are going to have a crash (learned the hardway myself ) if you can afford to use it forever, you will be fine but thats just my two cents

neupane00

thanks shawnie.. that tank has ICH anyway (u know it.. u replied to my other thread). and i have 3 extra bottles of safestart. so after ich is cured, i will go with safestart.

ccb04

TSS = Bio-Spira

Stability = Cycle

TSS contains the exact strains of self-sustaining beneficial bacteria that a tank needs. Stability and the like must be added on a continued basis to remain effective.

When the directions are properly followed (and barring an expired bottle) ... my experience is that TSS works, and works very well.

Shawnie

+2

Kitsune

I didn't know about TSS and as it is not available in Canada I can't say anything about that lol

I have a tank that has been going for about 3 weeks and with Stability I did see some Ammonia for the first week or so. Never actually saw nitrites but I may have screwed something up there >.>

I just saw nitrates for the first time two days ago so it leads me to believe that this is actually cycling the tank. (I am using the liquid master test kit so yet its accurate lol)

I added Stability for the seven days and then with the two water changes since then. I am going to keep an eye as I am ceasing it's addition. I'll let you know how that goes. I wish they had TSS here *sob*

Chozon1

Hmm...According to Seachem, Stability has the necessary bacteria. I've still got the E-mail, if you want. I actually set it up to do a test of Stability, but my tank started cycling before I added it. I added it anyway, and it worked nicely. Took a few days, but ammonia started dropping, nitrites rose, nitrates rose, ETC. Took several weeks for the nitrite to drop (incidentally, I started re-adding Stability in the two days before they did.) but it happened eventually.

At the moment, by tank can cycle 8.0+ of ammonia in 24 hours, and I haven't added the Stability for at least a week.

2lucky

I also used stability to cycle my 108G with no probs, no crashes etc. I even put the delicate cardinal tetras in as one of the first fish (silly, i know!) and they are still alive RO this day!
I did have live plants in there right from the begining so whether that help the cycle i dont know....

small_fry

Could TSS be what we have in Australia... Tetra Aqua safe?? its a bio starter...

Craig-D

Aqua Safe is a water conditioner that removes chlorine, etc. It is not the same product. It seems that TSS doesn't have very much availability outside the U.S. That may be due to the various laws other countries may have about importing live spores of God knows what.

I had great luck with TSS. It cycled my tank in 4 days. I've heard about Stability, but I know little about it. I know TSS works and it's readily available in the greater New York City area, so I've had little reason to try anything else. If it is just as good, a little competition would be a good thing to lower the ridiculously high prices of this stuff.

aquarist48

This thread has been moved to the polls section of the forum.
Thanks!
Ken

Red1313

I've seen stability i think but I always thought it was just another product like Cycle... I'd really be interested to know what it works like for you. I've got a goldi tank in mid cycle right now and if I could help it along that would be awsome. I have purchased tetra-safe start through aquariumplants.com but it's pretty pricey with the shipping to get it here. Worked well though.

Shawnie

I have used stability and it is totally like cycle... its great if you use it forever tho I hear...(have some friends that swear by it but always add it weekly)

Kitsune

I used it for the first week and with the first two water changes. Haven't added in a few weeks (done multiple water changes and added new fish) and my readings are still Ammonia 0, Nitrite 0, Nitrate 5ppm. It worked for me but the live plants and such may have helped?

Scott H

ive never used any of the products mentioned above all i do with the FW tanks ive had in the past is to add small and very hardy fish in increments over the first month to six weeks

aquarist48

This thread/poll is pretty old so I've closed it.
Ken