Biozyme and water testing

[Janmitch22]

I've gotten Biozyme to try to cycle my tank more quickly. I read another poster's experience with it...so I guess the procedure is to add Biozyme once a day for a week, while also perfoming 20-30% water changes, then switch to dosages 3-4 times a week. Is this right? There were little instructions on the package itself and I don't want to kill any fish. After I add the Biozyme, is it just supposed to sit on the bottom of the tank and soak in on its own time? When would I change the water then?

I've added driftwood and a plant also. Two clowns and a pleco are in the ten-gallon (temporarily!) that I'm trying to cycle. I couldn't find the test kit from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals...the best that Petco could offer was a 5-in-1 test trip from Jungle. It tests alkalinity, ph, nitrites, nitrates, and water hardness. My nitrites were safe, my nitrates were safe, my water is soft, my Ph is about 7.8, but my alkalinity is high. What do I do about that?

 

[Gunnie]

I'm not sure about the biozyme. Just follow the directions. If it tells you to add it everyday with 20%-30% water changes, it definitely will not hurt your fish to change out the water. I don't have a lot of faith in those bacteria boosters, but I've never heard anyone say that particular product was harmful. Good luck!

I'm not the greatest when it comes to ph, gh, and those other tests, but isn't alkalinity the same test as your ph? I believe 7.0 is neutral ph, above that is alkaline, and below that is acidic. 7.8 ph is fine for your clowns and your pleco. I know that profiles say clowns come from more acidic ph, but they have already adjusted to your 7.8 ph, and from what you've posted, they are doing fine. You run the risk of harming them when you start to try changing the ph artificially from what it normally is. If they don't appear bothered, then it's better to leave it a 7.8. I know lots of folks with similar ph that have clown loaches and they are just fine. Also, I may have posted this already, and I don't know if you can order online, but has the best master test kit for the money at a good price. PetSmart also carries it for $15.00 or so I hear online.

 

[Janmitch22]

I've seen that testing kit! But it was $30 wherever I saw it. All I remember is the front of the box. I've checked so many Wal-Marts and Petcos....But I'll go for $10-15 dollars less online!

I dunno, the strip says my alkalinity is pretty high while my ph is between 7.2 and 7.8...and now my nitrite pad is saying it's approaching high, so I guess I'll have more to say when I get the master of all test kits.

The Biozyme just says how much to add, I got the water changing tip from nap83's post. But as you said, a small water change won't hurt. Some of the Biozyme had dissolved, I guess. lol we'll see what happens with it.

 

[Janmitch22]

Alright, so after a 20% water change my water tested thus:
between .50 and 1.0 ppm for ammonia
5.0 ppm for nitrite (!) :-\
About 5.0 ppm for nitrate
7.2-ish for pH

Sheesh, and I tested the water with the quick dip strips this morning when I added more Biozyme, before the water change. I changed the water because my nitrite appeared to be approaching dangerous levels AND I had white spaghettI looking deals in the tank. SIGH ??? With the master test kit, it looks like my nitrite is already dangerous. I added some stress coat, but other than that I'm at a loss. Scold me, yell at me, help meeee

 

[Gunnie]

Do at least a 50% water change immediately and do another one later in the day if the nitrites are still high. Nitrites and ammonia at 2 and above is toxic to your fish.

 

[chickadee]

I don't know if this will help as I am a new owner myself, but I had all kinds of trouble until I started using a mix of distilled water and treated tap water. It works about 2 gallons distilled to 2 1/2 tap water (treated with Stresscoat) for my 5 gallon tank for my Betta and I have had good readings. Nitrate=10,Nitrate=0, Hardness=150,Alkalinity=120,ph=7.2 and my ammonia level stays at 0 with weekly 25% changes. I also use the dip sticks and the color chart on the back of the label. It seems to be as complicated as I feel I can handle, but if those more qualified feel this should be replaced please let me know.

 

[Gunnie]

Just be careful when you mix distilled or RO water with tap water because your ph will probably change. You don't want to shock your fish with a drastic change in ph. Just check and compare to the ph in your fishie's water, and if they are drastically different, acclimate slowly.

 

[Janmitch22]

My pH and alkalinity of the water is fine, it's just this cycling business. I did a 50% water change when I got home tonight and tested again. The nitrite reading is the same, although it wasn't as wine-colored as I thought it was before. But it was still purple (about 1 ppm), which is still not a zero reading. Gaw, I'll just change change change my water and test test test, I guess. The fish are still truckin' along in there.

 

[Janmitch22]

Those white spaghettI looking things that I thought were worms were actually pleco poop ;D I've been used to brownish poop...I guess it changed when I started giving them zucchinI along with the algae wafers! No worries there. Still trying to get through the cycling, no one is dead yet.

 

[nap83]

HI THERE, IVE USED BIOZYME FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW, IT DOES CYCLE THE TANK BUT IT TAKES LONGER THAN NORMAL CYCLING WHEN YOU HAVE FISH IN THE TANK (I'VE ACTUALLY CYCLED A NEW TANK & PUT SOME OF THE INHABITANTS THERE INCLUDING MY TETRAS WHICH ARE NOT AS TOLERANT & MY GUPPIES). FOR ME BIOZYME IS A BEGGINER'S MISTAKE CYCLER, I HAVE A NEON BLUE DWARF GOURAMI, A FLAME RED DWARF GOURAMI, A GOLD THREE SPOT GOURAMI, A #7 MARBLE ANGELFISH, & 2 ALBINO CATFISHES.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT THE CYCLING OF THE TANK, BUT THE TIME IT TAKES. AFTER THE 7 DAY 30% WATER CHANGES & BACTERIA ADDING. YOU STILL HAVE TO DO THE WATER CHANGES FOR 3 WEEKS STRAIGHTS. AFTER THE 7 DAY PERIOD, STILL PUT SOME BACTERIA, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS THE INITIAL PERIOD. DON'T TRY TO CLEAN THE FILTER AT THIS TIME BECAUSE FOR SOME ODD REASON IT WILL SEMI-CLOUD THE WATER & WILL GIVE YOU TERRIFYING READINGS, MEANING THAT YOU HAVE TO START UP AGAIN, NEVER STOP DOING 30% WATER CHANGES EVERYDAY UP UNTIL YOU GET 0 READINGS, IF YOU SKIP ONE DAY, IT'S A WHOLE NEW START UP. MINE JUST GOT CYCLED 4 DAYS AGO & IT'S BEEN A **** OF A MONTH ;D

ANOTHER THING THAT YOU CAN DO IS BIOSPIRA BUT I'D RATHER HAVE YOU CYCLE AT LEAST A 10 GALLON SO FISH WILL BE SAFE IF SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS.

GOOD LUCK AQUARIST.

 

[Gunnie]

If you want to have an instantly cycled tank, the only product that does that is bio spira. You add the bio spira, and then you immediately add all the fish that will be going into that tank.

 

[Janmitch22]

For the love of Pete.... > I wish the instructions were more clear. Thanks for your patience and feedback, guys, really. I may just do away with the Biozyme. It seems to be more trouble for me. I'll just do normal cycling while testing the water. That I can do...the article on cycling from this site is more than helpful.

 

[Janmitch22]

Looks like the new tank is clearing up a little. Could just be wishful thinking! Anyway, I had to move the clowns back to their old tank because one of them was looking like it was inches from death. Buuuut I rinsed that tank's filter in old tank water (from the new tank) before I did it so they could have some good bacteria in their water.

 

[Janmitch22]

The water is clearing! I can't believe it! I couldn't even see my babies last week! Still a little murky, let's hope it keeps on clearing up...cross your fingers, cross your toes. I admit I was skeptical about not changing water while it was cycling. The clowns will be happy to be moved back into it when the time comes. The pleco will have to share again in a little while. Anyway, TMI. Just wanted to say the tank shows signs of clearing!

 

[Butterfly]

Keep up the good work!!!
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

Okay, we're almost at crystal clear water, but those pesky nitrites are still sky high, according to the test kit. But I have faith! These updates are more for my sake than anyone else's. 

 

[Butterfly]

We like the updates too!!! Keep them up
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

So...my nitrites have been high for forever. I did a 40% water change today since the water was clearing up. Just to try to get the nitrites down. I heard that it's impossible to cycle a tank with a pleco in it, which is what's in there right now. Did this person say this because plecos poop so much or because they're too sensitive? Should I remove the pleco and continue with cycling with an empty tank? Just when you thought the questions would end!

 

[Janmitch22]

Okay, never mind. My nitrites are between 0 and .25 ppm now. I'd like to thank fishlore.com, Gunnie, Butterfly, nap...all those who bothered to reply! Every single reply was helpful. I'm going to transfer my clowns as soon as I can spare half an hour.

I didn't take the pleco out. I just did a couple of daily water changes for a few days. Poop still eluded me! Must get better! But I didn't see a significant change until I got Stress Zyme. I changed the water last night (~40%), added Stress Coat to the water, then some Stress Zyme...I woke up this morning with nearly nitrite-free water! It was great! My nitrates are climbing too and my ammonia is riding low.

 

[Butterfly]

Almost there!!! This is so exciting!!!! Would wait to transfer the clowns until ammonia is 0 though.
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

Nnnnooooooooo...okay fine. I tested the water again tonight...still solid! I've gotten to the point where I'm hooraying every time I test the water...can we say "geek" ? All together now!

 

[Butterfly]

"GEEK" (yell it really loud) I'm with you. I have that word tattooed(figuratively speaking of course) across my forehead. Guess what I just got and is standing empty in my bedroom? A 55 Gal and stand. ;D
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

Ohhh stop it! I hope to snag one of those around the end of the year. And I also hope to snag a place to put it! Is it just a standard tank or one of those hexagonal ones or...? I was looking through the choices at Petco. They had many different styles, but they were all waaaaay out of my price range. Even the 30 gallons were up there. How long had you been looking for it? Who's going in there?

 

[Butterfly]

It's the regular rectangular tank and a home made stand. I'm still debating as to who all is going in tehre. I know for sure my Albino Rhino(kinda rhymes) and teh skunk loaches for the bottom but don't know about mid-water or top water. Suggestions??? ;D
I see tanks all the time in the classifieds under pet supplies fairly cheap. I have to get a filter and heater for this one before I can put it to cycling.
Carol

 

[Janmitch22]

I dunno what would go well with those fish. I tend to get a lot of the same kind lol