Does Bio-spira really work?

I was wondering if bio-spira by marinelabs really works? Thinking about putting it in my tank. If anyone ones have comments on this product would be great.

 

I've never personally used it as I like to cycle my tanks wholly naturally. But I think quite a number of people on Fish Lore, who used it, were satisfied with this product.

 

I have used it to both start a new tank and to reseed a tank that needed to start over. It is great! I have used other methods to cycle too, but for sheer speed and durability, the cycle you get with Bio-spira cannot be beat. The next best thing that I have found is the pure ammonia method of cycling a tank fishless. (see Option 3 in Cycling Your Tank Fishless on https://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm).

Rose

 

Yep, Bio-Spira worked great here. Had a 29gal tank that was taking a long time to work through the cycle (like many new folks I had added 4 small fish right away, not fully understanding the cycling process). Finally, I found a store that carried Bio-Spira, added it, and within 24 hours began to see first signs of increasing ammonia and nitrite levels. Everything progress quickly from there. With lots of water changes to protect the fish during the cycling, we made it through the cycle quickly with no lost fish!

 

I have used it twirce to start new tanks and it works just wonderfully. Just don't overstock your tank when adding fish. Basically, set your tank up, let it run for 24 hours, add the bio-spira then your fish. When you order it, don't go the cheaper way, I did only once and the bag got squished and the product ruined!

 

Doing water changes would not hurt the cycle of the Bio-spira? If I would do a water change how long before should do it.

 

I would start a regular water change schedule a week after starting a tank with Bio-spira.

Dino

 

Ditto! That is exactly what I did, no probs. My water readings were excellent through the whole process. Again, I would not fully stock using the bio-spira but rather add 1/3 of the fish you were thinking of and every 2 weeks thereafter.

 

My experience with bio spira has been 100% successful. I have used it three times with great results. It is the only product with the actual bacteria found in a cycled tank. All other products may accelerate the biological process, but don't actually contain the needed bacteria. The bio spira is free floating and needs time to settle in your filter or on something in your tank, so doing water changes too early can actually cause you to remove some of the bacteria. I'm with Dino. I'd wait at least a week before doing my first water change unless the bio spira isn't working, and your ammonia and/or nitrites are sky high. I have also read that for some reason, it works better when adding a full bio load of fish instead of just a few fish. I have always used it in emergency situations, so my experience has been it's worked great with a full bio load of fish.

 

I used it in small tanks and even though it said that you cannot overdose, I found that if I used the whole ounce in the 5 gallon tank I got ammonia and nitrite spikes.  So I used my trusty insulin syringe and used a cc/gallon (30cc in bag for 30 gallons = 1cc/gallon) and got excellent results with no ammonia spike and not a trace of extra nitrite.  The rest it says is good for 6 months in the refrigerator and I wrapped it up GOOD in plastic wrap and a baggie and it is in a dark place so as not to disturb the bacteria.  (used new syringe for each tank)

Rose

 

Just over a week that I put bio-spira in my tank. My ammonia is between 0.25 and 0 and my nitrite is 2.0 has been like this for about 4 days. Seems like it is never going to get cycled. I thought bio-spira was suppose to help it cycle pretty fast. Tank has been going for about a month. I did a 25% water change on the sixth day that I had bio-spira in my tank. I did not want to do water change right away to give bacteria time to set up in tank.When I first got my tank I listened to the LFS people and they said I was ok on putting some fish in a tank after having it going for 4 days. I was stupid and did not read up on taking care of fish and knew nothing about the cycle you had to go through and I put 2 black mollies and 2 ottos in tank. All fish are doing well and no signs of any diseases yet all eating just fine as well. I don't want to make the fish suffer in anyway just want to do the right thing I love my fishes got such good little personalities. Just wondering what else I can do. Just sit back and wait and let the tank do its thing? Thanks for all the comments you guys rock.

 

You say your tank has been running for a month. Did you add fish right away? What were your readings before adding the bio spira? Did you do a massive water change before adding the bio spira? How reputable is your lfs? Do you know if the bio spira was kept refrigerated before you bought it? All these things can be factors on how well your bio spira will work in your tank.

 

BioSpira is also designed to put the fish is right after the Biospira. If there was an ammonia reading before you added it, it may take a bit to catch up.
Carol

 

Added fish on the fourth day it was running. Ammonia was 0 and nitrite was 0.25 with ph of 7.7. No water change was done when adding the bio-spira did a water change 6 days after adding bio-spira. Bio-spira was cold when I received it in the mail. Was wrapped in foil with a gel cold pack on the inside.

I was also thinking that maybe the bacteria is not getting enough to eat maybe I need to add more fish? Not sure. thanks

 

No it will need to have a few days to settle in and you will have an ammonia spike when it settles in. Then a nitrite spike and then it will settle down. It takes about a week. Then you can do a water change and you are set to go with more fish.

Rose

 

Thanks I will do that

 

Well, I guess it's good. I'll go try it... ;D

 

I've used it multiple times and it hasn't worked for me yet unfortunatly.
First time I think it was just b/c I got an bad bag of it.
2nd time, it didn't work b/c I also think it was too old.
3rd time, It WAS working.. gave me nitrite readings and all that good stuff.. but then suddenly... ammonia kept rising, and nitrites disappeared.

Even though I haven't had luck with the product, I do think it's good if you can get your hands on some that hasn't all died.

 

I used it in my 5 gallon tank and it's taken about 6 weeks to cycle. It says you can't overdose, but as Rose stated, the 1 oz pouch was too much for my 5 gallon and that prolonged the cycle.

 

I have used it but in the wrong way when I had a new tank and about 30 really BIG Goldfish that I put in..and I added all of it which it says on the back the all of it is enough for up to 90 gallons and I have a 55 gallon...but my mistake was that I didn't have a test kit to read about nitrates and Ammonium and all that other stuff and I also did a HUGE water change a week later about 75% which was a big mistake and I also cleaned the filter medium at the same time and Cleaned all of the gravel using the gravel cleaner.

Good product...just make sure you use it properly.

 

I have another question for you I started to cycle my 29 gallon take fishless with ammonia I decided I was going to buy bio-spira instead is has been about 7 days into my cycle and I want to know if I put the bio-spira in now can I keep adding straight ammonia to the cycle to feed the bacteria instead of having my healthy fish in there to provide the ammonia. My ammonia reading is between 4 and 8 ppm. Already starting to see a little bit of nitrite just below .25 ppm. I was going to do a big water change after my tank is cycled and then add my fish to the tank.

 

If you want to add bio-spira, do a huge water change, the bigger the better, (get your ammonia UNDER .50) 60+% (or more if still above .50). Then add biospira, then add fish right away. You need to make sure the bio-spira is fresh though, because if it sits in the bag too long the bacteria will die. Brianna

 

I am having it shipped from dr. fosters and it is being shipped over night it has been shipped today and while be here tomm. So I am hoping it will still be good. So when I do my water change I was only going to get the water out or should I clean the gravel as well.

 

Don't think that a gravel vac would be required. Brianna

 

I will do that when I get bio-spira I will do a big water change add the bio-spira and then add my fish. Sound right? It will not hurt my fish at all to do this I don't have to keep doing water changes.

so if I put in the bio-spira but decide not to put my fish in how many pure ammonia drops should I put in to keep the bacteria feeding

 

You will have to add a drop, wait a little bit and test. Keep doing this until you have an ammonia reading of 5.0.

 

so would could I just not do a water change since my tank is already at about that ammonia leve already

 

IF you are not adding fish right away then you do not need to do a water change. Brianna

 

k thanks

Well I just got done putting my bio-spira in my tank about 30 minutes ago and we will see what happens. Thanks for everyone helps I know I had like a billion questions. Thank you to everyone and I will keep you posted.

 

Hopefully you got a fresh batch!

 

well it looks like I did my ammonia is higher and I see nitrites already prob .25 of nitrites

My ammonia is 3.0 or so and my nitrite is .50 ppm. Guess the cycle is moving along nicely. My ammonia went up the day after I put bio-spira in and now it seems to be goiing down.

 

I jsut got some bio spira that will treat 90 gallons for 16 bucks lol I put enough in for 50 gallons I really hope I'm one of the lucky ones and it works

I have a 50 gallon tank I want wasting

 

I have used Bio Spira for 4 small tanks, and will use it when I set up the 55 gallon next week ( hoping). I have always had good luck and immediate cycling, never lost a fish.

In fact in a filter changing flurry the other day, I lost my cycle in the 10g, so added some Bio Spira this morning, to get back on track. I find it is one less headache to worry about - cycling - when you have multiple tanks.

Good luck with it. Keep us posted. I swear by the stuff nopw!! Val

 

sweet I'm hoping for the best my lfs gets more german blue rams in on thursday woo hoo. my sticking plan is 6 flase julI corys, 3 german blue rams and 2 or 3 gouramis. maybe an angel I dunno. I really like that glodanios oh well well see eventually

 

I just got a false juliI from petsmart for 2 bucks...they look really good and love to swim up and down the sides of my tank...good luck w/ your new tank...I would recommend some pearl gouramis, or sparkling gouramis...they add nice color to the tank

 

Not to burst bubbles or anything, but I'm not sure how compatible gouramis and blue rams are. They may get along just fine, but I've heard gouramis can be pretty bull-headed, and they get a little bigger than the GBRs. Just make sure you look into it, that's all.

Good luck, though! Make sure we get some pictures.

 

thanks neverending ninja, the rams and the gouramis I'm looking at get the same size and the pearls are more peaceful than its more aggressive cousins the three spot, kissing, and moonlight gouramis.

 

yeah...my pearls wouldnt harm anything else...they even eat from my hand...and now my male is building a bubblenest, so I think I might get some babies soon

 

ok I added the bip spira 24 hours ago and here are my readings so far



ammonia nitrite nitrate ph 8-Sep 0 0 0 6.8 16-Sep 0.5 0 5 6.8 19-Sep 1 0 5 7 23-Sep 1 0.25 5 7
I added the bio spira on the 22nd should I add more?

ammonia nitrite nitrate ph 8-Sep 0 0 0 6.8 16-Sep 0.5 0 5 6.8 19-Sep 1 0 5 7 23-Sep 1 0.25 5 7

 

BioSpira

I've not had a chance to use it, but i've read that the readings can do spikes the first 7 days after adding biospira.. at least in the ammonia.
but that it's still safe to add fish.