I Gave Up - Dumped the Tank - Need Tips for Bio Spira

Maybe it is just me, but I think June 18 til Aug3rd is too long to wait. I dumped the tank and am starting over.

Anyway, I got that Bio Spira for $13.99, got the 10 gallon set up with a divider, etc, etc. I only had 25 W heaters, so until I can get a 50w, I put a 25w in each side. So I am letting the filter and heaters run until tomorrow, so need tips on using Bio Spira.

Do I just dump it in when the water reached 82 degrees?? When do I put the fish in? Can I do all of that tomorrow sometime. Will it matter if we are away on Sun/Monday??? Do I have to do any water changes?? The size I have will do 30 g, should I dump it all in, or half and then more later??

I am praying I won;t have the bad luck that some have reported..............the instructions on the pkg are kind of vague.

So trying the divided tank and Bio Spira, hope all goes well? thanks for any tips and or help.

Val

 

Shake the package good to make sure it's mixed the add BioSpira and fish. Just don't overstock the tank
Here is their website with instructions(prob same as package)

carol

 

Oh but don't you want to keep trying, for science's sake?

 

Oh but don't you want to keep trying, for science's sake?

You are soooooo bad! LOL
Carol

 

Oh but don't you want to keep trying, for science's sake?

You are so funny is right!! No wonder I take a wee nip!

 

Yep she'll drive you to drink alrighty
Carol

 

But what do you mean? :

 

But what do you mean? :

That's not coffee in that :;co
carol

 

Sorry to hear it didn't work for you.

Two 25w heaters on both sides is fine

 

Just a quick update on my Bio Spira tank: Dumped it in Aug 4th. Added fish and all seems well. We were at the cabin, just got home, and I see a little "filmy stuff" on one side of the 10 gallon divided tank, so I added a small Whisper Internal filter (1-3g) on that side and it is clearing up nicely. I still have the 2 - 25w heaters, but have turned them down since the bulbs int he hood are incadescent. (

I tested water for the first time: Ammonia just barely 25ppm; Nitrites 0ppm and Nitrates 0 ppm. Does this mean it is cycled? I think I am supposed to do a small water change after 7 days, which is tomorrow.

Believe me, if this is all I have to do, I am so going to be the poster girl for Bio Spira and make the 3 hour drive to get it. I might even start bootlegging it!! LOL

Thanks for opinions. Val

 

I tested water for the first time: Ammonia just barely 25ppm; Nitrites 0ppm and Nitrates 0 ppm. Does this mean it is cycled?

No, it means your cycle has barely started. You need to check the water every day or two to make sure the ammonia is going down. Next you should see the nitrites start to rise and then fall as the bacteria do their thing, and finally, the nitrates will start to rise while the first two values drop to 0 and stay there. Then you're cycled.

 

I tested water for the first time: Ammonia just barely 25ppm; Nitrites 0ppm and Nitrates 0 ppm. Does this mean it is cycled?

No, it means your cycle has barely started. You need to check the water every day or two to make sure the ammonia is going down. Next you should see the nitrites start to rise and then fall as the bacteria do their thing, and finally, the nitrates will start to rise while the first two values drop to 0 and stay there. Then you're cycled.

But is it that way with bio-spira

 

I tested water for the first time: Ammonia just barely 25ppm; Nitrites 0ppm and Nitrates 0 ppm. Does this mean it is cycled?

No, it means your cycle has barely started. You need to check the water every day or two to make sure the ammonia is going down. Next you should see the nitrites start to rise and then fall as the bacteria do their thing, and finally, the nitrates will start to rise while the first two values drop to 0 and stay there. Then you're cycled.

But is it that way with bio-spira

I was wondering the same thing. That Val's tank should instantly have the 0 nitrites and 0 nitrate readings with the bio-spira and can't go on the basis of a regular cycle readings. Her tank should be cycled with the bio spira she used within 24 hours. Hope that someone who has used the bio spira can answer her question asap! This has been a hair pull'n experience for her and I sure hope that it gets solved soon as possible!!

 

I emailed the tech at the company that makes Bio Spira and this the reply:

From: US Marineland Consumer
Date: 8/9/2007 7:34:43 AM
To: Val Hallam
Subject: RE: Tech help


HI and thanks for the inquiry! I would say with any sign of ammonia you may not be fully cycled yet. However, did you use any other conditioning products, such a StressCoat, Ammoloc, etc? Some of them can give ?false? ammonia readings (see link below). However, with Bio-spira the typical cycle time is about 3-7 days. I would suggest a partial 25% water change and check the reading again after. Another issue may be ammonia in you tap water if you have topped off the tank at all. I know our city has fairly high ammonia readings right out of the tap, something like 3 ppm.Also since the fish don?t seem too affected I would feel comfortable leaving for the week or so. Signs of stress from ammonia would be clamped fins, lethargy and/or gasping at the surface. I hope this helps!

Thank you!






I am doing a 25% water change in the morning and will test again then. I think it is almost done.

Hey Kate.............you are a doll, thanks for the support!!! Val

 

Wow, that's cool. That's really good service. . I think perhaps you could even add this to the review section, to give Bio Spira the credit they deserve. That guy's answer sounds like he really knows what he's talking about.

Strange he doesn't mention reddened gills as a sign of ammonia, but still, pretty impressive.

 

Wow, that's cool. That's really good service. . I think perhaps you could even add this to the review section, to give Bio Spira the credit they deserve. That guy's answer sounds like he really knows what he's talking about.

Strange he doesn't mention reddened gills as a sign of ammonia, but still, pretty impressive.

I will do that, where is the "review section"????

Val

 

I'd say here is the best place for it.

 

Not to be devil's advocate or anything, but until you start seeing nitrate (unless you have live plants in there?) I'm afraid you aren't cycled yet. The reason you could be seeing 0 nitrite is because it's not being created yet, which would mean the bacteria hadn't taken hold yet. Honestly not trying to rain on the parade here, but keep testing and be sure that ammonia doesn't keep rising meaning you are only starting again. I certainly hope that my feelings are wrong and you are done with this cycle after all you've been through. Good Luck!

 

Yikes, Luniyn...you scared the out of me when I read this! That is because I believe I am a jinxed "cycler"!! Well, I tested this morning, and ammonia is at 0ppm and the Nitrates are at 5 ppm.

So I jumped up and down like a hundred times ( for joy) .....then went and had a good talk with Wink & Tiny and all is well in their tank!!

I did a day trip and bought more Bio Spira and have another tank ready to go - it is all set up - so if a fish is calling my name, I can Bio Spira the tank and be ready to adopt!

Thanks so much for reminding me to test, I hadn't for about 5 days, and I should have.

Val

 

Huge Congrats then on your success!!! And finding of a good source of Bio-Spira which can be just as hard sometimes as cycling the tank. Can't tell you how many times I've gone into a store who just got Bio-Spira in stock for the first time, only to have it sitting on the shelves with the rest of the water treatments instead of in a fridge. Good luck on the next tank! MTS is calling!