Cycling with Bio Spira - Aquarium Advice

pdancosse · 08-19-2006, 07:43 AM

I need help! Please! I'm a newbie since March of 2006. I'm going through a rough time cycling a 55 gal., which I thought was cycled and added my fish to it to find out that it was not. I added Bio Spira at 8:00 p.m. last night. My ammonia is thankfully down to .50 so I believe it's working, my nitrates at 20, and my nitrites at 3.0. The water is crystal clear. Does any know if I can and should add Prime to detoxify the nitrites?

rkilling1 · 08-19-2006, 09:53 AM

i would add some salt. this helps with the high level of NO2.

SCFatz · 08-19-2006, 11:04 AM

How high was the ammonia before it was added?

I've never used the stuff (works great for some)...If the ammonia is way down after it was added I'd guess its working ok.The problem is 3 ppm nitrites is far from cool in the fish world.

What i don't know is how long it takes the bacteria to find "a place to be" when added from a bottle.Someone else will have to come along and advise on if a water change will "hurt" (remove) the bio spira bacteria or not...(curious about that myself now).

I will say this...imo 3 ppm nitrite is way high and I'd expect to lose fish.A water change with declorinated,temp matched water will help the right now situation...

rkilling1 · 08-19-2006, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCFatz

What i don't know is how long it takes the bacteria to find "a place to be" when added from a bottle.Someone else will have to come along and advise on if a water change will "hurt" (remove) the bio spira bacteria or not...(curious about that myself now).

I will say this...imo 3 ppm nitrite is way high and I'd expect to lose fish.A water change with declorinated,temp matched water will help the right now situation...

most say 24 hours is enough time for the bacteria to get sucked into the filter or find its place. so after 24 hours water changes can be done, but in the mean time, i would advise him to had salt to the tank.

pdancosse · 08-19-2006, 03:34 PM

Thank you so much! What kind of salt can I add?

rkilling1 · 08-19-2006, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdancosse

Thank you so much! What kind of salt can I add?

aquarium salt. it will help the fish breath while your NO2 are so high. you need to keep the NH3 and NO2 levels .5 ppm or less during the cycle.

pdancosse · 08-19-2006, 08:56 PM

Thank you! The second you posted, I ran and got aquarium salt and added it to the tank. You guys really know you're stuff.

08-19-2006, 07:43 AM	#1
pdancosse Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Cycling with Bio Spira I need help! Please! I'm a newbie since March of 2006. I'm going through a rough time cycling a 55 gal., which I thought was cycled and added my fish to it to find out that it was not. I added Bio Spira at 8:00 p.m. last night. My ammonia is thankfully down to .50 so I believe it's working, my nitrates at 20, and my nitrites at 3.0. The water is crystal clear. Does any know if I can and should add Prime to detoxify the nitrites?

08-19-2006, 11:04 AM	#3
SCFatz Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 813	How high was the ammonia before it was added? I've never used the stuff (works great for some)...If the ammonia is way down after it was added I'd guess its working ok.The problem is 3 ppm nitrites is far from cool in the fish world. What i don't know is how long it takes the bacteria to find "a place to be" when added from a bottle.Someone else will have to come along and advise on if a water change will "hurt" (remove) the bio spira bacteria or not...(curious about that myself now). I will say this...imo 3 ppm nitrite is way high and I'd expect to lose fish.A water change with declorinated,temp matched water will help the right now situation... __________________ Fatz 90g SW FOWLR 50g tall fw planted at .6wpg 29g fw planted at 1.2 wpg 10g fw planted at 3 wpg cf

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08-19-2006, 09:53 AM	#2
rkilling1 Aquarium Advice Addict Community Mentor Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: NE ohio Posts: 1,750 Images: 50	i would add some salt. this helps with the high level of NO2.

08-19-2006, 03:34 PM	#5
pdancosse Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Thank you so much! What kind of salt can I add?

08-19-2006, 08:56 PM	#7
pdancosse Aquarium Advice Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 3	Thank you! The second you posted, I ran and got aquarium salt and added it to the tank. You guys really know you're stuff.