SW newbie

I have 14 FW tanks up and running and just set up my first SW. Saturday.It`s a 30 high ( 24x 12x24 ).I have LR and used Bio Spira.When it`s safe i plan on adding a clean up crew and Firefish Goby.Later adding 2 False Percula clowns and a skunk shrimp ( grandsons request ).My lR is cured and popping with critters .I could spend hours just examing the LR alnoe.
My question is "Do you think it`s safe to trust the Bio Spira and add the Firefish and Clean up crew now"?

 

Re:  SW newbie

Forgive my ignorance, what is a Bio Spira? Is it a filter or filter media? TIA

 

Re:  SW newbie

[quote author=reiple link=board=Newbie;num=1100572967;start=0#1 date=11/16/04 at 07:11:00]Forgive my ignorance, what is a Bio Spira? Is it a filter or filter media? TIA
[/quote]


http://www.marineland.com/products/mllabs/copy of ml_biospira.asp

John

 

Re:  SW newbie

I would like to first say that I don't have any first hand experience with Bio-spira.

Marineland revolutionized the freshwater industry by coming out with bio-spira. It works great I know many people that have used it without problems. BUT from what I have heard the Saltwater version is more of a hoax. Like all other bacteria starters they just don't work.

Again no experience with this stuff but I would suggest that if you do use it to follow the instructions and add fish immediately. I would add a damsel or chromis they are hardy and if you tank does have a spike they will be more capable of handling it.

 

Re:  SW newbie

SF,

Just to add to your comments, I have used these sort of Bacterial starters before and they do actually work ( regadless of fresh or salt water ) but so does doing nothing at all. It just makes me wonder sometimes who buys this stuff, the bacteria you need is free, no need to buy it in a bottle

In any case, if it must be used, add it to the water and then add some Ammonia, much cheaper and less risk than adding a fish

 

Re:  SW newbie

JohnO link did not work.

So it's like Cycle from Hagen? You don't really need that stuff IMO.

 

Re:  SW newbie

Bio Spira is Beneficial bacteria in a pouch thats kept refrigerated.So far it`s working great,I added some raw shrimp and have NO ammonia or nitrites.
These are just a few reviews from "Cichlid-Forums "about Bio Spira.I though you`d all like to see.They`ve put my mind at ease >>

CITADELGRAD87 has used this product for 1-3 Months.
Overall Rating: 10/10

"It Works"
One new fishkeeper. 55 gallons, 13 fish, and a packet of this stuff made me a believer.

Especially with agressive fish, it seems to me an advantage to be able to fully stock a tank and not worry about ammonia.

Well, I still worried, but there was never a problem.

Bootlegger has used this product for 0-1 Month.
Overall Rating: 9.25/10

"Outstanding"
A very simple process that had my tank up and going immediately. I highly recommend this biological starter.

colordog has used this product for 3-12 Months.
Overall Rating: 9/10

"Nearly instant nitrogen cycle"
This product is awesome! It actually does instantly start the nitrogen cycle, unlike most other biological starters. This is likely due to the prescene of Nitrospira, which is the actual bacteria is nature that oxidizes nitrite to nitrate. I started up a fresh 110 Gal African cichlid tank with 25 fish, and never had ammonia spike past 2ppm and nitrite was never over 1ppm. This product is certainly more expensive than some of the other biological starters; but then, it actually works, and fast - an important thing when a tank can hold $700 of cichlids.

Vinny has used this product for 0-1 Month.
Overall Rating: 10/10

"This product really does what it say's"
never had any detectable levels of ammonia, the nitrites spiked after 3 days
and went to o.o ppm in only 6 days. ten days and twelve cichlids ammonia 0.0 ppm, nitrites o.o ppm.

gman2003 has used this product for 0-1 Month.
Overall Rating: 10/10

"Almost instant tank cycling"
I added this to the water about a 1/2 hour before my cichlids. The water on the second day was a little cloudy, by the third day it was clear again. I didn't have an ammonia or nitrite test kit, so I took a water sample to a LFS on the fourth day, and the ammonia and nitrite readings both had a reading of 0! I highly recommend this stuff to anyone starting a new tank.


MbunaDude has used this product for 1-3 Months.
Overall Rating: 9.25/10

"This is a product worth using!"
I cycled my 75 gallon tank with bio-spira and added 7 juvenille cichlids immediatly...There have been no problems. A very good value,very easy to use. well worth the money if you don't want to wait for you tank to cycle.

wdhdoc has used this product for 0-1 Month.
Overall Rating: 10/10

"It Works!"
With scepticism, I added the appropriate amount to my stocked 36 gallon bowfront. Both ammonia annd nitrite readings plummeted to 0 within 24 hours, and nitrate rose promptly. No problems since. I have never tried any of the other products in this class, but BioSpira appears to be a winner!

 

Re:  SW newbie

As I said the FW bio-spira works. Keep monitoring those levels I would like to hear more about your experience with the Saltwater version. I would love to do a few experiments but the cost of this stuff is just ridiculous.

 

Re:  SW newbie

[quote author=reiple link=board=Newbie;num=1100572967;start=0#5 date=11/17/04 at 03:32:31]JohnO link did not work.

So it's like Cycle from Hagen? You don't really need that stuff IMO.
[/quote]

From what I can see, yes, it's like Cycle. Like I wrote before, it does work, but so does doing nothing so save your money. It may be quicker using this product or Cycle but that does not make it better way of doing things

John

 

Re:  SW newbie

1 Firefish and 2 chocolate Chip starfish,day 4, ammonia 0,Nitrite 0.