I agree with neo, I also read somewhere about a fishless cycle. I don't remember all the details but you should be able to find info by googling "fishless cycle".
Sorry Brothers but you are both wrong.... I've set up many tanks using Bio-spira and it never goes through a long cycle.....11 days or less and I've never lost a fish in a tank start up....... 20+ tanks set up and I'm never disappointed.