Dr Tims One and Only = Didn't Work for me

[Ali1]

I just don't trust any "bacteria" in the form of a bottle/container on the shelves. I strongly believe in a more natural approach of :

a) doing a fishless cycle
b) using dummy fishes/feeders to cycle the tank

I believe there's just too many variables to cope with when dealing with a bottled form of bacteria.

 

[RobinsCG]

I posted this in another thread, but thought I would let everyone know about my experience considering this was a fairly pricey product.
I have always been skeptical of these "snake oil" type products that advertise quick cycling. I guess I'm a naturalist and like to do my cycles the old fashioned way... respecting the Nitrogen cycle. But this time I thought I would try this product. I was ordering from DFS anyway, so I figured why not? I have made much worse investments over my lifetime in this hobby, so why not try it?!?! There was a large write up in last months DFS catalog and I was curious. So...

RE: Dr Tim's One and Only.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...m?pcatid=18986

FWIW... I used this product to "cycle" my tank last week. It didn't work. I dosed it on Thursday and added a fish about 4 hours later. the directions say to add a fish within 24 hours.

I tested today and I still have Ammonia, Nitrites and Nitrates. This product might speed up the cycling process, but it certainly doesn't give you a fully cycled tank in 24 hours as it advertises.

Just letting my fellow hobbiests know.

I also wrote a Testimonial for DFS stating my experience with the product. Of course, they have not put it on their site.

 

[RobinsCG]

I have a 125 gallon tank and spent over $70 on Dr. Tim's One and Only. I decided it was worth a try after experiencing problems with cycling my new tank. I set up the tank with more than enough aeration as well as three filters: a Fluval canister, a Fluval Aquaclear, and a Marineland 400 Pro Series. I know that you cannot over-filter a tank, and planned on populating my tank with messy eaters (oscars and other tank-busters). My tank is cycling 1,283 gallons per hour, well over the recommended filtration. I also purchased three separate filters to help stagger the maintenance so that I am not disrupting all of my bacteria colonies at once when I change media. I have been very successful with this in the past. I set up the tank, turned everything on and made sure to use a dechlorinator that took care of both chlorine and chloramine. I let it run for 24 hours and added a couple of small oscars (3-4 inches) within 48 hours of starting the tank. I added a bacteria supplement (I won't give the brand name, but it's not cheap) and followed all directions. I fed sparingly as I usually do when I cycle a tank with fish. After a week I added some more fish (three small parrot cichlids and 3 geophagus). During this process I used a test kit and tested daily for ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. I noticed that my ammonia levels were rising. I decided to try Dr. Tim's One and Only to see if it would help to establish the tank more quickly. I read all the reviews, and even one where Dr. Tim (or someone from the website) responded and said to wait to dose the tank until the ammonia was at 2 ppm and double the dose. I purchased the product and did just that. Now, a week later and my ammonia is still at 2 ppm. I am glad it's not climbing which tells me either the product is doing something, or the tank is starting to cycle naturally. The next day I noticed the thank got cloudy (which I was really excited to see). I hoped it was the bacterial bloom I'd been waiting for. The water stayed cloudy for a couple of days (a milky haze indicative of bacterial growth and propagation) and then it quickly went away. I tested my water again only to find that my ammonia hadn't changed and there was still 0 nitrites and nitrates. I am beyond frustrated. Fortunately I have some hardy fish and have suffered no casualties. I am not happy to have spent $70 on a product that did not do what I'd hoped. I will not spend this much again.

 

[hmt321]

When i decided to get back into aquariums in 04 or 05 (i cant remember the year, im getting old), i ran a fishless cycel on a 75 gal tank. It went about 2 months with no noticeable change in ammonia (was was doing weekly 25% water changes and re dosing) My LFS had some biospria, i bought two pouches and dumped them in my tank. With in days days my ammonia decreased nitrite and nitrate started to read. tank finished its cycle about 3 weeks later.

I think it does help cycle a tank, if it is stored and packaged properly. i seriously doubt it will instantly cycle a tank so it is safe for fish.

 

[pops]

I am under the opinion there is no fast way to cycle a tank from scratch, some of these products may supplement before the true cycle takes hold, but you are still looking at 6 to 8 weeks to cycle a tank.
folks that say my tank cycled in a week, or cycled in 3 weeks are just wrong IMHO.

few ways to cycle a tank and they all work, and they all take 6 to 8 weeks.

 

[jaws7777]

Tetra safe start hands down works ive used it many times as well as other members.

Sorry the product you used didnt work but bb in a bottle works....maybe not all of them but tss never failed. Stability didnt work form

 

[catfishacr]

Tetra safe start hands down works ive used it many times as well as other members.

Sorry the product you used didnt work but bb in a bottle works....maybe not all of them but tss never failed. Stability didnt work form

I agree with the Tetra safestart. I've used it many times and it works as advertised.

 

[rodger]

I've used 2 or 3 bacterial starts and never felt they did anything. I cycled K1 in a 55 gal drum, throwing fish food and shrimp in. I didn't bother to check how it was doing till I was ready to set the tank up, about 2 months. When I was ready I added ammonia so it read 12 PPM. It read zero in about 18 hours. I couldn't believe that it did that so quickly so I dumped more ammonia in till it was at 10. It read zero at 8 hours. I will never bother using stuff in a bottle again. Patience gives the best results.

 

[jaws7777]

I used safestart several times. Once the ammonia source was clown loaches (not by choice long story) loaches never showed signs of stress and i never registered nitrates. Less than 1 week i was cycled.

Nothing wrong with fish in or fishless cycling especially for someone new to the hobby but in a pinch or emergency the product works.
One time i stupidly used meds that killed off the bb. Why put my fish through cycling process when within a week the safestart took care of it.

 

[HarleyK]

Thanks for sharing.