Experience with "Quick Cycle" products
- Thread starter DALaws
- Start date
DALaws;3935526; said:
I have herd good things about seachem's stability, but TBH I think they are all crap. The best thing for a quick cycle IME is to squeeze out some old filter media into a bucket of tank water (yes the nasty doo doo water) and then dump it into the new tank that your trying to cycle. You can also use some substrate/decor/established media to seed the tank/filter. If you dont have an established tank ask a buddy. IF you want to risk it even the folks at the LFS for some established media/substrate or dookie water, I personally would rather wait 4 weeks with a bag of rotting shrimp to cycle the tank than use LFS muck to cycle.
I always believed in either seeding from another tank or doing it the long way...don't cut corners the quick start and insta bacteria chemicals and such can give you problems with your tank recycling at some point and time again.
I did not have the result I was expecting with Stability, but let me say that I did not exactly follow the directions. I did not read closely and was not shaking it up properly. If it pours out clear, its not ready, keep shaking. Towards the end, I did notice some difference but that could have been just time working on my side as well.
I plan to try again with my next tank, using a seeded filter as well.
I plan to try again with my next tank, using a seeded filter as well.
Tetra Safe Start speed up a cycle for me.Don't expect it to work overnight though.Took about a week for a 55 to cycle.
Tetra Safe Start is the only product that contains aquatic bacteria and not terrestrial and thus is the only one that doesn't have to be added for the life of the tank. I've used TSS to cycle all three of my tanks in a week with fish. When used correctly (it's meant to be used with fish) it cycles your tank in 7 to 10 days without endangering any fish.
Every other product, on the other hand, is crap in my opinion because they contain terrestrial bacteria that will die off eventually, thus, they need to be dosed weekly for the life of the tank...
Every other product, on the other hand, is crap in my opinion because they contain terrestrial bacteria that will die off eventually, thus, they need to be dosed weekly for the life of the tank...
thorpbrian;3936221; said:
That is absolutely false, my friend. Aquatic, non-aquatic, etc. doesnt really matter once the BB start to reproduce on their own. Obviously seeding with used media is always the best, but many of the "fast cycle" type products out there are helpful. Be suspicious of anything that claims to instantly cycle, though. Even using a BB-in-a-bottle product you should still expect at least 2 weeks for the cycle to be complete & stable. I have personally had good results with Bio-Zyme, Cycle, Stability, and the Tetra stuff.
When I set up my new tank with a built in trickle filter in the hood all was well, and it cycled as it should have.
Got carried away and added too many fish too fast and had an ammonia spike. So I got out the Prime and used a water change strategy for ages with no change.
I then tried "Cycle" with the water changes and waited.......nothing. I then tried an Aquasonic one (i think it came in an eye dropper sized container) with water changes and waited....nothing.
I went out an bought a bettter filter (FX5) and it cycled fully in about 8 days.
So although my original filter was not up to the job, the cycling products did not make a lick of difference, ammonia levels folowed the exact same ups and downs after each water change.
Got carried away and added too many fish too fast and had an ammonia spike. So I got out the Prime and used a water change strategy for ages with no change.
I then tried "Cycle" with the water changes and waited.......nothing. I then tried an Aquasonic one (i think it came in an eye dropper sized container) with water changes and waited....nothing.
I went out an bought a bettter filter (FX5) and it cycled fully in about 8 days.
So although my original filter was not up to the job, the cycling products did not make a lick of difference, ammonia levels folowed the exact same ups and downs after each water change.
JakeH;3938442; said:
Aquatic and non-aquatic does make a difference. Non-aquatic bacteria will eventually die off in an aquatic setting AND will hinder your normal aquatic bacteria by competing for food. I've heard of LOTS AND LOTS of people having their cycle crash when they stopped adding Bio-zyme, Cycle or Stability within the first several months of having their tank set up. In most cases people have little to no success with Bio-zyme, Cycle and Stability to begin with.
Tetra Safe Start, on the other hand, has a good track record of success in many online forums. Most people who have tried it agree that TSS will cycle your tank in a week to 10 days when used as directed.