Water changes with bacteria supplements

[gplachy]

Hi. I read on another site, while I was researching mini cycling (going thru now) that adding bacteria when doing water changes is huge trouble.

I always add bottled bacteria - that is what I have always been taught and thought that was the best thing to do. Do a water change, add bacteria as insurance.

I have used many types: Cycle, Seachem Stability, Tropical Science, Stress Zyme...

Now, I read that Cycle is terrestrial bacteria and is not really for tanks and that it will crash the tank if not supplemented weekly, etc.

I really don't know what to do. I am a power buyer and when I buy on the net, I buy a ton at once and have all this bacteria and now I'm afraid to use it and worse I'm worried all my tanks will crash because I have used these bacteria for years.....

What do you guys think?

 

[MONSTERUP]

I THINK YOU SHOULDNT WORRY ABOUT IT NOW . IF IT HAS HAPPENED TO YOU YET. IF IT AINT BROKE DONT FIX IT!!!! MANY PEOPLE HAVE DIFFER. WAYS ABOUT DOING THINGS. LIKE I SAID IF AINT BROKEN DONT FIX IT.

 

[Cholly]

Keep using it as you have been, except for one tank. Stop using it on that one tank and test your ammonia, nitrite and nitrate daily until normal water change time. If your levels stay good during that time, I'd think you're safe to stop period.
I think you're probably fine anyway, but this will allow you to stop an expensive unnecessary step in your maintenance without a panic. If you end up with a mini-cycle, at least you'll know what to expect and can changeover your tanks in a somewhat orderly fashion.
You don't change out filter media unless it's crumbling do you? Because that's where the majority of the good bacteria is. And it's free. IF it gets thick enough to impede flow, rinse it in old tank water, chlorinated water will kill the bacteria faster than it will kill fish.