Bio-Spira ( now "SafeStart") for starting new tanks

[pitterpatti]

Just for the record, I have started new tanks with bio spira and added fish on the same day. As long as I didn't have too many fish, it worked fine. Instant cycling.

Love and swear by bio-spira. I see now that MarineLand/Tetra has changed the formula for the freshwater version and its now called SAFESTART and doesn't have to be refrigerated. Looks like you can get enough for a 30 gallon for around $11 if you look around.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/SAFESTART_instant_tank_cycler_replacement_for_Ma_p/tet-01.htm

I have started 55 tanks with one biowheel from an emperor 400 and 30 gallon dose of the bio spira. done! no waiting required.

They have a salt water formula too but I don't know the specifics on that.

Here is the scoop, after a little more research:

Spectrum Brands (http://www.spectrumbrands.com/) bought over Marineland Labs (http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/index.php?title=Marineland_Labs&action=edit&redlink=1) in late 2006 and shut the California facility down and merged it with Tetra (http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Tetra).

http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/BioSpira

good stuff! great for emergencies too!

Patti

[masroberts9]

safestart isnt an instant fix. when they took over the bio-spira they changed it. safestart is a 3-7 day cycle. still a lot faster then a normal cycle!

masroberts9 added 1 Minutes and 13 Seconds later...

oh yeah and you have to mix it with water change water then do the waterchange. as where with the biospira you just dump it in. on the positive side, safestart is way cheaper.

[rolloffhill]

Just for the record, I have started new tanks with bio spira and added fish on the same day. As long as I didn't have too many fish, it worked fine. Instant cycling.

Love and swear by bio-spira. I see now that MarineLand/Tetra has changed the formula for the freshwater version and its now called SAFESTART and doesn't have to be refrigerated. Looks like you can get enough for a 30 gallon for around $11 if you look around.

http://www.aquariumplants.com/SAFESTART_instant_tank_cycler_replacement_for_Ma_p/tet-01.htm

I have started 55 tanks with one biowheel from an emperor 400 and 30 gallon dose of the bio spira. done! no waiting required.

They have a salt water formula too but I don't know the specifics on that.

Here is the scoop, after a little more research:

Spectrum Brands (http://www.spectrumbrands.com/) bought over Marineland Labs (http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/index.php?title=Marineland_Labs&action=edit&redlink=1) in late 2006 and shut the California facility down and merged it with Tetra (http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/Tetra).

http://www.theaquariumwiki.com/BioSpira

good stuff! great for emergencies too!

Patti

It really isn't an "instant cycle", you are essentially using your fish to start the cycle with a supplement of "bacteria"

Many people start their new tanks with hardy fish and come out just fine.

[Dorantic]

I just dumped in my safestart. I didn't mix it in with a water change. It took about 8 days to bring my ammonia and nitrIte's to 0.



safestart isnt an instant fix. when they took over the bio-spira they changed it. safestart is a 3-7 day cycle. still a lot faster then a normal cycle!

masroberts9 added 1 Minutes and 13 Seconds later...

oh yeah and you have to mix it with water change water then do the waterchange. as where with the biospira you just dump it in. on the positive side, safestart is way cheaper.

[masroberts9]

cool.

[pitterpatti]

Makes sense "It really isn't an "instant cycle", you are essentially using your fish to start the cycle with a supplement of "bacteria""

Thanks Skip. Guess I had the right number of fish for the bacteria supplement. cool!

Patti

pitterpatti added 2 Minutes and 28 Seconds later...

Good info masroberst9! hopefully I won't be starting any new tanks soon, well except for the cichlid fry tank, and probably another for any pair of cichlids trying to keep them safe for a while. Dang, I was just consolidating 4 to 3, now I went from 3 to 5! roflmaoroflmaoroflmao

Patti

[flamenco-t]

I have an abundant amount of "bio spira" in my sump. it's free...how many would you like ? lol

I used them before when I had to start from scratch (my office tank had an arsenic poisoning), I had to boil all driftwood and start sterile.

BUT you can use your existing smudge or crud from your filter media to start a tank as well.

stan