Archivarium 2004

[in stereo]

Alright, so I managed to screw up fishless cycling with pure ammonia and today I purchased a packet of Bio-Spira out of pure necessity before I ended up killing my bettas from having trouble keeping up with 5 tanks to do 100% changes in.

Here's where all my newbie questions come in...

1. On the way home my packet of Bio-Spira got kind of 'warm' so I had to stop off, get a cup of ice and pack in it that until I got home to re-refridgerate it. I'd say it was out of the LFS's fridge for about 20 minutes until I packed it in a cup of ice, then it was another 10-15 minutes until I got it into the fridge. Is it still good or did I just waste $15 because I forgot to bring a insulated lunch box and ice to keep it cold?

2. I read somewhere (can't find the link now to save my life) that it's best to add the Bio-Spira 24 hours after adding the fish - that way the bacteria have ammonia to feed on, or so the page said. True or false? Since it's already too late to add it right now is there any harm in going with that 'method'?

3. My boyfriend and I both want DPs - would it be wise to use Bio-Spira with 5 of them in a 10 gal. or should I try my hand at fishless cycling again?

[haname]

Bio Spira is designed so that you add it at the same time you add all your fish, in a freshly setup system. Follow the directions on the package, or at the Marineland site.

What are DPs?
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Happy fishkeeping!

~Haname

[LittleMousling]

DPs=Dwarf Puffers.

Instead of Biospira or fishless cycling, I'd use seeded filter media. Just add extra media to one (or more) of your other tanks for a few weeks, then switch it into the new tank once the puffers are in.
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-Molly
Finsout.com! Shelldwellers.com!

[haname]

Forgot to mention... your Biospira is probably still good, as long as it wasn't exposed to excessive heat. I would suggest a 100% water change first if you haven't done that after trying the fishless cycle with ammonia.

Also, when you add fish with biospira, the fish immediately start releasing ammonia into the water so the biospira has an energy souce from the beginning. If you follow Marineland's directions, you should be fine.
_________________
Happy fishkeeping!

~Haname

[in stereo]

Well...I did the 100% change in both the 5 gallons that I was trying to cycle, but I've already added a betta to each of the 5 gals as well as my boyfriend's mothers fish to her new 10 gallon late yesterday after-noon/last night. She has 2 cardinal tetras, 1 bloodfin tetra (one of them died already) and 2 cory cats.

Should I do 100% changes again and then add them and the Bio-Spira or just add it now?

[haname]

I'd probably do the water changes, only because Biospira is supposed to be put in at the same time with the fish.
_________________
Happy fishkeeping!

~Haname