There are those in the aquarium hobby that would argue that no bacteria in a bottle would work. There were numerous times I have argued with those that they do (and that it depends). You know why I know? Well my tank was taking long to cycle and I was monitoring my parameters all the way.. Well it just seem to stall while I'll was doing the fish-in method of cycling. I did a little research and found that Tetra SafeStart and Dr. Tim's One and Only are the only two bacteria in a bottle products that actually work. They work because they contain the correct strains of bio-spira nitrifying beneficial bacteria. Basically, my tank was finally cycled a couple days of adding SafeStart to my tank. It probably cycled that fast because I was already doing the fish-in cycling. Feeding fish will automatically start the cycling process because when you feed, the fish produce ammonia. It just takes longer than fishless cycling because you cannot let the ammonia get dangerously too high. Consequently the beneficial bacteria need ammonia as a food source to start growing and to get cycled. I do believe SafeStart jump starts this process and helps significantly in the speed in which cycling takes.
Sure the stuff isn't cheap. But of if its your first aquarium and you don't have access to an established aquarium to get some filter media, then Safe Start is a great option.
Note: There are similar products that claim to do the same for less, like Nutrafin Cycle and API Stress Zyme. I've tried these in the past and they don't work. Products like these are why you'll hear people hate on bacteria in a bottle products. I've experienced it first hand and have read scientific journals that prove SafeStart and Dr. Tim's One and Only work.
The advertising claim is that it establishes the nitrogen cycle instantly so you don't have to "cycle" a new tank. I think this is an exaggeration.
My tanks still went through the new-tank cycle, but perhaps it went faster due to the innoculation of bacteria from the Safe Start. I didn't use a control tank (one identical except without Safe Start), though, so I can't be sure.
edit: @garyc says it's worked for him, and I've heard great reviews about the Dr. Tim products, he's a long time expert in the hobby/business. BUT again, the big problem is that nothing is as good as understanding what cycling means, why it happens, and how to keep it from ever happening again to your tank.
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There are those in the aquarium hobby that would argue that no bacteria in a bottle would work. There were numerous times I have argued with those that they do (and that it depends). You know why I know? Well my tank was taking long to cycle and I was monitoring my parameters all the way.. Well it just seem to stall while I'll was doing the fish-in method of cycling. I did a little research and found that Tetra SafeStart and Dr. Tim's One and Only are the only two bacteria in a bottle products that actually work. They work because they contain the correct strains of bio-spira nitrifying beneficial bacteria. Basically, my tank was finally cycled a couple days of adding SafeStart to my tank. It probably cycled that fast because I was already doing the fish-in cycling. Feeding fish will automatically start the cycling process because when you feed, the fish produce ammonia. It just takes longer than fishless cycling because you cannot let the ammonia get dangerously too high. Consequently the beneficial bacteria need ammonia as a food source to start growing and to get cycled. I do believe SafeStart jump starts this process and helps significantly in the speed in which cycling takes.
Sure the stuff isn't cheap. But of if its your first aquarium and you don't have access to an established aquarium to get some filter media, then Safe Start is a great option.
Note: There are similar products that claim to do the same for less, like Nutrafin Cycle and API Stress Zyme. I've tried these in the past and they don't work. Products like these are why you'll hear people hate on bacteria in a bottle products. I've experienced it first hand and have read scientific journals that prove SafeStart and Dr. Tim's One and Only work.
Does Tetra Safe Start Work
Maybe, sort of.
I've used this product on some new tanks.
The advertising claim is that it establishes the nitrogen cycle instantly so you don't have to "cycle" a new tank. I think this is an exaggeration.
My tanks still went through the new-tank cycle, but perhaps it went faster due to the innoculation of bacteria from the Safe Start. I didn't use a control tank (one identical except without Safe Start), though, so I can't be sure.
here's a answer that I wrote that is similar to what I'd write here,
except to say, tetra safe start is one of the common products
that I never use because they're not really any good
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201206...
edit: @garyc says it's worked for him, and I've heard great reviews about the Dr. Tim products, he's a long time expert in the hobby/business. BUT again, the big problem is that nothing is as good as understanding what cycling means, why it happens, and how to keep it from ever happening again to your tank.
It worked for me.
yes
Yes,Si,Wi :D
google it!