MarineLand Bio-Spira Freshwater Bacteria, for Starting New Aquariums, 8.54-Ounce

My wife and I set up a new aquarium a month ago. Because we're not experienced, the fish went in a few days later.We got an API master test kit after learning about the nitrogen cycle.The ammonia was 2ppm (after 3 weeks). We started started changing water. It helped a bit on the tests - but the tank just wouldn't move towards cycling at all.The ammonia was at 4ppm when I ordered Bio-Spira (amazon two-day delivery).Folks, I'm writing this now, 24 hrs after we treated our tank with Bio-Spira.I just tested the water. Ammonia is 0. The Nitrites are around 4ppm, and the Nitrates are about 5 ppm.Not 48 hrs ago the nitrites were 0.5ppm, and no nitrates.This stuff works!Edit (1/27/2021): Ammonia is still 0. The Nitrites are a bit less (3 ppm) and the the Nitrates are the same. FYI, I did add more Bio-Spira during a 1/3 water change...that happened a day after my original post. I'll be adding the remainder of my Bio-Spira today. Then order more. This works. The important part is to keep testing your water!Edit (2/3/2021): My tank is fully cycled. Using the API master test kit, the Nitrites are gone, the Ammonia is gone. No fish have died. They seem quite happy. My Nitrates were at 10 ppm...I tested the water right before a 1/3 water change.This will be my last edit post. I just want to let everyone know that, if you are a new aquarium owner, you will save SO much time helping your aquarium (and fish) with this product. Even after getting fish (like me) this stuff WORKS fast!

Wow so this is the best cycling product out there ! Put some in my 10 gallon 2 days ago and in 2 days I have nitrates already ! Worked ridiculouly fast after trying to use bottle after bottle of seachem stability with absolutely zero luck. Can't believe it worked that fast ! I was struggling for 3 months and this product did what Stability couldn't overnight

This product works great, I've used it for 3 brand new tanks. They were a 3gal, a 10gal, and a 20 gal. In all the tanks I had a completed nitrogen cycle with 5 days, usually faster. I use it occasionally when I replace the filter media to supplement any bacteria that may have been lost. But this product works, I've heard people say that the beneficial bacteria can't survive in a "bottle" but these people usually aren't biologists is the slightest, bacteria can go dormant and with marineland's packaging it prolongs their shelf life. I recommend this product all the time and I've never heard anyone complain that it didn't jump start their cycle.

I used this to help start the beginning cycle of aquarium. Bare in mind. I did have to do 20% water changes every other day for a week . Cause of ammonia build up . I had the aquarium run for a week. Then we bought a small gold fish . Goldfish was a ginnie pig . Cannery in the Cole mine. Goldfish survived!! Then a week later added a pleco fish . Be patient!! Bacteria helps when doing water change . Once you test water. All stays good . Then buy your the more expensive fish . For beginners. Start with at least a 30 gallon tank. More water ,less chance of ammonia build up . Everybody's as different experiences. Use the ammonia readers that stick in tank . Watch your fish . If they go to the top and stay there. Not being happy. Do a 20% water change . Watch YouTube for different ideas . Good luck .

Had to replace mine as they sent it with a broken cap. I'm sure it'll work for my aquarium based on my own research of this product and the reviews across many different sources. These bacteria are autotrophic strains, which take longer to seed naturally compared to cheap heterotrophs; plus, are the dominant strains in the long-run. I just hope they don't ship these in crazy temperatures. Would like it if they gave us the option to pay for a cold pack during these hot summer times.Edit: it worked better when being dosed, but it colonized so slow and with a very tiny biomass on my filter media. After I ran out, it hardly did anything for Ammonia. However, it still colonized to keep producing nitrates unlike other brands I have tried before. Sadly, most most medications (even ones that say their safe for beneficial bacteria) have wiped my filter bed. Strangely, my sludge-eating anaerobes seem to be still alive as fishwaste will magically disappear slowly each day. However, they only contribute to increases in Ammonia, not Nitrites and Nitrates. I had to use another product to re-cycle my aquarium.

I have a 10 gallon tank and I put a goldfish I had for 4 years in it before I let it cycle since he’s such a hearty fish. 3 days later it looked like white smoke was swirling around in my water. It wasn’t foggy but it was “Smokey”if you can imagine that. It was from a spike in the ammonia due to the goldfish and it’s waste. Today is day 3 after adding the entire pouch and it’s so crystal clear!! I’m so happy! Now my tank is fully cycled and I can add more fish to my crystal clear tank. I just ordered 3 more so that I can use it after my weekly water changes to keep the water healthy and my fish happy

Products like these do work, but it's not a perfect substitute, it's more like an emergency fix. You will get different results on your water tests and it can be confusing to know if your water is safe for animals. You can end up with a crashed cycle or ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite levels bouncing up and down which is very stressful for you and your fish. It can make your tank cloudy as well. If you have patience I highly recommend cycling your tank with a fishless cycle the normal way, it's much more reliable and predictable.Also don't freak out and dump the whole thing into too small of a tank too fast, read the instructions. You will end up with all your good bacteria dieing because there wasn't enough ammonia to keep the cycle going and all the dead material will start decaying with not enough good bacteria to eat it. This product will work ok if you suddenly have to house an animal and don't want it to die of ammonia poisoning because you weren't prepared. Also get ready to do water changes after using this.