New Tank - Bio Start up (1 Viewer)

[Stickboy97]

What is everyone's go to for starting the bio / bacteria in a new tank? I use bio-spira in my QT set-ups, and it seems to work well. But I see many other options - Microbacter 7, Dr Tims, Old school shrimp in a bag, etc.

My 150g is getting wet this weekend, so I was wondering what I should use for a tank this large. I'm starting with all live rock & live sand, so that should help as well.

 

[soymilk]

i think dr reef did a test across most if not all the bacterias.

Turbo start works really good for me.

 

[MurseJB]

if everything is live, I've had success with doing turbo start and adding fish at the same time. And I know second hand that a group of 9 tangs can tolerate nutrient levels of 70 nitrate and 8 phosphate

 

[Erin]

What is everyone's go to for starting the bio / bacteria in a new tank? I use bio-spira in my QT set-ups, and it seems to work well. But I see many other options - Microbacter 7, Dr Tims, Old school shrimp in a bag, etc.

My 150g is getting wet this weekend, so I was wondering what I should use for a tank this large. I'm starting with all live rock & live sand, so that should help as well.

If you're using actual "live" rock, I don't know if you need bottled bac at all. How quickly are you planning to add critters?

 

[Stickboy97]

If you're using actual "live" rock, I don't know if you need bottled bac at all. How quickly are you planning to add critters?

No hurry. It will need some kind of boost to help out. Even live rock & live sand won't be enough to start the tank on its own right from the start. I don't know how mcuh bacteria is in the live rock, I'm taking some from an exsting tank & taking some from a brute that has been sitting for a little while with rock & water circulating in it.

 

[decimal]

Brightwell has a quick start product

Brightwell Aquatics - MicroBacter QuikCycl

Used in conjunction with Microbacter products (start XLM, start XLF)

A few notes that I have heard repeatedly, start with dry rinsed substrate. Do not use seeded sand since the brightwell bacterial strains (and others) are designed for cycling and effective nutrient processing etc. caribe sea live sand cultures are a competing, less efficient strain. You want the designed strains to take hold and not be starved out by a lesser strain. At least that’s what I have been told and how have seen supporting documentation but Take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Erin]

Brightwell has a quick start product

Brightwell Aquatics - MicroBacter QuikCycl

Used in conjunction with Microbacter products (start XLM, start XLF)

A few notes that I have heard repeatedly, start with dry rinsed substrate. Do not use seeded sand since the brightwell bacterial strains (and others) are designed for cycling and effective nutrient processing etc. caribe sea live sand cultures are a competing, less efficient strain. You want the designed strains to take hold and not be starved out by a lesser strain. At least that’s what I have been told and how have seen supporting documentation but Take it with a grain of salt.

Great information!