Do bacteria starters actually work?

Question

Do bacteria starters actually work when you add them to a new aquarium? I have heard mixed comments on them.

Answer 1

I don't know about commerical bacteria starters but your best bet is to get someone with an established tank to loan you some of their decorations or a handful of gravel from the bottom. Best would be if they use bioballs (little plastic balls that float in the water and give a lot of surface area for bacteria to grow on) and could loan you their bioballs for a couple of weeks.

Just be patient, though, it'll work itself out. Just do 25% water changes once a week, don't touch the gravel or walls, and you'll have crystal clear water in no time.

Answer 2

It depends on what starter you get. They all are essentially the same thing, but only 1 brand really works. They are all just the bacteria the tank needs in order to break down wastes. Marineland's bio spira is the only one proven to work. Bio-spira is refridgerated to slow down the metabolism of the bacteria and keep them alive for long periods of time. All other brands are the same bacteria, but they just pack the bottle with food for the bacteria and stuff it in a bottle, no refridgeration, which means the bacteria is dead within a week, maybe 2, depending on how cool the bottle is kept. If you can get an unrefridgerated starter, like 'Cycle' it most likely will not work. But if it goes from the factory, to the store, and to your fish tank, all within 1 week, it will probably work. Problem is it takes several weeks to go from the factory to your fish tank, so it almost never works. If you go with the refridgerated brand, you have a much better chance. There is the occasional 'dud' packet, but those are very rare. Just check the expiration date before you buy it and it will work great. Marineland has a patent on refridgerated bacteria starters, so Bio-Spira is the only starter that works at this time.

Answer 3

Ive had no problems with Cycle. The best thing to do would be to ask a friend if you can install your filter on their tank for a couple of days. That should give your filter a good amount of nitrifiers.
You need ammonia in the tank for the tank to cycle, go buy 5 of those 17cents fish from petsmart and let them cycle the tanks for $1.

Aslong as you have nitrifying bacteria in your tank it is not cruel to use 17cent fish to cycle the tank. It would be more cruel to allow a bigger fish to swallow, then slowly digest a live fish.

Answer 4

like all of the people that have posted so far i've heard some mixed reviews about bacteria additives, the only one that i've consistanly heard good solid reviews about is bio-spira, usually used by marine aquarists but i've heard that there is a freshwater version that is just as good. i've always relied on pre-established filters/filter media and fishless cycling. i really don't like the suggestion of putting 17 cent feeder fish from walmart into the tank
1) it's cruel to force a live fish to endure a cycle
2) what are you going to do if the fish live threw it? unless you have something that eats fish(you wouldnt' want to feed the fish to it anyway) or have a place that will take back those fish than you will be stuck with them unless you want to flush them.
3) it's just as easy to do a fishless cycle

Answer 5

I'd say no, but many people use them. I'd say stick to waiting. People have done it for years, including myself. You can take the end of a clean pantiehoe and put some gravel in an aquarium that is already setup. That will speed the process.