After losing three of my favorite fish, wasting two bags of Bio-Spira, and living in constant stress for the past two weeks, my tank is nearly completely cycled shortly after replacing my AquaTech 30-60 with a Penguin 350. Note, the Penguin 350 is practically the same filter as the AquaTech 30-60, except that it has two large Bio-Wheels.

Before switching the filter, my tank parameters were stuck at 1-2 ppm ammonia, 2-5 ppm nitrites, and 5 ppm nitrates after one month of setting up my tank. Just 8 hours after adding the Penguin filter, I got my first flat zero reading for ammonia! Within 24 hours, nitrates were up to 40 ppm, and nitrites down to 0.5 ppm. I only added about 5 ml of Bio-Spira with the filter change, because that was all I had left. I had used almost all of my 1 oz and 3 oz bags (about 125 ml total) of Bio-Spira before the filter change.

So, my conclusion is that Bio-Spira is pretty ineffective without a Bio-Wheel filter. I had previous success with Bio-Spira, but it was with an AquaTech 5-gallon hex tank with a Bio-Wheel filter. Because of this success, I had too much faith in Bio-Spira when setting up my AquaTech 55-gallon tank, which included a filter, but WITHOUT a Bio-Wheel. I have no idea why AquaTech would include Bio-Wheel filters in their small tank kits but not with their 55-gallon kits. It would have been a minor upgrade, and difference cost me dearly.

Anyway, learn from my mistake. Don't bother with the Bio-Spira without a Bio-Wheel filter!

Here is a group pic of the three goldfish that I lost:



Ironically, this picture was one of the front runners for "pic of the week" a few weeks ago.

Wow. I am SO sorry! Such pretty fish!

Your fish were gorgoues, i'm so sorry. I hope your other fish make it.

Oh no! Not the big ranchu! I'm so sorry gchen! I loved that fish too.

I'm so sorry for your loss. I agree that the biowheel is key to good filtration for goldies. I have the emporer 400 and penguin 330 on my 55 gal. and the 350 on my 30 gal.

Well, my tank has cycled. Zero nitrites! I wish I could bring back my giant Ranchu to celebrate.

What beautiful fish!
It is so hard to lose them ;( .

Glad to hear things are working out for the better and thanks for info on bio wheel filter.
I have a 10 gallon (waiting for 20+ tank from client of mine) and had a freak out evening last night in the last throes of cycling and high nitrites.

Thanks for sharing your experience, will definitely look into the bio-wheel and also the BioSpira.

Lots of good vibes for your fish to come!

Saivite[COLOR=purple]