Hi hi hi

I had to get another ammonia test kit today and it came with a free bottle of Stresszyme. I have discovered that it contains good bacteria. I currently use a product called Cycle.
Is one better than the other or are they just similar products? Cycle has to be kept in the fridge, stresszyme doesn't.
Any ideas?

If you are wanting max effect of bacteria, cycle out of the two. Stresszyme (which is not really a 'zyme, but anyways...), is more about reducing stress for certain instances, AloeVera being one of the ingredients if I'm correct, -this is kind of okay, but if you've got a fish with potential gill problems the coating that stresszyme gives may exacerbate the problem. I know cycle is pricey, but it's worth it. (btw, if you already have a cycled tank, ignore what they say on the pack, you don't need to use it every time you do a water change, but it is good, if you're cleaning out your filter and want to make up for the bacteria you've lost during the change)

Some people may swear by it, but I reckon, in Melb, we don't really need it... when I do water changes, I just use aquaplus and salts. and to be honest, the salts I use already has Na thiosulphate in it, so using aquaplus, may be a bit of over-kill. I just use it coz I mix the salts with the water immediately before I introduce it into the tanks (don't have enough room for a holding tank with which to pre-mix/aerate water before adding it to tanks during water changes)....

Sorry, hope I wasn't jumping the gun too much there/going offf in some crazy tangent....

it's all sweet


We have only used cycle - just thought I'd ask What are you up to in this disgusting hot weather tomorrow??

How come you keep your Cycle in the fridge? Does it say so anywhere on the instructions? If so, I've missed it.

Hmmm..I just checked the bottle and no, it doesn't say it has to be kept in the fridge. I think the people at the LFS told us to. And as someone who works with bacteria alot at work, I don't understand how you can keep bacteria happy in a bottle at room temperature. I always keep my bugs at 4*C. It keeps them in a dormant phase so when they get into their optimal environment they grow well.

Gee - I thought I remembered that the Cycle product was supposed to be kept in the fridge, too..... which is why I thought it stood a chance of actually having bacteria in it.....

But that was a looooong time ago.

I really cannot say what luck others have had with it, but I never really saw any benefits from using the Cycle. I never even noticed a difference when I stopped. So I do not anymore.

If it does for you what you wish, then GREAT!

But I would have sworn it said "keep refrigerated after opening".....

(I am losing my mind!)

Lol, what am I doing today?! I'd organised an IGM for a company me and my husband set up last year, it was for a Melb Fringe Fest show we did, needed a company to pay all involved and avoid the money being taxed twice/one person having to pay tax on it etc. so, yeah, having a whole bunch of 'Artistes' come around and have the meeting, then bbq/water-pistol fights/and the band is prolly gonna get up and play for everyone else. We were gonna have it on the rooftop (if you've seen Secreted Life of Pus, we're in one of the buildings with the rooftops) but it's going to be scorchingly hot, so we'll prolly have it in the back garden in the shade, once the sun moves around. The band we play in got paid in food and beer last week so we've got heaps for the barbie! first klezmer band to be paid in bacon!

If I'd known how stinkingly hot the weather was going to be I think i'd've made it another day.

I've got a couple of sarassa comets in a waterfeature bowl in the back garden and last 40 deg day they were gasping at the surface (no O2), so I brought them inside today and chucked em into one of the 6fters.

Currently freezing down some containers of water to throw into the tanks to keep em cool.

What are you up to today? -Don't tell me you're working! I know last years of PhDs are crazy ( I survived through my husbands last couple of years), but in weather like this, no one should work!!!!

Daryl - I have always used Cycle from day #1, so I wouldn't know the difference if I didn't use it!!! I figure it can't hurt. I might take some to work and have a look to see if they are alive. I can always grow some up!

Tosakin: Sounds like fun! How awesome to have a roof top!! Nope, not working today - just doing those things I've been meaning to do *forever*....waxing, doing my roots etc. AND I must locate my passport!! I lost it and need it!!

I havent noticed that Cycle does a lot of good. Im finishing up what I have then not using it again. I dont keep mine in the fridge either!

I recall some product I used a decade ago had to be kept in the fridge because it was unstable. Perhaps the bugs in Cycle are in some form of controlled state and are not activated until they get in the right environment.

At any rate I don't refridgerate and it has never been suggested to me. The only info on the bottle is "Do not freeze" and "Do not store above 50C for extended periods". This indicates that temperatures below 50C ARE safe for extended periods. Cycle also has quite a long shelf life for a bacterial product, my current batch doesn't expire for 3 years.

As for it's effectiveness, I have only cycled one tank from scratch and it cycled in 3 weeks using Cycle as directed. I was pleased with the results. I still use it in a maintenance capacity but not at the manufacturers full recommended dose. I just use a little bit to give the bugs a boost.

TiO sounds like you're gearing up for a great Australia Day. Hope you have a good one.