I added the BIO-Spira last week sometime to my tank. I asked soon after if an ammonia reading was normal after adding it (even the though the package says it gets rid of ammonia RIGHT AWAY!) Well, I'm now getting a generous NitrAte reading but also a staggering ammonia reading. Should I add more BIO-Spira? Or should I do a water change THEN add more.

I have found the BioSpira, contrary to advertised effectiveness, will NOT produce an instant cycle in your tank. It may do this for a lightly stocked tropical tank that only needs water changes once a month, but for goldies, whose waste production is phenomenal, it simply cannot do it all.

What you have added is a supply of semi-dormant beneficial bacteria - both types - to your tank. As they hit the warmer water, they float out and begin "feeding" - processing ammonia and nitrite into nitrate. It takes a while 1-2 weeks for them to attach to your bio-media, set up shop and begin to multiply.

There are only so many bacteria in your tank. The numbers cannot process all the ammonia that is present. They seem to be working well, though, for you already have nitrates. This is GREAT! But you will have to do a careful balancing act for a few weeks here - to keep your goldies protected from ammonia/nitrite while not flushing away your BioSpira.

If you haveMASSIVE ammonia readings, yes, change out your water. But realixe that some of the BioSpira bacteria that you added is still in that water. So you will be flushing them down the drain. If you have more BioSpira or the dollars that you wish to spend on it (or it is even available!) you could certainly add more. I generally buy a much larger pouch than is recommended, and either (if I am doing a fishless cycle) add the whole thing, or add it a little bit more every few days. If I am forced to do a water change, I top it off with more BioSpira.

If your ammonia/nitrite readings are not good, but not AWFUL, you can control the amounts with Prime - this will detoxify the ammonia/nitrite for the fish, but still leave it available for the BioSpira bacteria to process - allowing them to increase their populations in response to the excess "food".

Oh, ok, thank you so much for that! I may look into that Prime stuff. I have more BIO-Spira and can always get more (my lfs seemed well stocked) if need be.