How's everyone?
I've been so worn out with this pregnancy that I don't get online much anymore... I have been keeping up with my finbabies tho...

This is what's up with my tank lately:

A few of you might remember that I lost my little Poppi about a month or so back to that mystery disease... Well, I finally got around to nuking the tank with bleach. Everything got tossed (but for the filters, which also got cleaned out). Daisuke and the Cories had been living in a rubbermaid while I was cleaning...

FYI the tank is a 35 gallon and I am using two AQ filters (a 50 and a 20) as well as some air stones... The temp is around 72ish currently...

I rinsed the tank with a hose real good, then let the tank air dry naturally, and then filled it. I treated the water with STABILITY and PRIME and let it sit for a day before adding my fish back.

Q: The pet store lady I could use Prime in tandem w/ stability (but this confuses me b/c one adds bacteria and the other converts it) in order to remove chloramines. She also said to leave in the carbon -- does this sound right to you?

3 days later (still treating with STABILITY) and all looks GREAT. The fish are much happier looking too.

No readings yet - will do that later this afternoon.

Q: What is everyone else's experience w/ this product (STABILITY)? I would have loved to have cycled naturally again, but it wasn't possible given that the fish were in a rubbermaid on my dining rm. table...

Q: I want to add another fantail -- should I wait it out longer before doing so or do you think that the "instant cycle" is adequite?

Q: I have a lovely piece of driftwood, but covered in algae from the "dirty" tank. Should I toss it, or is there a way to sterilize that as well?

THANKS!
~Erin

Hey good to see you around! Hope all is well in baby land. I have used that stablility before and I am not sure it helps all that much, I really think that water changes are the best thing for keeping fish happy in a cycling tank but that said I can imagine water changes are not that fun when you're pregnant, if you think it's helping I would keep using it, it can't hurt. I didn't use Prime at the time I used the Stablity but just because I hadn't heard of it at the time. It does seem like it might counteract one another but I am not sure. There is a way to bake the driftwood in the oven for a while to sterilize it, in an old thread maybe I can find it you just have to watch it so it doesn't catch on fire!


I didn't find that post but did see others that said if you have a pot big enough you can boil it for an hour to disenfect

Stability, Cycle and all of the products that are kept on the shelves are not and cannot cycle your tank any faster than if you were to not use it at all. It is the equivelent of snake-oil....

The ONLY product that can guarantee the establishment of nitrifying bacteria is called Bio-Spira and it's made by Marineland Labs. It is kept refrigerated at select local fish shops so call ahead to save wasted drive-time. Remember, if its not nice and cold when you go to purchase it, don't. Follow the directions as per the packaging and you'll have a fully functioning bio-filter in less than a week. If you double dose it (overdose is impossible), then you WILL have an instantly cycled tank.

Whether you single or double-dose, my added suggestion to the directions on the packaging is.... Just feed SPARINGLY and don't perform any waterchanges for at least 3-4 days....

Hope this helps!


Paul

Thanks Maceo and Paul for your advice It is much appreciated!

My little fry has been kicking at my rib cage lately and I have been sore in my ribs/short of breath, but that just goes with the territory I guess. It's good to know that she is strong and active. I still cant wait till she comes out tho, lol...

One more Q: Paul - have you ever heard of something called bio-ZYME? I know what Bio Spira is and I do have access to it at my LFS, but it is rather pricey (20 bux and up). Bio Zyme is a powder that I already have. I was wondering if I were better off using this over Stability? I can get the Biozyme, but not for one more week...

In the meantime, I still haven't seen a bacterial bloom of any sort and the fish were added on Friday (3 days ago now)... I'll get those readings in the morning if I can.

LOL Maceo -- I'm not going to bake the driftwood for fear of burning down the house and it's too large to fit in my biggest pot... I wonder if I boil one side at a time or should I just saw it in half? hmmm.

Biozyme, also, is a worthless product and will not cycle your tank any faster than without.

Sorry....

Bomp that little sucker on the nogkin and tell her to stop bothering mommy. Her time will come soon enough - right now is your time. Besides - I have it on good authority that all breakdancing, soccer exersises and taikwondo practice done before birth will not help your little one's future abilities. So tell her to COOL it!