Are these chemicals the same?

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Discuss all topics related to freshwater and planted tanks.


evilash
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 26, 2012 10:35 am

Are these chemicals the same?

by evilash

I'm in the process of cycling my aquarium and I'm using API's Quickstart. I'm reading a lot on the forums about Seachem Stability and I'm wondering if these are the same product just different companies.

Seachem:

http://www.seachem.com/Products/prod...Stability.html

API Quickstart:

http://www.apifishcare.com/Products/...?ProductID=642

Any help would be appreciated.


Okiimiru
 
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:19 pm

Re: Are these chemicals the same?

by Okiimiru

Both products claim to contain the beneficial bacteria that convert ammonia to nitrite to nitrate in an aquarium.

The graphs on Quick Start's science sheet are impressive. http://cms.marsfishcare.com/uploads/fin ... 0sheet.pdf If it really does prevent the ammonia and nitrite peaks from rising high in concentration like those graphs say it does, then that's an incredibly awesome product. To be able to instantly cycle the aquarium would be great. Normally it takes 40 days for a tank to grow enough beneficial bacteria to be able to process ammonia and nitrite like is shown on those graphs. If that product works like it says it does then that's awesome. Thank you for telling me about it; I've got a new saltwater tank I'm starting soon and only freshwater tanks running currently and I've been wondering how I'm going to start my saltwater's cycle. According to Quick Start the bacteria are the same for fresh and salt water (high suspicious) so theoretically according to them I should be able to put a sponge from my current filter into the saltwater tank to cycle it. That would be great, not having to wait 40 days for my new saltwater tank to cycle. (Oh, I'm not using live rock because it's a breeding tank and I can't afford predators hitch-hiking on the rock and then eating the fry) (also the 40 days number comes from slide 8 of http://www.ag.auburn.edu/~davisda/class ... Design.pdf ).

The phrase "For optimum biofilter performance use 1 capful for each 40 L (10 gallons*) once a month" on Seachem's Stability page is suspicious. Why would you have to redose with the bacteria once they're established? That doesn't make any sense. I also don't see a science (proof) page on Stability's page like I did for Quick Start.

So, I guess my conclusion is that that Quick Start stuff looks fantastic if it works like the experimental setup they describe in http://cms.marsfishcare.com/uploads/fin ... 0sheet.pdf says it does. If it works like that then hecks yeah get some of that stuff. Or a sponge from the filter of your friend's established aquarium, keeping it wet in dechlorinated water during transfer between your two aquariums.


evilash
 
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat May 26, 2012 10:35 am

Re: Are these chemicals the same?

by evilash

Here is my experience with API:

I was hoping to get some help with the cycling of my new aquarium. I set it up 16 days ago today and think I kinda got the hang of it but just came for some help. It's a 27 gallon cube tank. I let the tank run for 4 days (because I didn't have time to add any fish) with just the bio wheel filter and heater while adding the stress coat to my water to dechlorinate it while setting it up. I also added the right amount stated on the quick start solution I put in the tank too.

My Readings on the 4th day:

7.4 PH
0 Amm
0 Nitrites
0 Nitrates

On the 4th day I added 3 Angelfish to the aquarium. 24 hours later I took readings and got the same as before I put the fish it.

Day 6:
7.4 PH
.25 Amm
0 Nitrites
0 Nitrates

On the 6th day I noticed the water was getting a bit of a milky white so I did a 20% water change. I also did this to help with the new Amm reading. The water was still cloudy but not as bad.

On the 7th day I got the same readings as day 6 but still carried out a 15% change to clear up the water. After this change the water cleared up and is still clear to this day.

Day 8:
7.4 PH
.5 Amm
.25 Nitrites
5ppm Nitrates

On this day (8) I added 4 Cory Catfish (newbie probably should have)

Day 9 I got the same readings as day 8 and carried out a 15% water change.

Day 10 I got the same readings and added 5 neon tetras.

Day 11 I got the same readings and carried out a 15% water change.

Day 12 I got the same readings. I euthanize 1 tetra due to neon tetra disease.

Day 14

7.4 PH
.5 Amm
.25 Nitrites
5ppm Nitrates

I did a 20% water change every day since day 14 because I kept on getting .5 ammonia. On day 16 I got:

.25 amm
0 Nitrites
20 ppm Nitrates

Did another change last night and got this today:

.25 amm
.25 Nitrites
20 ppm Nitrates

Hoping tomorrow I get 0 amm and 0 Nitrites.


Okiimiru
 
Posts: 275
Joined: Thu Feb 05, 2009 10:19 pm

Re: Are these chemicals the same?

by Okiimiru

Look at slide 8 of this powerpoint: http://www.ag.auburn.edu/~davisda/class ... Design.pdf
and the graphs on Quick Start's science sheet: http://cms.marsfishcare.com/uploads/fin ... 0sheet.pdf
Also, http://www.fishkeeping.co.uk/articles_5 ... rticle.htm
And http://theaquariumwiki.com/Plants_and_B ... Filtration

I think that's all the pieces you need to put the puzzle together. Conclusion: The tank is toxic its first forty days set up after the initial addition of food. You have to either add growing plants or add or grow your own beneficial bacteria to get rid of ammonia. Fish in a tank without either plants or bacteria will be poisoned by ammonia and nitrite and may die.

If you had
1. Fishless cycled the tank, adding flake food every day as if there were fish in it and waiting until the initial ammonia and nitrite peaks went back down to zero and nitrate was steadily increasing. This usually takes about 40 days.
2. Added live, growing plant to eat the ammonium
3. Added API's Quick Start
then the fish wouldn't have been exposed to ammonia. Fish in ammonia and nitrite rich water get sick. Ammonia and nitrite are very toxic.

Are these chemicals the same?

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