I thought a good thread would be in regards to the liquid bacteria one can add to new tanks to speed up the cycling process. I have been using Seachem's Stability in my new 10-gal FOWLR and it seems to be working well. In just over two weeks the ammonia has dropped to 0, the nitrite to 0, and the nitrates are slowly increasing (0 to 10 now 15). Not bad. However, due to financial shortages i have to leave the tank to cycle for another 4 weeks, so i will post some data regarding the levels as time goes on.

In the meantime, does anyone else have any comments or suggestions regarding these additives?

I've never used it but it is one of those things that I don't think is necessary. Your tank will cycle on its own. I don't suppose that it will hurt anything either.

i use cycle when i need to, it keeps in the fridge for ages! they are only benifical strain of bactera that already exist! as to how much u had/have in the system u need to work the labs to guage it, but basic testing reagents vs bioload input will give u a rough idea.
personally i dont see a problem with introduction in the early phaze, it helps the establish a foothold quicker> u long as u dont use it as a vehicle to stock your tank quicker, & the mentallity that comes with it

as long as u dont use it as a vehicle to stock your tank quicker, & the mentallity that comes with it

Amen.

u long as u dont use it as a vehicle to stock your tank quicker, & the mentallity that comes with it

Oh yea i agree wholeheartedly. My theory of using it in the beginning was it would, as you said, give the bacteria a foothold early on. Then, the tank could actually mature a little bit by the end of the 6 week period; hopefully have a more stable system than it otherwise would at this time.

BB, SSB, DSB, co-current, venturi, berlin, UG filters or no, lighting K, chemical additives, figi or tunga LR, etc....the one thing all hobbiests can agree on is patience!

yeah, patence, its all good till u see your tank cycle within 2weeks! lol

populations of bacteria just like the rest of us, live only as long as the food source is available, i would still use a wild piece of something to start the seeding in the usual way, im not one to take a total blind leap of faith in things coming from a bottle! these bacteria are artifically grown under ideal conditions so to me at least its an augument each way as to which is stonger, even though they should be a strong target strain that some egg head has seperated & cultured with all the genetic mutations that happen with anything that replicates! talking about bacteria> robs prodi course he's starting up is a prime example of artifically targeted species of bacteria for the reef!
although a bacterial reactor next to the Ca would be nice to see:cool: