QuestionI am about to set up a new 20 gallon freshwater aquarium to house 1 betta. I really would like to cycle the water quickly and was wondering if you had any opinions on whether or not Bio-Spira or Stress Zyme would be the safest and quickest product? If you have any advice for me, it will be greatly appreciated.
AnswerBio-Spira if cold, is a great cycle starter. If you get it, add 1/2 the first day, and the other 1/2 the 3rd or 4th day. Stress Zyme does not work, and can actually harm the aquarium. The best way to cycle a tank is the take filter squeezings from a healthy, already established tank, and pour it into your filter. You can take squeezings every 3 or 4 days without hurting your other tank. I did this with my 55 gallon by squeezing filters from my 10 gallon, and I was able to add 6 fish at once without getting any ammonia or nitrite spikes. Then I slowly added more fish...each time squeezing the filters over the tank.