• Why not take a moment to introduce yourself to our members?

A

Anonymous

Guest
Okay, this was brought to my attention by a couple of my customers and I'd never heard of it...what's the deal? Sounds like a Marc Weiss ploy, so I'm highly skeptical.

Anyone know anything about this? Used it, heard of it, has scientific analysis that proves/disproves it's claims?

Sounds like a 'quick fix' to me, so I figured I'd ask here...

Thanks in advance for any info.

Peace,

Chip
 

olgakurt

Advanced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
never heard of it but seems dubious at best.

cycling a tank is basically establishing enough bateria to breakdown nitrogenous wastes and convert them to nitrate (n2 if you're lucky).

The only way I can see cycling in 2 days is if the miracle mixture contained the right amounts of bacteria (or the tank to be devoid of life). The various bacteria that convert wastes to their endpoint (there's more than one type/strain) mulitply under different conditions so its unlikey you'd have them in sufficient quantities canned so to speak.

There might be a chemical/enzyme that forces the conversion, but then you're not really "cycling" but only giving yourself time in the interim while the bacteria levels build otherwise you'd still get a spike when the chemical concentrations decay/decline.
_________________
our economy
 

Len

Advanced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
From what little I know of the product, I believe Turbostart is live bacterial cultures. Fritz industries is respectable in that they do research (scientific research) on their products. Turbostart needs to be refrigerated and has a shelf life of 3 months, much like DT phytoplankton. So one may logically deduce Fritz isolated nitirifying bacteria, found a way to concentrate it and package it for short term use.

Does it work? I don't know. It might innoculate tanks with nitrifiying bacteria thus giving it a jump start. Until an independant source can verify the efficacy of this product, however, I'll stick with good ol fashion time and patience. After all, there are many benefits other then nitrogen cycling to letting the tank sit for 2 months before introducing decorative organisms.
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
"After all, there are many benefits other then nitrogen cycling to letting the tank sit for 2 months before introducing decorative organisms."

Care to start a list so I can have some ammunition, Len? :)

Thanks for the info. I believe it *is* direct nitrifying bacteria, but again, was dubious as to if it would work. These two customers swear by it, and both their tanks are very very nice.

Peace,

Chip
 

Len

Advanced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
A short list as follows:
1) A classic cycling period allows not only the population of nitrifying bacteria, but of all other life forms. Starting with Turbostart may be fine, but one should still wait a period of several weeks before introducing decorative organisms like fish and coral that predate on other organisms. In other words, give all life a chance to establish a stable population before you introduce predatory animals. Increased biodiversity never hurts.
2) Remember that nitrogen is only one of many cycles that occurs in any ecosystem. There is the carbon cycle, sulfur cycle, hydrogen cycle, etc. Just because the nitrogen cycle is established does not mean the other cycles are. Although the N cycle is arguably the most critical cycle to watch in captive husbandry, it is by far not the only cycle of concern, and fixation on it and only it is dangerous. Again, time affords all cycles an opportunity to esbalish.
3) Extending the previous idea: All lifeforms, particularly chemotrophs like bacteria, will alter the chemsitry of its surroundings. From repeated experiences, "aged" (ie mature) water is far more adept at sustaining life then new water, even once cycled. Merge the two ideas together and one may theorize that life slowly molds its environment to make it more suitable for inhabitation. This process takes time (much longer then 2 days, I can assure you).

These aren't arguments against Turbostart, but rather an endorsement to everyone to wait several weeks before adding livestock regardless of how quickly the N cycle is established.
 

tarponjim

Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I used it to start my 180 gallon. Works great. I was skeptical. Sounded like a Marc Weis snake oil to me, but seems it's pretty common here in Fl. LFS's all say the problem is shelf life and needs to be refriged. Some won't carry it because they can't always sell it all and get stuck. It does work great though. Tank cycles in no time and you can start with the fish you want.
Jim.
 

Bubafat

Advanced Reefer
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Sounds like it would be great when starting a new tank with fresh, non cured, live rock.

Buba

Quick question...so all those things like stress zyme have no nitrifying bacteria in it?
 
A

Anonymous

Guest
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
so all those things like stress zyme have no nitrifying bacteria in it?

Not really. Don't ever use any product who's logo is a cartoon.

FWIW I got my fridge from Marineland for their newly patented "cycles over night" Bio-Spira. Should be recieving the actual product the first of the week. And will be setting up an experimetal tank to test it. Their version is currently fresh water only, but they say they have a salt version on the way. They seem to have a lot of research to back it up.
 

Sponsor Reefs

We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.

Click here to sponsor $10:


Top