A few tank questions before my comm. takes the big plunge!

[Joe Khul]

Hello all,

First - Is red flint gravel (very fine, almost sand) a good substrate for Pangio Kuhli?

Second - Has anyone heard of Top Fin Bacteria Supplement?

Third - If so, is it a viable solution to faster or instantaneous tank cycling?

The claim is that this is similar to bio spira and that it will allow me to add fish the same day as it is added. Hardy Fish are still advised as statrters.

As I am a day from filling and cycling my tank, any advice, thoughts, warnings, or threats to my life for using chemicals in what should be a long natural biological process, are of course most welcome and appreciated!

Speak now! Or forever hold your pieces!

Thank you one and all for any responses.

Mike, the Loaches, the Tetras, the Cories, the Clouds, and any new obducties to my new aquatic world

[grizzlyone]

As the resident shill for SeaChem shill (just kidding), I exclusively use Prime on a daily basis for the first couple months and on a biweekly maintenance schedule after that.

Rather than adding bacteria or all those supplements, I add it and let the system build the bioload naturally based on the number of fish in the tank, while at the same time I make sure that the ammonia, chlorine, chloramine, nitrates, nitrites and all the other nasties won't affect my fish.

I'll admit it's cheating a little but the only thing I have to worry about using Prime is the PH and the TDS. Takes alot off your mind.

Kevin

[Diana]

I do not trust 'Top Fin' brand name. Cheap junk in my experience.
Bio Spira
Fritz Turbo Start
There is a Tetra product that is available in Europe, but not (AFAIK) on this side of the pond.
Otherwise I would share as much bacteria as you can from another tank and do a fishless cycle.
The fish-in cycle is outdated.

[oilhands]

The fish-in cycle is outdated.

I've heard this a few times now. Do you have any details as to why this is the case?

I am doing "fishless cycling" with the hospital/quarantine tank I setup last weekend. I used turtle bound feeder minnows to season my previous tank I setup and it worked ok. Maybe next time I'll just start up a sponge filter in an existing tank and then move it to the new tank after a couple days as I have heard of a couple folks on here doing something similiar and being sucessful.