Does Bacteria In A Bottle Work? (Seachem Stability, API Quick Start, Fritzzyme 7, Tetra Safe Start)

Fritz Article - fritzaquatics.com/resources/a...
Research Paper 1 - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Research Paper 2 - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Research Paper 3 - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Research Paper 4 - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Live Plants Prefer Ammonium 1 - www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/arti...
Live Plants Prefer Ammonium 2 - dianawalstad.com/wp-content/u...
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Does Bacteria In A Bottle Work? (Seachem Stability, API Quick Start, Fritzzyme 7, Tetra Safe Start)
Welcome to my latest video on "Bacteria in a Bottle" products for cycling an aquarium! 🚣‍♂️🐟 These products are gaining popularity, but their effectiveness can vary. In this video, I dive deep into several popular options: Seachem Stability, API Quick Start, Fritzzyme 7, and Tetra Safe Start. I'll help you decide if these are worth your money and explain how they work under different water parameters.
Product Reviews:
Fritzzyme 7:
Most detailed explanation on their website.
Best performance: 77-86°F (25-30°C) and pH 7.3-8.0.
Needs ammonium, kH, and phosphate to work effectively.
Seachem Stability:
Most popular on the market.
Contains a blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria.
Limited specific information on bacterial strains.
API Quick Start:
Popular but controversial.
Limited information on specific bacterial strains.
Tetra Safe Start:
Claims fish can be added immediately.
Contains Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira, and Nitrospira.
Conflicting product information on different websites.
NTLabs Filter Start:
Popular in Europe.
Confirms a unique range of bacteria strains.
Effectiveness & Research:
I discuss research findings on ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB), indicating the dominant role of archaea in freshwater tanks. This suggests that many bacteria in a bottle products may struggle outside their recommended water parameters, potentially wasting your money.
Alternatives for Cycling an Aquarium:
Fishless Cycle: Using ammonia solutions like Dr. Tim’s.
Established Filter Squeezes: Transfer bacteria from an established tank.
Live Plants: Using fast-growing plants to consume ammonium and nitrate.
Conclusion:
While some bacteria in a bottle products can work under specific conditions, they may not be effective for everyone. I hope this video helps you decide if these products are right for your aquarium setup.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
00:36 - Fritzzyme 7
03:13 - Seachem Stability
04:39 - API Quick Start
05:05 - Tetra Safe Start
05:45 - NTLabs Filter Start
06:18 - Does Bacteria In A Bottle Work?
06:28 - Research Paper 1
07:58 - Research Paper 2
08:59 - Research Paper 3
10:26 - Research Paper 4
11:10 - What Actually Works?
11:23 - Method 1
12:54 - Method 2
13:54 - Method 3
15:54 - My Conclusion
Some of the links in this video description may be affiliate links meaning I earn a small commission from any purchases made.

[@user-bj9nw5wf5n]

Hi Shaun, I just discovered your channel through this video and I’m already loving it. Very interesting and informative. +1 New Subscriber

[@GlassBoxDiaries]

Cheers mate :)

[@batkat0]

I've used Tetra SafeStart + several times. Following the dosing directions and chucking in a frozen shrimp as an ammonia source and I had it cycled in 7 days or so. But I always caution that just because you're numbers have gotten to the correct levels doesn't mean your bacteria colony can handle a bunch of fish right away. I'll add one or two hardy fish from my stock plan for the tank and wait a couple more weeks.

[@GlassBoxDiaries]

Yea its a good plan to slowly ramp up the stocking :)

[@DashDrones]

Great research and info. I don't use them anymore though and let plants, macro flora and fauna do their thing 👍

[@GlassBoxDiaries]

Cheers mate, yea I honestly think its the best way, plants and time for everything to naturally form seems the best way.

[@quiz4624]

I got seachem stability. Not gonna lie I don’t see any difference. It helps but I hear Fritz is way better and I’m tempted to change. But the Seachem Prime is amazing for me personally. I love that one

[@GlassBoxDiaries]

Seen so many people report the same with seachem stability on various forums mate, I guess that's why they try don't release much information on whats actually inside of it.

[@Wintersdark]

Seachem is *notorious* for making all sorts of claims and not backing up those claims in any way whatsoever.
Not to say their products are all bad, but just because they'll support some claims doesn't mean you should assume all the other claims (which they straight up refuse to prove) are also true.
And even when they do: Matrix surface area, for example. Matrix DOES have a ton of surface area, but when presented with evidence from multiple well run tests showing after 6 weeks (when the surfaces get plugged up) 20ppi foam outperformed it by more than a factor of 10, they refused to comment.

[@GlassBoxDiaries]

Totally agree mate.
Seen a couple of people test products from the Seachem range now and I was surprised by how small of a difference they seem to make.

[@Wintersdark]

@@GlassBoxDiaries yeah. I've tested Fritzyme 7 and Stability myself, and while my tap water is pH 7.6, I run a decent amount of KH, and my tanks are all at 25C so I'm right in the window, I've found that they both worked... Kinda. They seemed to speed the process, but it still takes around 3 weeks to be cycled. And both were *extremely* expensive.
I did use Prime and Stability for a fish in cycle once (absolutely had to move my Siamese Algae Eaters out of two tanks into a new tank of their own - they were eating my Cory and Pictus catfish fins) and that process did work as advertised. Tested parameters twice a day, followed instructions, and that got the new tank cycled very quickly, HOWEVER I also tossed in an enormous moss ball (roughly football sized) from an established tank so it's entirely possible that bacteria on the moss did the heavy lifting.
Personally, I'm not buying more of either. While I did find they genuinely did work *to a degree*, the cost was extreme for what effectively saved a week or two, and frankly at this point I have so many plants that new tanks start out heavily planted with bacteria covered plants anyways, sometimes with a cycled sponge filter too, and that works instantly vs waiting weeks and spending a lot of money.

[@GlassBoxDiaries]

@@Wintersdark Yea thats something people often seem to forget about these bacteria in a bottle products.
They have a high price tag but in the grand scheme of things, may save you a week or two when cycling a new tank.
I just don't think its worth it, especially with so many people reporting little to no effect when using them but still having to pay their high price tag.