Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter Dry Rock Bacteria Starter Kit
This kit is designed to be used with unseeded dry rock such as Marco Rock or artificial live rock replacements. Plain dry sand is recommended instead of so called 'live sand' which may have been seeded with species not conducive to cycling.
Microbacter QuickCycl & Microbacter Start XLM
Fishless cycling is a far superior method of cycling an aquarium, as it does not risk any livestock and provides a consistent and controlled source of nutrients for the bacteria to multiply and colonize new rock. Microbacter Start is a highly concentrated bioculture for rapidly cycling new aquariums. QuickCycl contains the ideal concentration of ammonium chloride along with phosphates and nitrates to feed the bacteria involved in establishing the nitrogen cycle in your tank.
A successful cycle also depends on regular testing of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate to determine progress. We recommend having all of these tests on hand prior to starting your cycle.
Microbacter Clean
After the initial cycle, regular use of the included Microbacter Clean will assist in maintaining water quality and may help to reduce the "ugly stage" during the first several months as the tank matures.
Sized for up to a 100 gallon aquarium.
Cycling Instructions:
Day 1:
- Turn off skimmer, UV and remove fine filtration such as socks.
- You must use a good dechlorinator first, such as Brightwell Erāse-CL to remove chloramine and chlorine! If using RODI water, you can skip this step.
- Prepare water and adjust salinity, and temperature.
- Add full dose of QuikCycl at 4 drops per gallon or 1 ml per 5 gallons of tank capacity.
- Measure Ammonia. It should be between 1 and 2 ppm total ammonia, which is ammonia plus ammonium (NH3 and NH4+). Do not add more to get the proper reading either today or throughout the days that follow. This is because the bacteria will quickly begin to use up the ammonia, and even though added, it will may not show up on your tests.
- Add MicrōBacter Start XLM, or MicrōBacter Start XLF as appropriate for your aquarium, as directed.
Day 2: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite and record values.
Day 3: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite and record values.
Day 4: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite. If either Ammonia or Nitrite are over .25 ppm, you can add more bacteria, if desired.
Day 5: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite and record values
Day 6: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite. If either Ammonia or Nitrite are over .25 ppm, you can add more bacteria, if desired.
Day 7:
- Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite and record values.
- If using MicrōBacter Start XLM, and your Ammonia and Nitrite show zero, then measure Nitrate. If Nitrate is showing .25 ppm or higher, then your aquarium is cycled. If using any other bacteria, then go to Day 8.
Day 8: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite and record values.
Day 9 and subsequent days: Measure pH, Ammonia and Nitrite. If Ammonia & Nitrite values are zero, then measure nitrate and if there is a reading of Nitrate at .25 ppm or higher, then the aquarium is cycled.
At conclusion of cycling, perform a 25% water change and begin adding hardy animals, SLOWLY. Restart UV, skimmer and filtration. Go Slow!
Item No. AD-BA-DRSK100
1 Review
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Works Well
This is the first time I have cycled a tank using dry rock. I read the directions several times to make sure I am understanding how to use it properly. The directions on the box say do not use live sand and do not to use dry rock seeded with bacteria (it does not say this under product details on this page) as it can cause the cycling process to take weeks to complete so I returned the live sand to the store and purchased dry sand. It has been 6 days and so far everything has been perfect. I did have to add more START XLM on day 4 and day 5. I expect the cycle to be complete either today or tomorrow (day 7). I recommend this kit to anyone cycling a tank using dry rock.
