Aquarium Starter Bacteria, What you Need To Know

Starter Bacteria for aquariums can be a useful tool for the aquarist on a schedule, but if not used properly can lead to the detriment of the fish’s health. With a proper understanding of the job of bacteria in the aquarium, starter colonies can be a useful, and easy to use tool.

The Job Of Bacteria In The Aquarium

Bacteria are responsible for carrying out many beneficial processes too small for the eye to see, but what may be the most important of those is the nitrogen cycle.

In summary the nitrogen cycle is the process by which bacteria in the aquarium turns the harmful compounds released by the decomposition of organic waste (nitrite, ammonia)into a less harmful form of nitrogen (nitrate). Small amounts of nitrate in the aquarium is not harmful to fish, and is necessary to the growth of live plants.

For beneficial bacteria to survive in an aquarium, water must be free of chlorine, media with proper flow of oxygen, and a source of nitrogenous waste must be present.

Grow medium for beneficial bacteria is commonly found as the contents of the aquarium filter, but can be as simple as a bubbler supplying flow to inert media such as lava rocks. The greater the surface area of the medium the more bacteria will be able to survive.

The waste bacteria feed on is generally produced by the decomposition of fish food, and fish waste, but when setting up a new aquarium these waste products are not plentiful, and starving the bacteria colony is a concern that must be actively prevented.

Using Starter Bacteria

It is always recommended to cycle an aquarium over weeks, but if properly used starter bacteria can be used to add fish the day of setup.

Once the aquarium is set up with proper filtration, heating (if needed), and dechlorinator, it is time to add the bacteria as specified by the directions on the container. After waiting in according to the directions, the water should be ready for fish, but it is important to test the water for traces of nitrite, and ammonia.

It is easy to add too many fish for the starter bacteria to keep up with, so it is important to keep the new aquarium understocked while it is developing.

Common Mistakes

Using starter bacteria without an immediate source of waste will effectively crash the colony before it can be of use. This commonly happens when people think it would be better to let the bacteria sit for a day before adding the fish.

Starter bacteria is often mistaken for dechlorinator, or misconceived to have chlorine removing properties.

Cleaning supplies such as soap can prevent bacteria survival, while not appearing on a water test strip. It is very important to fully remove all cleaning residues when setting up an aquarium.

Using cycled water from another aquarium is not sufficient to cycle a new aquarium. Bacteria lives on solid materials, not in the water column.