I expect to get some flack on this but here we are. I have been posting several things about my new tank set-up. I was watching the show " Tanked " on cable Don't know if anybody has heard of it. Its a cable show in my area. They always set up tanks and put fish in right away. while watching an episode they were doing 2 tanks in NY one not far from where I live. They used a LFS "Aquarium Design Network" I went there today to pick there brain a bit. They said they have done several tanks for the show. I inquired about how they establish a tank so fast he showed me this product Bio Start. They told me how to use it and I can save myself 2 month of waiting for the tank to cycle on its own. I am very leery about it but he convinced me, and given their reputation I am going to try it. Anybody that has comments for or against I would love to hear them.
Tanked
- Thread starter magnum
- Start date
RailroadReefer
New Member
Id be interested in how it turns our for you if you go for it. I have watched each episode of the show and was wondering the same thing. I wondered if the size of the tanks had anything to do with it since larger water volumes are more forgiving.
I think I remember "tanked" uses sea water. Since most of what they put in are "fake corals", there is no life rocks that they cycle. Unless they cycle the rocks and pour the sea water in.
Also remember they are a show. it may take a while, off camera to cycle, if my sea water assumption is wrong.
Tom
Also remember they are a show. it may take a while, off camera to cycle, if my sea water assumption is wrong.
Tom
I put a link to a clip of the episode. the guy in the blue shirt in the store is the guy I spoke to.
Tanked: Feng Shui Living Reef Tank - Bing Videos
Tanked: Feng Shui Living Reef Tank - Bing Videos
I've started new tanks with the cycling with live rock/deli shrimp and waiting for parameters to become just right, and I've also cycled with Dr. Tim's One and Only (similar to BioStart) They both worked for me. I would still stock the tank slowly whichever way you decide to go.
+1 ^
RailroadReefer
New Member
They have their own products now, the cycle product is called Colony
Click Here : Time vs Instant Cycle
This should answer the question that started this thread.
Click Here : Time vs Instant Cycle
This should answer the question that started this thread.
Let me put this another way. There have been "instant cycle" products on the market ever since the aquarium hobby learned about the nitrogen cycle. As of now, I have yet to see any products that worked any better for cycling a SW reef system than just using a deli shrimp and waiting.
Keep in mind that the people on Tanked are generally setting up very large, but simple aquariums systems. This is because they are in commercial environments or homes where there is no real interest in the aquarium, other that for decoration. This is why you see the fake corals, and plastic plants.
In my opinion the links provided to the product do not provide any information as to how the product actually works, but instead gives you a sales pitch for their products. This raises a red flag with me, because this can hardly be considered an unbiased source. For example, compare '... Instant cycle is an expedient propagation of nitrifying bacteria to rapidly establish bio-filtration in an aquarium. ..." verses the explanation of the nitrogen cycle in any decent aquarium book.
While it may be possible that their products do work as advertised, I am not going to risk SW fish, inverts, or corals at a typical price of $20 each and up, jut to gain a couple of weeks in waiting for a cycle to complete. If I were in the business of setting up tanks like you see on tanked, and I had to meet a deadline, for opening a store or something, then I might do as they do. For most other people, I recommend you do it the "old fashion way" and wait. As we are so fond of saying here, "Nothing good ever happens fast in a reef aquarium".
Keep in mind that the people on Tanked are generally setting up very large, but simple aquariums systems. This is because they are in commercial environments or homes where there is no real interest in the aquarium, other that for decoration. This is why you see the fake corals, and plastic plants.
In my opinion the links provided to the product do not provide any information as to how the product actually works, but instead gives you a sales pitch for their products. This raises a red flag with me, because this can hardly be considered an unbiased source. For example, compare '... Instant cycle is an expedient propagation of nitrifying bacteria to rapidly establish bio-filtration in an aquarium. ..." verses the explanation of the nitrogen cycle in any decent aquarium book.
While it may be possible that their products do work as advertised, I am not going to risk SW fish, inverts, or corals at a typical price of $20 each and up, jut to gain a couple of weeks in waiting for a cycle to complete. If I were in the business of setting up tanks like you see on tanked, and I had to meet a deadline, for opening a store or something, then I might do as they do. For most other people, I recommend you do it the "old fashion way" and wait. As we are so fond of saying here, "Nothing good ever happens fast in a reef aquarium".
bullsforex
Has been struck by the ban stick
Tanked is a reality TV series airing on Animal Planet. It follows the operations of Las Vegas based Acrylic Tank Manufacturing, owned by brothers-in-law Brett Raymer and Wayde King. ATM bills itself as the world's largest manufacturer of customized aquarium installations.[1] In addition, Wayde's wife/Brett's sister Heather is the company's accountant and Heather and Brett's father Irwin Raymer (also known as The General) is the office manager.[2]
Other regulars include Shop Manager Robert "Robbie Redneck" Christlieb and sales coordinator Agnes Wilczynski.
In 2012, Animal Planet has re-released the entire series with additional text commentary from the cast under the name Tanked: Unfiltered.
Other regulars include Shop Manager Robert "Robbie Redneck" Christlieb and sales coordinator Agnes Wilczynski.
In 2012, Animal Planet has re-released the entire series with additional text commentary from the cast under the name Tanked: Unfiltered.
Well said. It does look like way too many fish even for a tank that large. I suspect that either a lot of fish were removed after the photo shoot, or there was a lot of dead livestock later on.
+1 ^ to Dave post... nothing new about "instant cycle in a bottle products" there are lots of them out there...
a good :read:
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/29836-mature-aquarium.html
a good :read:
http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/fish-diseases-treatments/29836-mature-aquarium.html
LSUFireGal
Member
I watch with my son. It is meant to be goofy and entertaining not educational and they have done a good job of making it just that. I watch it more for the creative aspect. Kyle has always loved the show. I must say since he found out that there are rules it has lost some of its magic. Example: the smoothie cup tank from last nights episode. Yes, it is a 700+gal tank, but they couldn't sneak the fact that they put several hippo tangs in a tank that is tall and skinny passed my son. He said Tangs need the length to swim. I was so proud. Doesn't stop him from talking about Brett from the show like they are long lost friends. Lol
yankieman
Well-Known Member
Tanked is in its 3rd season,, we love watching it , they are good people we have met them at MACNA the last 2 years,, lets talk about the "cycle" first of all its one hour show so you cant show everything in that amount of time and second it is for entertainment ,, I could take an already "cycled sponge filter and put it in a tank add water and add fish and wouldnt think about it , thats exactly what I do when I set up my QT tank , people put to much into "NOT SEEING" what goes on behind the scenes like how many times do you see the filtration equpment they use ? ,, not much!!so how do you know they arnt getting a good cycle? now as pointed out they dont use LIVE coral much although I have seen them use them some and when they did I think they used a longer cycle time ,, I wish folks would just enjoy the show and stop trying to make a big deal outa what in my opinion is nothing,,,,,,,
Oh we enjoy the show, just being reef aquarists ourselves gets us wondering how they make their setups work. I guess if I had that much money on hand to hire them, I'd probably have enough money to keep them coming back to do all the maintenance and upkeep on the tank as well, one can only dream.
I had a feeling that this thread was going to go this way. I was only interested in the introduction of the fish faster because the guy I bought my live rock from gave me eight fish with the rock. The only tank that I could put them in was a 15 Gal that already had two fish in it. I was trying to do whats best for the live stock. I figured adding eight fish at once to a 15 gal tank would have a far worse ammonia spike then the 90Gal tank with a 30 gal refugium. Adding the boi start was a better way to do it. I was hopping I could get some feed back before I did something harmful to the fish or tank in general. But nobody said that they had problems cycling this way. I added the bio start Friday night and added some of the fish Sunday night. I will let you know how it works.
My biggest problem is cycling this way how do you know where you are in the cycle if there is any cycle at all or do I just wait to see if nitrates start to go up?
My biggest problem is cycling this way how do you know where you are in the cycle if there is any cycle at all or do I just wait to see if nitrates start to go up?
OK, here goes my thinking....It's TV "a reality show" where real life only has to last until the episode ends.
I'm in the Pawn Shop business and I watch PAWN STARS....get good laughs but I know it's STAGED & there is lots of "ad lib" not very many customers we have want to WAIT for you to call in your "expert friend" ....they just want cash for their junk so they can run to the casino or buy some drugs. Most of the time that's how it goes. In the real pawn business, you want them to COME BACK & Get their stuff. We don't want their stuff--WE WANT THEIR MONEY
With "Tanked" they don't have to do a "follow up" in 2 months to show a gross tank syndrome, so viewers assume there never was one, right? And then come back to see where the tank is in 6 months after they dumped all those fish in without drip acclimation?
I haven't watched Tanked but I've seen enough reality TV to know that we don't get to see all the reality of what really happens.
I'm in the Pawn Shop business and I watch PAWN STARS....get good laughs but I know it's STAGED & there is lots of "ad lib" not very many customers we have want to WAIT for you to call in your "expert friend" ....they just want cash for their junk so they can run to the casino or buy some drugs. Most of the time that's how it goes. In the real pawn business, you want them to COME BACK & Get their stuff. We don't want their stuff--WE WANT THEIR MONEY
With "Tanked" they don't have to do a "follow up" in 2 months to show a gross tank syndrome, so viewers assume there never was one, right? And then come back to see where the tank is in 6 months after they dumped all those fish in without drip acclimation?
I haven't watched Tanked but I've seen enough reality TV to know that we don't get to see all the reality of what really happens.
