FritzZyme^® TurboStart^® 900 Saltwater

FAQs

See below for frequently asked questions regarding FritzZyme® TurboStart® 900 Saltwater.

• What the reason to turn off the protein skimmers when using TurboStart 900?

  The nitrifying bacteria will be in the water column for several days, depending on temperature and flow, so the skimmer could remove some of the bacteria before it has time to settle and begin colonizing the media and surfaces.

• How soon may I stock my tank with a full load of fish?

  Nitrifying bacteria must be present in sufficient numbers in your biofilter to handle the ammonia generated by a full load of fish; otherwise, the ammonia can rise to lethal levels. Naturally, this requires 3-4 weeks for freshwater and 4-8 weeks for saltwater. FritzZyme® TurboStart will dramatically shorten this delay from weeks to several days.

  Recommended initial livestock loadings are dependent on several factors:

  - The amount of rock in your tank
  - Species of livestock
  - Sump area
  - Filter size and type
  - Etc.

  If initially adding a large livestock load, it is recommended to feed minimally for the first week, allowing the nitrifiers to establish themselves.

• My nitrites won’t go down after weeks of cycling. Will TurboStart help me get rid of the nitrites?

  Hello, I started cycling my 20G cube nearly 3 months ago with Dr Tims, realreef rock and arag-alive substrate. After week 1 I had 0 ammonia, 5+ nitrite and 15 nitrate. Those parameters have stayed there ever since. I started dosing Microbacter7 daily for the last 2 months with no change in nitrites. Do you think your TurboStart product would help me get rid of the nitrites at this point? I added a single firefish last week and it is still alive and healthy. Some have said sometimes I need a fish to get rid of the nitrites but the level hasn’t changed…this is why I’m looking for yet another bacteria source to get rid of these nitrites.

  TurboStart will do nothing but help, but if for some reason your system is lacking something the bacteria need (phosphates for example) you can get a stall in nitrite conversion and even Turbo may not push it over.  Adding the fish itself doesn’t help directly with nitrite, but feeding the fish will.  We have seen situations where all phosphates have been depleted in a sytem and nitrites stall.  People knock phosphates, but absolute zero in not good as the bacteria need some phosphates to function.  You feeding the fish should add some phosphates and should push it over.  I would stop dosing the Microbacter as this product is more than likely heterotrophic bacteria and may be competing for phosphates with the nitrifers.

• How do I store Turbo Start?

  Nitrifying bacteria are delicate, they are “vegetative cells” and do not form a protective coat or “spore” as many non-nitrifying bacteria do. For this reason, FritzZyme® has a limited shelf life and must be protected from freezing (32°F) and overheating (95°F). Ideal storage temperature for FritzZyme® Turbo Start is 45 to 55°F to guarantee the shelf life. If purchased online, it should be shipped in an insulated package with appropriate temperature control (cold or heat packs, depending on geographical area and time of year).

• Does the color or smell change the effectiveness or remaining shelf life of FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  No. The smell may range from none to a very strong pungent odor and the color from a rosy red to a grayish black. We have seen the odor and color ranges mentioned above to be equally effective. The true test of the product effectiveness is its ability to convert ammonia and/or nitrite. If the product has not expired and has been handled properly, it will be effective in the aquarium.

• Why does it take so long for an aquarium to cycle without FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  In comparison to other types of bacteria, nitrifying bacteria grow very slowly. Under optimal conditions, it takes fully 15 hours for a colony to double in size! By adding FritzZyme® nitrifying bacteria, you are adding bacteria to your system in amounts that would have taken weeks to naturally grow.

• How long has Fritz Industries, Inc. been working with nitrifying bacteria?

  Fritz Industries, Inc. has been working with nitrifying bacteria for over 26 years and has constantly worked to perfect culturing techniques while obtaining maximum production with superior packaging of a stabilized product.

• Do I need to add an initial ammonia source for the nitrifying bacteria of a new tank?

  Your fish will provide the necessary ammonia. The advantage of using FritzZyme® is that you can add the fish right away to a new tank (without adding any ammonia); this is the method we recommend. Slight rises in ammonia and nitrite may occur for a brief period, but they will be well below stress levels.

• How does FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria work?

  FritzZyme® allows your tank to duplicate nature. FritzZyme® “seeds” the biological filter with sufficient numbers of beneficial nitrifying bacteria so it can begin to remove ammonia and nitrite. Because the time required for the bacteria to become established is drastically reduced, fish may be introduced much sooner. When adding more fish or other bio-load to an aquarium, the addition of FritzZyme® adds more bacteria to the biofilter, thus preparing it to be able to handle the increased ammonia production.

• How does FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria compare to other products?

  FritzZyme® was the first product on the market to rapidly establish biological filters in aquatic systems. Fritz Aquatics has been continuously producing the highest quality viable nitrifying bacteria for over 40 years and has remained a leader with continuous research, production and development. There are few producers of true live nitrifying bacteria, none of which can match the experience and success of FritzZyme®.

  In addition to FritzZyme® being sold into the Aquarium hobby, Fritz Aquatics supplies FritzZyme® to professionals in the aquaculture industry, universities, research facilities, public aquariums and zoos throughout the world. 

• How can I tell if the FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria has spoiled?

  Short of being exposed to freezing or very high temperatures, a sealed bottle of FritzZyme® should be viable up to its expiration date. If there is no conversion of ammonia and nitrite, there is a very slight possibility that the bacteria has died (due to freezing or overheating). More likely, other inhibitory factors may be affecting the bacteria (see above). Alive or dead, FritzZyme® is non-toxic and completely safe. It will not harm fish or invertebrates, even if accidentally overdosed.

• Can I use copper medications with FritzZyme® in my marine aquarium?

  The use of any medications in either fresh or saltwater aquariums should be avoided until the biofilter has become well-established. Any medications or water conditioners containing copper, formaldehyde, malachite green and methylene blue are extremely inhibitory or lethal to nitrifying bacteria. Occasional outbreaks of protozoan parasites during this period are usually due to ammonia-related stress. Treating with one of these chemicals only adds to the problem by allowing ammonia to reach toxic levels. It is advisable to remove infected fish to a quarantine or hospital tank for treatment. Once nitrifying bacteria have become well established, they will become tolerant to low levels of copper.

• What products should not be used with FritzZyme®?

  U.V. sterilizers, foam fractionators (protein skimmers) and ozone generators should not be used for at least 5 days after FritzZyme® additions. This allows the bacteria time to become attached so that they will not be killed or removed by these types of equipment. Many medications will also reduce the efficiency of the biofilter.

• How often should I use FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  After the initial dosage of FritzZyme® to seed the biofilter, additions are only needed if more animals are added to the system, the efficiency of the biofilter has been reduced by medications or the biofilter has been disturbed (e.g., changing the media of a canister filter).

• Can I use chemical ammonia removers with FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  Chemical ammonia removers work by converting poisonous ammonia to non-toxic compounds. Nitrifying bacteria may not be able to utilize some of these compounds. The use of ammonia removers will only prolong the time needed to establish the biofilter. Repeated use of these chemicals may also lower the pH of the water. Nitrification will cease if the pH drops below 6.5.

• Do you need a weekly dose every week with FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  Normally, it is not necessary for you to put additional dosages of FritzZyme® in your tank once the tank has cycled. Often, aquarium users place additional dosages in their tanks if they are adding new fish, are cleaning their filters or see an occasional ammonia or nitrite spike. If your aquarium is looking great and the ammonia and nitrites are at or near zero, it normally is not necessary to add additional product.

• What levels of ammonia and nitrite should I see when using FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  You will see the normal “new tank syndrome” time greatly reduced or completely eliminated. The ammonia and nitrite levels, if present, will be well below stress levels. Problem systems will recover in a matter of days without extensive water changes.

• What if my nitrites will not go down in my freshwater aquarium treated with FritzZyme® Nitrifying Bacteria?

  In freshwater, we occasionally run across this situation, and the first thing we recommend is testing your alkalinity. In aquariums with an alkalinity below a 4.5 dKH (1.6 Meq/l), the bacteria that convert the nitrite to nitrate simply stop the conversion process. We have found that after raising alkalinity to a minimum of 4.5 dKH (1.6 Meq/l) but ideally 5.6 dKH (2.0 Meq/l), nitrite conversion proceeds rapidly. In very, very rare cases the nitrite portion of the cycle remains stalled. In that situation, check your phosphate levels. Nitrifying bacteria, like all living organisms, need trace amounts of phosphate to function. A fishless cycle using ammonium chloride and RO/DI water may have 0.00ppm phosphates and will not complete the cycle. Even a trace amount of phosphate will allow the nitrifying bacteria to rapidly convert nitrite to nitrate. Fish food is a source of phosphate and Fritz pH Neutralizer contains phosphates. ⅛ to ¼ the standard dose would provide enough phosphate for nitrite conversion.

• What other products may be used with FritzZyme®?

  Chlorine must be removed before adding FritzZyme® (chlorine kills bacteria). FritzGuard® or Fritz Chlorine Remover may be used for this purpose. Fritz pH blocks for pH control, Fritz Super Salt for marine systems, Fritz Super Clarifier and Fritz Trace Elements may also be used without any adverse effect to the biofilter.

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