Brightwell Aquatics - Microbacter QuickCycl
Professional nutrients for fishless cycling and establishing strong nitrifying bacteria beds in freshwater and marine aquariums.
Not your average ammonia source for starting the nitrogen cycle. Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter QuickCycl contains the right strength of ammonium chloride along with balanced phosphates and nitrates to feed the bacteria that work to cycle a tank. This product is ideal for use with Microbacter Start XLM, and will provide the food source required for the bacteria to properly cycle the aquarium.
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. 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.
Instructions:
Day 1:
- Turn off skimmer, UV and remove fine filtration such as socks. Make sure aquarium has sufficient filtration surface area, such as provided by Brightwell Xport world class bacterial filtration medium or Micrōbacter Lattice.
- 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!
Note: This product is designed for Fishless Cycling. Do not ever put into an aquarium containing live fish, plants, or invertebrates. Add animals only after cycling is complete!
*Contains Ammonia. Keep out of reach of children. Not for human consumption. If swallowed, contact poison control immediately.
