The greatest frustration
for new aquarium owners is that the fish seem to die for no
apparent reason quickly after set-up the new tank. Of course, there
is a reason and most likely it is high concentrations of ammonia or
nitrite, maybe both. This is called New Tank Syndrome (NTS). NTS
results because certain bacteria are needed to remove ammonia and
nitrite from the aquarium water and they are slow growing taking 30
to 45 days to develop to sufficient levels. During this period,
ammonia and nitrite can build-up to toxic concentrations in the
aquarium water.
These bacteria are called nitrifying bacteria and their importance to a successful aquarium has been known for over 30 years. For almost as long there have also been products that promise they are full of nitrifying bacteria and that their use will instantly establish the biological filter in the aquarium. But none of these products has ever passed a true scientific test of their effectiveness.
The reason(s) for this failure were a mystery until the groundbreaking research of Dr. Timothy Hovanec (see scientific papers). Dr. Hovanec was the first to show that other, until then unknown, species on nitrifying bacteria were necessary to develop a nitrifying mixture that worked. To learn more about this research please see our publications section.
Dosing: The entire bottle of One and Only should be added to your aquarium for the fastest, safest results.
However, the minimum dose is 10 ml of per 10 gallons of aquarium water.
One and Only cannot be overdosed.
Tip – it’s easiest to remove the cap and add the entire contents to the aquarium.
How to use: for the best results it is important to follow these simple instructions:
1) Shake the bottle well as The One and Only bacterial biomass settles quickly.
2) Add the contents of the bottle to aquarium water that is free of chlorine and chloramines (treat the water first with AquaCleanse from DrTim’s Aquatics).
3) Pour the contents into the tank away from the intake of any mechanical filter you might have installed on the aquarium. It is better to let the bacterial biomass settle on the gravel or crushed coral on the tank bottom rather than get trapped on the mechanical filter pad and later thrown away.
4) Add One and Only on the first day you add fish instead of waiting until you find measurable ammonia and nitrite.
5) Turn off protein skimmers, UV lights, and ozone devices for 48 hours after adding One and Only.
6) For more hints see One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria FAQs
Testing your water: One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria is designed to allow you to immediately add fish to your properly set-up new aquarium. However, we cannot predict or control how people set-up their aquarium so chances are you will be able to measure a small amount of ammonia or nitrite in the first week after using One and Only. There is nothing wrong and while the goal is no ammonia or nitrite, small amounts of these chemicals for a short period of time are not dangerous. It is best to purchase ammonia and nitrite test kits and measure your water every two or three days after setting-up and stocking your aquarium. If your ammonia and nitrite values are less than 3 mg/L (about 3 ppm) as nitrogen (the test kit instructions will have the units written as NH3-N or NO2-N) then everything is fine. If the concentration of ammonia or nitrite is between 3 and 5 mg/L-N (3 – 5 ppm) don’t add anymore fish and reduce your feeding a little. It is also ok to change a little water. Within a day or two the ammonia and nitrite values should drop. If not please see the Troubleshooting section on the Helpful Hints page.
Established aquaria: Even established aquaria can benefit from the addition of One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria in circumstances such as those listed below that can lead to the temporary loss of some nitrifying bacteria:
1) Adding a number of new fish to the tank that significantly increases the population biomass
2) After gravel vacuuming the bottom substrate
3) After changing the water
4) After doing filter maintenance and changing filter media
5) After treating the tank for disease with chemicals or antibiotics which can kill or severely harm the biological filter.
These bacteria are called nitrifying bacteria and their importance to a successful aquarium has been known for over 30 years. For almost as long there have also been products that promise they are full of nitrifying bacteria and that their use will instantly establish the biological filter in the aquarium. But none of these products has ever passed a true scientific test of their effectiveness.
The reason(s) for this failure were a mystery until the groundbreaking research of Dr. Timothy Hovanec (see scientific papers). Dr. Hovanec was the first to show that other, until then unknown, species on nitrifying bacteria were necessary to develop a nitrifying mixture that worked. To learn more about this research please see our publications section.
Dosing: The entire bottle of One and Only should be added to your aquarium for the fastest, safest results.
However, the minimum dose is 10 ml of per 10 gallons of aquarium water.
One and Only cannot be overdosed.
Tip – it’s easiest to remove the cap and add the entire contents to the aquarium.
How to use: for the best results it is important to follow these simple instructions:
1) Shake the bottle well as The One and Only bacterial biomass settles quickly.
2) Add the contents of the bottle to aquarium water that is free of chlorine and chloramines (treat the water first with AquaCleanse from DrTim’s Aquatics).
3) Pour the contents into the tank away from the intake of any mechanical filter you might have installed on the aquarium. It is better to let the bacterial biomass settle on the gravel or crushed coral on the tank bottom rather than get trapped on the mechanical filter pad and later thrown away.
4) Add One and Only on the first day you add fish instead of waiting until you find measurable ammonia and nitrite.
5) Turn off protein skimmers, UV lights, and ozone devices for 48 hours after adding One and Only.
6) For more hints see One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria FAQs
Testing your water: One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria is designed to allow you to immediately add fish to your properly set-up new aquarium. However, we cannot predict or control how people set-up their aquarium so chances are you will be able to measure a small amount of ammonia or nitrite in the first week after using One and Only. There is nothing wrong and while the goal is no ammonia or nitrite, small amounts of these chemicals for a short period of time are not dangerous. It is best to purchase ammonia and nitrite test kits and measure your water every two or three days after setting-up and stocking your aquarium. If your ammonia and nitrite values are less than 3 mg/L (about 3 ppm) as nitrogen (the test kit instructions will have the units written as NH3-N or NO2-N) then everything is fine. If the concentration of ammonia or nitrite is between 3 and 5 mg/L-N (3 – 5 ppm) don’t add anymore fish and reduce your feeding a little. It is also ok to change a little water. Within a day or two the ammonia and nitrite values should drop. If not please see the Troubleshooting section on the Helpful Hints page.
Established aquaria: Even established aquaria can benefit from the addition of One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria in circumstances such as those listed below that can lead to the temporary loss of some nitrifying bacteria:
1) Adding a number of new fish to the tank that significantly increases the population biomass
2) After gravel vacuuming the bottom substrate
3) After changing the water
4) After doing filter maintenance and changing filter media
5) After treating the tank for disease with chemicals or antibiotics which can kill or severely harm the biological filter.
One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria for Saltwater Aquaria
_____________________________________________________________
One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria for saltwater aquaria is
the result of the latest scientific knowledge on nitrifying
bacteria.
Through experience, and confirmed by research, establishing the biological filter in a newly set-up saltwater aquarium can take a long time, longer than a freshwater aquarium, especially in the case of nitrite.
Even aquaria without fish, such as coral-only tanks, can experience high ammonia and nitrite concentrations. Why? Because these tanks typically contain liverock and if the liverock is not 'cured' well there will still be a lot of organic material on it which decays into ammonia.
Through experience, and confirmed by research, establishing the biological filter in a newly set-up saltwater aquarium can take a long time, longer than a freshwater aquarium, especially in the case of nitrite.
Even aquaria without fish, such as coral-only tanks, can experience high ammonia and nitrite concentrations. Why? Because these tanks typically contain liverock and if the liverock is not 'cured' well there will still be a lot of organic material on it which decays into ammonia.