Review on 🚀 Fast API Activation for Optimal Nitrification in Freshwater and Saltwater Aquariums by Dominic Maxwell

Currently uses Quick Start for two tanks, one 10 gallon and one 45 gallon. The product works BUT it must be used correctly (not as stated on the label). Many simply added the recommended dosage along with the conditioner/anti-stress loan and added it to the fish the next day. About a week or two later, my ammonia levels spiked, then another week or two after that, my nitrites and nitrates started skyrocketing. I ended up losing 50% of the fish before the cycle finally stabilized (the rest survived for over a year). The problem is you need ammonia to start the cycle and a new aquarium won't have it and Quick Start doesn't have ammonia in it. So if you just toss it in a new tank and then put the fish in, the cycle doesn't start until the fish food/waste starts to break down into ammonia, which can take a week or more. Once there is enough ammonia in the aquarium (3-5ppm), it will take the bacteria another week or two to break it down into nitrite and then nitrate, completing the cycle. During this time, your fish will suffer from high levels of ammonia and nitrite, even if the water is changed frequently. In order to properly start the aquarium with Quick Start, you need to introduce ammonia into the water quickly and without fish. The "natural" and slower way to do this is to put the biomass in an aquarium and wait for it to rot. This can be store bought fish (not live), shrimp, fish pellets/flakes, etc. However, they need time to decompose. A quicker way to introduce ammonia is to purchase a bottle of liquid ammonia designed for cycling aquariums and add enough to achieve a concentration of 4-5 ppm. Then immediately add the Quick Start API along with any conditioner etc. After a week or so, you'll notice the ammonia levels dropping and nitrites skyrocketing. After a few more days, nitrite and ammonia drop to almost zero, but nitrate is present. The aquarium is now fully functional and it is safe to add fish.