Snake oil or true to the marketing hype ??

[charlie]

How do the hobbyist rate this 
http://www.instantocean.com/sites/InstantOcean/biospira_splash.html

[Dave and Diane]

We have  had people talk of this product when we lived in Winnipeg, never have the chance to speak with anyone who has used it.

But then marketing is just that marketing.

Kinda like the fresh and salt fish living in the same tank enviroment.

[Hookup]

Not a lot of hit's on RC when I did a search.  Meaning it's not discussed... If it was as good as advertised, I would expect it to be recommended more often... but that's an extrapolation.

The general problem with those products is the concept of the consumer they are aimed at.  If you go into this hobby looking for the quick-fix or the fast-way, you'll be disappointed 90% of the time, and likely get frustrated and leave the hobby.  The people whom are most successful are the ones who through stubbornness or tenacity stick with it for the long-run and let nature take its course.

Does the product work, likely it has some effect.  Is it a good or bad thing in general?  To answer that, i'd first ask you to show me someone who's used that product and has a 5 year old tank, then I'll give it a "it seems to do no harm" rating... until then, I'll stick with time and patience.

Would I use it?  No, there seems to be no need.  Nothing that 4 - 6 weeks of waiting cannot resolve.

[Adam]

Check out www.cichlid-forum.com .  They recommend BIOspira a lot over in their forums.  Seems like it actually does work for them.

Adam

[Funkmotor]

This looks to be the same sort of thing as Seachem Stability.

http://www.seachem.com/Products/product_pages/Stability.html

[bitterman]

The problem with it is storage and shipping of products like this.

That is why they are prone to failure. Hit too high a temp in shipping and voila its dead/useless. Don't store it corectly.... and it dies. I wonder when the shelf life is If I remeber corectly bio-spira was supose to be kept in the fridge to maintain its shelf life and best before date.

Bruce

[Hookup]

The problem with it is storage and shipping of products like this.

That is why they are prone to failure. Hit too high a temp in shipping and voila its dead/useless. Don't store it corectly.... and it dies. I wonder when the shelf life is If I remeber corectly bio-spira was supose to be kept in the fridge to maintain its shelf life and best before date.

Bruce

I tend to agree with you Bruce... however the marketing on the Bio-Spira says it's in "status" and can be kept frozen or up to like 40deg... As a rule I do not believe in the tooth fairy, the Easter bunny or marketing.

[bitterman]

Bio-Spira says it's in "status" and can be kept frozen or up to like 40deg...

They have certainly changed it then. I tried to get some bio-spira when I started my 195 (wanted to see if it worked) and it was in the winter and they said they would not sell/ship me any cause if it got frozen it would kill the bacteria in it.

Was a PITA.. So I seaded the tank... the old fashion way

Bruce

[Adam]

You can pay $20 for a bottle of biospira...or you can ask for someone's dirty filter cartridge that they would throw out anyways.

[Hookup]

You can pay $20 for a bottle of biospira...or you can ask for someone's dirty filter cartridge that they would throw out anyways.

True, but this is product (or at least the OP link) is specifically for Marine Aquariums, so it'll be hard to fine a dirty filter cartridge on many systems...   Cured LR however... would be the same...