One & Only Live nitrifying bacteria (118, 236 and 946ml.) DrTim's Aquatics

The key to setting up a successful aquarium is to quickly convert fish waste to a non-toxic form. This is done by nitrifying bacteria. Under normal conditions, it can take between 30 and 45 days for these bacteria to establish themselves naturally in a newly installed aquarium. Unfortunately, during this period, ammonia and nitrite can rise to levels toxic to fish, a process called new tank syndrome.

These nitrifying bacteria are the result of the latest scientific research and are used by public and professional aquariums around the world.

What will One & Only do for me?

One & Only is designed for one job: quickly establish a biofilter in your newly installed aquarium so that your fish do not experience new tank syndrome (NTS), which is when the water contains such high levels of ammonia and/or nitrite. May your fish die. One & Only does this by containing ammonia and nitrite oxidizing species of bacteria that prefer to live in the fish tank environment. One & Only does not remove sludge or remove nitrate. One & Only will keep ammonia and nitrite below toxic concentrations and establish a fully functioning biological filter in less than half the time of a similar but undosed aquarium.

How should One & Only be added to aquariums?

UV sterilizers and protein skimmers should be turned off before adding One & Only and remain turned off for 36 to 48 hours after dosing.
It is important to shake the bottle well before adding One & Only. If you only see clear liquid, you have not shaken the One & Only well enough. Pour One & Only over the biological filter media of your biofilter. If you don't have a dedicated filter media, it's fine to pour the liquid into the fish tank water.

When should One & Only be added?

One & Only must be added after the tank has been set up. At this point the water should have reached the proper temperature and been dechlorinated. Start the filter and make sure it is working and then add One & Only.

How is One & Only different from other bacterial additives?

One & Only Nitriifying Bacteria is different from other bacteria mixes on the market today for a variety of reasons:

• It is the only blend currently available to the hobbyist grown and certified by Dr. Timothy A. Hovanec.
• The bacteria that oxidize ammonia and nitrites in One & Only grow together as a microbial community of bacteria, meaning they work together more effectively.
• The bacteria in One & Only grow in a microstructure, not as “free” cells in the water, which helps the bacteria remain active for a longer period of time.

Should One & Only ALWAYS be refrigerated?

No. One & Only should never be frozen or kept at temperatures above 35°. Normal room temperature will not harm the bacteria in One & Only. One & Only will last 6 months at room temperature (18 to 29°). At colder temperatures (around 10°), One & Only will last a year.

What about One & Only long-term storage?

At a temperature of approximately 10°, One & Only will be viable for one year. Each bottle is stamped on the back with the words “best use by” and then a month and a year.

When should I use One & Only?

Use One & Only when setting up a new tank and after major environmental changes to your aquarium. Examples of major changes include treatment of illnesses with antibiotics or chemicals that are harmful to nitrifying bacteria, after major sand cleaning that can disrupt sand bacteria, and after filter failure.

POSSIBLE PROBLEMS - SOLUTION

I added One & Only and the next day the aquarium water was cloudy or milky.

Cloudy water is not caused by nitrifying bacteria because they cannot multiply fast enough to reach a population level that would cloud the water. Cloudy water is generally caused by a proliferation of heterotrophic bacteria in response to elevated levels of organic substances in the water. This can be reduced by thoroughly washing sand, rocks, and other items before placing them in the aquarium. The best way to control cloudy water is to do a partial water change and limit feeding. The water will usually clear after a day or two.

I added One & Only to my tank that already had high levels of ammonia (nitrite) and the concentrations did not go down.

If the concentration of ammonia or nitrite in the aquarium is greater than 10 ppm (as nitrogen) or 10 mg/LN, you will need to perform a partial water change before adding One & Only. The reason is that these bacteria prefer low concentrations of ammonia/nitrite and, in fact, can be inhibited by high levels of these chemicals. Therefore, a tank that already has high levels of ammonia (or nitrite) will not see results as quickly as if you had added One & Only at the beginning. There are two solutions: 1) change the water or 2) add more One & Only while reducing the feeding until the situation resolves itself.