Anyone ever use filter starter balls?

[Lizzy 31]

So I'm in the process of cycling my tank. I used the Dr. Tim's One and Only and I'm just starting to see nitrites forming. Which is great! I know cycling can take a long time. But I stumbled upon these little guys in the hopes of helping it along:


I had seen @woah_there_satan using something similar and it got me researching. You can see her post here https://instagram.com/p/BDgxjEokcVF/
After a few internet searches I found them in the US at a company called Great Wave Engineering. I paid $5 plus shipping for the little packet. It says that a 1/4 of the package is good for 40 gallons and that they can last for up to a year if kept sealed in the baggie.
The reviews on their site are great. Definitely seem like something worth trying out. I'm also curious if anyone here has given it a go. Here's the link to the product page https://greatwaveeng.com/shop/media/filter-starter-balls/
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[Speckles 1,178]

Oo, starter balls! I've never seen those before. You might be our tester


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[koko 14,341]

I have never seen those before. I think your right Speckles, she will have to be our ball tester

[muffluvin 138]

You ladies

First it was all about MJ"s wood now you're all over Lizzy's balls

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[Lizzy 31]

Haha oh my goodness gals! ?

But in all seriousness, I'll keep you posted on how they work out!


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[FishyMandy 6,278]

They look interesting! I'd definitely be interested in knowing how it works out

[shakaho 6,312]

I don't think you can get a meaningful test of the balls in a tank in which you have already used Dr. Tim's One and Only, which works well for most people.  

If you really want to test the balls, perhaps you could set up a small tank and filter with just the balls and ammonia and see what happens.

 

I wonder if they bought a barrel of Seachem Stability and found a way to embed it in the little balls.  I say that because of the denitrification claimed for the balls and Stability.

[koko 14,341]

10 hours ago, muffluvin said:

You ladies

First it was all about MJ"s wood now you're all over Lizzy's balls

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Well we like Balls, Wood and well other things

[koko 14,341]

3 hours ago, shakaho said:

I don't think you can get a meaningful test of the balls in a tank in which you have already used Dr. Tim's One and Only, which works well for most people.  

If you really want to test the balls, perhaps you could set up a small tank and filter with just the balls and ammonia and see what happens.

 

I wonder if they bought a barrel of Seachem Stability and found a way to embed it in the little balls.  I say that because of the denitrification claimed for the balls and Stability.

I agree hun. I would like to see it in an empty tank set up.

[Lizzy 31]

I don't think you can get a meaningful test of the balls in a tank in which you have already used Dr. Tim's One and Only, which works well for most people.  
If you really want to test the balls, perhaps you could set up a small tank and filter with just the balls and ammonia and see what happens.
 
I wonder if they bought a barrel of Seachem Stability and found a way to embed it in the little balls.  I say that because of the denitrification claimed for the balls and Stability.

Ah very good point indeed! I'll hold off on adding them then, even though I'm not seeming to have much luck with the Dr. Tim's, as far as his claims go.

I'm curious as well!


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[Lizzy 31]

I agree hun. I would like to see it in an empty tank set up.

Haha one project at a time! But I am interested to see it in a more controlled environment too. Once this silly tank of mine decides to cycle, I can get another one going. I've been dreaming of having a lil pea puffer in a smaller community tank! And Bettas again lol. My poor husband


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[koko 14,341]

2 minutes ago, Lizzy said:

 

Haha one project at a time! But I am interested to see it in a more controlled environment too. Once this silly tank of mine decides to cycle, I can get another one going. I've been dreaming of having a lil pea puffer in a smaller community tank! And Bettas again lol. My poor husband


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I love Puffers

[fantailfan1 26,742]

19 hours ago, muffluvin said:

You ladies

First it was all about MJ"s wood now you're all over Lizzy's balls

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  How have I missed this conversation?  I'm sure if Dawn saw this she'd have something to say.

[koko 14,341]

35 minutes ago, fantailfan1 said:

 

  How have I missed this conversation?  I'm sure if Dawn saw this she'd have something to say.

yup there wood go a thread...

[koko 14,341]

Just now, koko said:

yup there wood go a thread...

I just tried to tell TD about this and all I had to say is a thread of balls came up and he Face Palmed me

[fantailfan1 26,742]

  <----TD upon hearing about our shenanigans.

[koko 14,341]

1 hour ago, fantailfan1 said:

  <----TD upon hearing about our shenanigans.

[DawnMichele 6,045]

Here I am!!!! In my experience. The bigger the better!!!! Yeah baby!!!!   

[Daniel E. 10,021]

Here I am!!!! In my experience. The bigger the better!!!! Yeah baby!!!!   

But the question is does the bigger ones last longer?

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[fantailfan1 26,742]

She has arrived.  Prepare for the thread to go straight to the gutter.

[DawnMichele 6,045]

1 hour ago, Daniel E. said:

But the question is does the bigger ones last longer?

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They are so big it takes a while for them to get smaller!!!! 

[DawnMichele 6,045]

It's ALWAYS better to have big wood and big balls together!!! 

[Chris1251 490]

Chris here...  I ordered the balls, before they landed in the gutter...  I'll  use a couple of them in a QT tub to check the potency... .  

[DawnMichele 6,045]

3 minutes ago, Chris1251 said:

Chris here...  I ordered the balls, before they landed in the gutter...  I'll  use a couple of them in a QT tub to check the potency... .  

I hope you get some nice big ball's!!!! 

[Chris1251 490]

On 1/17/2017 at 4:34 PM, DawnMichele said:

I hope you get some nice big ball's!!!! 

Chris here...  The balls have arrived...  Dawn Michele...  You would be sorely disappointed in size... the largest seems to be about 1/2 inch in. Diameter...  The smallest, about 1/4 inch...  But there's lots in the "very" little bag... Hopefully they are mighty!!!