The
Fish Disease Laboratory
California State University
FRITZ-ZYME™
was recently scientifically proven to be the absolute best source of nitrifying
bacteria available, as shown in a independent study performed at the Biological
Science Department at California State University. The large project
was directed by experts in aquatic nitrification. When contacted by these
biologists for samples, Fritz Pet Products was eager to have their bacteria
included in the study, which also tested Hagen’s Cycle™,
Aquarium Products’ Biozyme™, Aquatronics’ Bacter Plus™,
Mardel’s A.C.T.™, Precision Aquarium Testing’s Sure Start™
and many others. Results showed that FRITZ-ZYME™
#9 Saltwater Nitrifying Bacteria was the only product to produce
any testable decrease in either ammonia or nitrite in saltwater. By 14
days into the test, the FRITZ-ZYME™
#9 had reduced the ammonia level by over 70%. FRITZ-ZYME™
#7 Freshwater Nitrifying Bacteria had reduced the ammonia by over
60%. No comparable results were found with any other product tested. California
State University performed further testing, researching why FRITZ-ZYME™
produced such superior results. Electron microscope pictures showed that
FRITZ-ZYME™ was the only product to form large, uniformly
developed bacterial mats on bio-media. Products showing slight ammonia
reduction created small, broken bacterial mats. Those showing no ammonia
reduction never produced colonized cultures on media. Clearly, the difference
was in the bottle: FRITZ-ZYME™ contained large, concentrated
true nitrifying cultures.
TURBO START™ is concentrated FRITZ-ZYME™. It gives
nitrification an even larger boost by introducing over thirty million
live nitrifying bacteria per ounce, rapidly accelerating the nitrification
process. Ammonia and nitrite are quickly reduced to safe levels. Both
ammonia and nitrite are reduced by over 90% in less than 5 days. Fish
stress (induced by high levels of ammonia and nitrite) is also reduced
and moralities normally associated with "New Tank Syndrome"
are eliminated. Just follow the easy lab-verified starter plan!
Many products that
don’t effect ammonia or nitrite claim to contain nitrifiers, causing
confusion among hobbyists about nitrifying bacteria. The misinformation
presented in ads and product labels hides the fact that most of these
products actually contain species of heterotrophic Bacillus and Pseudomonas
bacteria - NOT nitrifiers. This is why they don’t work. True nitrifying
bacteria belong to the Nitrobacteraceae family. Nitrifiers are strictly
aerobic autotrophs which utilize inorganic (without carbon) compounds
as their primary energy source (specifically ammonia and nitrite). Five
genera are accepted as ammonia-oxidizers and four as nitrite-oxidizers.
Identified to grow naturally in both wild environments AND in the bio-filter
in captive freshwater systems, Nitrosomonas (ammonia-oxidizers) and Nitrobacter
(nitrite-oxidizers) are the most well known. Marine nitrifiers (Nitrosococcus
and Nitrococcus) are different from the freshwater nitrifiers but are
closely related. Though several products claim to contain these nitrifiers,
very few actually do.
Many companies package spore-forming Bacillus bacteria and claim that
the bottle contains nitrifiers. These products always have a long shelf-life
(greater than 7 months). Since true nitrifiers are not spore-forming,
products containing true nitrifiers always have a short shelf life. In
this way, it is easy to determine when an "imposter bacteria"
is masquerading as a nitrifier; it will either not have a posted shelf
life, or the shelf life will be longer than 7 months. All dry product
formulations claiming to contain nitrifiers use blatant false advertising.
These products consist of sludge-eaters in their spore stage. Dry formulas
can NOT contain nitrifiers; since true nitrifiers are not spore forming,
they cannot be dried into powdered products. Any microbiologist will confirm
this fact. Nitrifiers cannot survive the drying or freeze-drying process;
they will not maintain any valuable culture or inoculate. Other products
recommend the addition of gravel, bio-media or water from an established
aquarium. This is usually the only source of nitrifiers with their method;
the product itself usually contains trace elements and chemicals. An element
of risk is involved when adding water or media from another system, as
there is a large risk of introducing ich, velvet and other pathogens.
When using competitive products containing heterotrophs (not nitrifiers),
the nitrogen cycle basically follows the same course as when no bacteria
are added at all and the system cycles naturally. The cycle with these
products still normally lasts 30 days in freshwater, and up to 60 days
in saltwater. Hobbyists often lose fish as they desperately wait for the
cycle to finish. Hobbyists and experts who have used these deceitful products
in the past are understandably skeptical about FRITZ-ZYME™
and TURBO START™. But laboratory testing has shown how FRITZ-ZYME™
and TURBO START™ are different. Results are incomparable.
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