Koi Fish Information Centre

Below my sig is the reply I got from Marineland a few weeks ago when inquiring about Bio-Spira. I see that my email reply references a product called “Start Right” but since there was already a product called Start Right on the market, I presumed they decided to change the name to Safe Start since the timeline worked with your announcement and the name was so similar to the email info I got from Marineland… although the reply was signed by someone with a Tetra.net email address. I’m sorry to see Marineland get in bed with Tetra as I always considered them to be on opposite ends of the quality scale with Marineland being on the good end. I also notice that your email has “United Pet Group” and my email reply also has that name in the sig.
You mention “The One And Only” product but I did a Google and do not see anything about it. You mention from “the guy whose research … is the basis of bio-spira” which I’ll presume to be Dr. Timothy Hovanec and I would trust him over nearly anyone else or their products. His team’s research which led to the “invention” of the Bio-Wheel, Bio-Spira and many other “new” products, was peer reviewed by several other independent sources and the Bio-Spira process was granted a patent and I know that it actually worked where none of the other bacteria-in-a-bottle products worked. I tried several of them and not a single one actually cycled a tank where Bio-Spira actually did. I just did a second Google with more defined search terms and have found some links about One & Only which apparently is being distributed by Dr. Timothy Hovanec. Do you have any links to articles or threads that would make you believe this is not a good product?
Here is Dr. Tim’s apparently new website with info about “One & Only”… http://www.drtimsaquatics.com/Helpful_hints/OneandOnlyFAQs/OneandOnlyFAQs.ht ml Apparently his product doesn’t have to be refrigerated either but will only last six months at room temp whereas if refrigerated, will last for a year. The FAQ page details how this works. Maybe the new Tetra product will work the same way. I’ll still trust Dr. Hovanec over nearly any other company’s claims out there.
Apparently, there was some kind of major shake-down at Marineland for Dr. Hovanec to go out on his own with his own new product and then Marineland opting to join up with Tetra and releasing a non-refrigerated product (which historically and scientifically do not work… although Dr. Tim’s new product looks like it doesn’t have to be refrigerated although it looks like they recommend that it be kept refrigerated).
I don’t have time to read through all of the links I found in my second Google search right now but I’ll read through them and add to my recent blog about Bio-Spira.
Thanks for the heads up on One & Only. I read and post on several forums and yours is the first I’ve seen on this product but if Dr. Hovanec is putting his name on it, I’ll bet it works see he may have held the patent on the process for Bio-Spira and Marineland owned the name so when they split up, he had to pick a new name. I’ll know more after I read all the new info in my search.
I guess I’ll have to set up several 10G tanks and fishless cycle each of them using the various products to see how they each work. I’ve been hoping someone else would do this
Lenny Vasbinder Fish Blog - http://GoldLenny.blogspot.com

Category: Philippines Internet Koi Society