Instructions and Guidelines
Shake product well before each use. Though FaStart-M may be used in any established marine aquarium, it is intended for use in systems dosed with MicrōBacter7. Greatest stability of biological filtration capacity will be achieved when using these two solutions in conjunction, as directed below. Grossly overdosing FaStart-M will not significantly increase the effectiveness of the product, nor the rate at which it enacts changes in aquaria; in fact, it may have a deleterious effect on water quality if not used as directed. Marine aquaria employing effective protein skimming will achieve maximum rate of nutrient export via extraction of bacterioplankton biomass, as opposed to systems that are not skimmed. Do not attempt to maintain an aquarium containing zooxanthellate organisms completely free of detectable nitrate and phosphate; doing so is highly likely to result in loss of life of those organisms. Water temperature, salinity, pH, and alkalinity must be within appropriate ranges prior to adding live microorganisms to aquarium.
Establishing biological filtration in new aquaria: Add 5 ml (1 capful on 250- and 500-ml bottles; 1/2-capful on 2L bottle) FaStart-M per 20 US-gallons (76 L) of aquarium water; allow to circulate in system for at least one hour. Using accurate test kits, determine concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, and phosphate; record results. Begin adding MicrōBacter7 as directed on that product’s label, dosing daily. Re-test nutrient concentrations daily for the first two weeks of use. When ammonia concentration is below detection level of test kit and nitrate concentration is below 3 ppm, then aquarium is cycled.
Dose with FaStart-M as necessary to maintain nitrate and phosphate within a range of 3 - 5 ppm and 0.01 - 0.03 ppm, respectively. Daily dosing will encourage the most stable concentration of available nutrients in any aquarium system. Begin with 5 ml per 100 US-gallons (378.5 L) of aquarium water, and adjust dosage as nutrient concentrations dictate. When decreasing the aquarium bioload, increase normal dosage by 10%, and resume normal dosage once nutrient concentrations stabilize within desired ranges. Caution: Keep out of reach of children. Not for human consumption.