API QUICK START Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria 16-Ounce Bottle
$17.11
Price: $17.11
(as of Oct 12, 2025 13:15:04 UTC – Details)
In a new aquarium, harmful ammonia and nitrite build up from fish waste, often resulting in fish loss or new tank syndrome. The unique, patented nitrifying in API quick start are scientifically proven to quickly consume ammonia and nitrite to help prevent new tank syndrome. Allows immediate addition of fish to a new freshwater or saltwater aquarium. Use when starting a new aquarium, adding new fish, changing water, changing filter media, after medicating, or whenever ammonia or nitrite are detected. Allows instant addition of fish. Helps prevent fish loss. Immediately starts aquarium cycle. Contains live, nitrifying . No refrigeration required. All natural.
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer : No
Product Dimensions : 2.5 x 2.5 x 8.75 inches; 1 Pounds
Manufacturer recommended age : 1 month and up
Item model number : 89E
Department : Unisex-Adult
Date First Available : January 13, 2012
Manufacturer : Mars Fishcare
ASIN : B006YG12F6
Best Sellers Rank: #2,955 in Pet Supplies (See Top 100 in Pet Supplies) #11 in Aquarium Water Treatments
Customer Reviews: 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 9,576 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Contains one (1) API QUICK START Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria 16-Ounce Bottle
Allows instant addition of fish when starting a new aquarium
Reduces compounds harmful to fish when used routinely
Helps prevent fish loss in freshwater and saltwater aquariums
Use when starting a new aquarium, when adding new fish and when changing water and filter media
Customers say
Customers find the aquarium bacteria treatment effective, reporting it works instantly and helps get tanks going quickly. The product receives positive feedback for its quality, value for money, and ability to keep fish alive without loss. They appreciate its water quality benefits, particularly for water change routines, and note it helps tanks cycle quickly. While some customers report ammonia and nitrite levels returning to normal, others mention no decrease in ammonia levels. The bacteria content receives mixed reviews, with some saying it helps bring good bacteria while others report no bacteria presence.
13 reviews for API QUICK START Freshwater and Saltwater Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria 16-Ounce Bottle
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Giovanni Santa Ana –
Instant Cycle Saver â API QUICK START is a Must-Have for Any Aquarium!
The API QUICK START for freshwater and saltwater aquariums is a total game-changerâespecially if you’re setting up a new tank or adding fish to an existing one. It makes the nitrogen cycle process way less stressful, both for you and your fish.I used it when starting a new freshwater setup, and within 24 hours my tank was safe and stable. No ammonia spikes, no nitrite issuesâit genuinely helps establish the biological filter FAST. It’s also great to use after water changes, adding new fish, or cleaning the filter.What I love is that itâs super easy to useâjust shake and pour. The bottle gives clear instructions, and the results speak for themselves. My fish were active and healthy from day one.This is one of those products you always want on hand. It helps create a healthy environment and gives peace of mind whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned aquarist.
Stanley Pleasant –
GET IT GET IT GET IT!!!
This is the ONLY THING I USE FOR MY TURTLES to keep they BIOWASTE DOWN AND MAINTAIN THEIR NITROGEN CYCLE. This product works wonders and i highly recommend it. This product is SUPER CONCENTRATED so you only need to use it AS THE BOTTLE RECCOMENDS!!!!! TRUST ME ON THIS!!!!! I have 1 turtle and 2 bettah fish and i use this product for both tanks. ANYTHING WITH WEBED FEET HANDS OR GILLS REQUIRES THE NITROGEN CYCLE and this product does EXCELLENT with starting the cycle and MAINTAINING IT keeping NITRATES AND NITRITES DOWN TO A VERY MANAGEABLE LEVEL and keeping down the SMELL OF AMONIA IF ANY!!!! so anyone with fish or turtles like me……….BUY THIS AND THANK ME LATER!!!! ENJOY
T. Tozawa –
Help cycled in a month
Started a new tank (planted fish less) and used this to get the bacteria going instead of the ghost feeding method. I did an initial dosing on day 1 and another half dose two weeks in. Ammonia and nitrite read zero in exactly one month. Nice to have around in case you need to detoxify in an emergency as well.
Nikki –
It works
Easy to use and never had any issues with this product. Much more affordable to order than buy nearby.
Gabe Tokarz –
Good water conditioner
Itâs the only water conditioner I use for my Plecos â¦.
TX –
Good for what it does (jumpstarting aquarium cycle), but has to be used properly.
Have used Quick Start on two tanks now, one 10 gallon and one 45 gallon. The product works, BUT it has to be used in the right way (which isn’t the one printed on the back label.)The first time I used it on the 10 gallon was my first time setting up an aquarium, and I pretty much just dumped the recommended dosage in along with conditioner/stress zyme, then put in fish the next day. After about a week or two my ammonia levels spiked hard, then another one to two weeks or so after that my nitrites and nitrates started to spike. Ended up losing 50% of my fish before the cycle finally stabilized (the remainder have survived over a year now).The problem is that the cycle needs ammonia to start, and a brand new tank will not have any, nor does Quick Start contain ammonia. Therefore, if you just dump it into a new tank, then put in fish, the cycle will not start until the fish food/waste starts to decompose into ammonia, which can take a week or more. Once sufficient ammonia is present in the tank (3-5ppm), it takes about another week or two for the bacteria to then break it down to nitrites and then nitrates, completing the cycle. During this time your fish will be suffering high ammonia and nitrite levels, even with frequent water changes.To properly cycle your tank with Quick Start, you need to introduce ammonia into the water quickly and without fish. The “natural” and slower way to do this is to put biomass into the tank and wait for it to rot. This can be store bought fish (not live), shrimp, fish pellets/flakes, etc. However, these take time to decay. The faster way to introduce ammonia is to directly buy a bottle of liquid ammonia designed for cycling aquariums, and put in enough to reach 4-5ppm. Then immediately add API Quick Start, along with any conditioner/etc. After about a week or so you’ll notice the ammonia levels go down, and nitrites start spiking. After another few days the nitrites and ammonia will both go down close to or at 0, and nitrates will be present. Now the tank is fully cycled, and it’s safe to add fish.
Paws4Mercy –
So many usefull purposes EXCELLENT PRODUCT
I learned THIS PROSUCT is so usefull I use it for adding water to my fish tanks and also for dechloinating water i use to water my sensitive house plants and my newest discovery It also makes an EXCELLENT affordable COMPOST STARTER that has more good bacteria to accelerate your composting projects I LOVE THIS STUFF its awesome
Tyler A. –
Works well!
I use this every time I do a water change/clean out. Never had a problem.
Bkknife –
Its good to rapidly reduce ammonia
Shishir Shetye –
Highly effectiveImproves water quality by maintaining bacterial coloniesEasy to use… Rather than other products.Must to stepup a new tank.. also it is good to add once in month so replenish the bacterial colonies
Amazon Kunde –
API quick start ist super, ich benutze es seit etwa einem halben Jahr und bin sehr zufrieden. Ich empfehle es mit gutem Gewissen weiter!
HC –
Good product
Pierre Leboeuf –
le produit semble tres eficace