COLONY FRESHWATER
(Nitrosomonas, NItrobacter)
pH: 7.4-8.0
Temperature: 74-86 F
Total Alkalinity: 90+
Salinity: 0-5 ppt
Dose 4oz per 25 gal
COLONY MARINE
(Nitrococcus, Nitrosococcus)
pH: 7.9-8.3
Temperature: 74-86 F
Total Alkalinity: 90+
Salinity: 6+ ppt
Dose 4oz per 12 gal
PRIOR TO APPLICATION
Prior to adding Colony you must turn off UV sterilizers, protein skimmers, and ozone generators for 4-5 days to protect still free-floating bacteria. (If using tap water, make sure water has been dechlorinated with Blue Shark Paradigm or Blue Shark Triage.
APPLICATION
The following steps, while conducted in the optimum application environment*, will allow
Colony to establish bio-filtration in less than a week while keeping your fish safe. Results
may vary in conditions out of the optimum application environment.
- Make sure optimum application environment is achieved
- Add Colony with fish at recommended dosage
- Feed once lightly then temporarily discontinue feeding **
- Monitor ammonia and nitrite daily during cycling process
- When nitrites lower to at or near zero, slowly increase feeding to normal levels
* In environments where the pH, temperature, and total alkalinity are below optimum, nitrifying bacteria will work less efficiently resulting in slower conversion and requiring a much larger colony of nitrifying bacteria.
** Light feeding is one of the keys to a successful instant cycle. Less food means less ammonia and nitrite. This prevents large spikes that can be dangerous to fish over time while allowing the nitrifying bacteria to feed and flourish.
ADDITIONAL TIPS AND CONSIDERATIONS
Colony contains aerobic autotroph bacteria. Therefore, increased aeration in the bio-media area will increase activity of the nitrifying bacteria greatly.
Many nitrate test kits read a minimum of 5.0 ppm. Therefore, dropping nitrite will be evidence of present nitrate if it is still too low for the test kit to measure.
In low pH freshwater aquariums, it is best to cycle the aquarium with Colony in its optimum application environment. After the aquarium is cycled, slowly lower pH over time to the target environment. This is necessary to give the nitrifying bacteria time to multiply to a colony large enough to convert ammonia and nitrite quickly.
ESSENTIAL TECHNICAL INFO
Copper Resistance
The true nitrifying bacteria in Colony can resist up to .20 mg/l. A drop off in nitrification will occur after introducing copper, but will return to normal soon.
Items Not Safe With Colony
Antibiotics, chlorine, chloramine, benzalkonium chloride, potassium permanganate, formalin, copper, malachite green, methylene blue and acriflavine. It is always best to inquire with Blue Shark’s biological specialists about any new products on the market not listed and that you are unsure about.
Compatibility
Colony is compatible with all Blue Shark formulas. It is recommended that Colony is not used in conjunction with SFS based water conditioners that destroy ammonia and nitrite. These conditioners utilize reducing agents that result in unstable food source for the bacteria and deplete oxygen in higher doses which inhibits the aerobic true nitrifying bacteria in Colony.