Last updated at 09/06/2026 01:29:23
API Quick Start Freshwater And Saltwater Aquarium Water Treatment 237ml
Delivery between 11–17 June $6.31
API Quick Start
Delivery between 9–22 June $9.95
Api Quick Start 237ml
API Quick Start 237ml
Quick Start - Nitrifying Bacteria 237ml
Delivery between 15–23 June $9
API Quick Start 237ml
Delivery $8.50
API Quick Start 237ml
Delivery $8.50
API Quick Start Aquarium Start 237ml
Free delivery between 10–17 June
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Api Quick Start 237ml
Delivery $9
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
Api Quick Start 237ml (89d)
Delivery $9.99
Affiliate Disclosure: We may receive a small commission for purchases made through this link at no extra cost to you. This helps support our site. Thank you!
originally posted on petco.com
On my second bottle and it just does not work. Does not seem to have any live BB. Have been maintaining my tank's ph level, temperature, water changes etc. but adding this does not makes any difference. Do not buy unless you want a bottle of expensive water.
originally posted on petco.com
This product is awesome. I used it when starting up my aquarium, and it cycled in just a few days as opposed to the several weeks it would otherwise take. Recently I cleaned my filter and killed off a lot of nitrifying bacteria by accident. Ammonia and nitrite spiked due to this. After using Quick Start, the tank stabilized in about 3 days.
originally posted on petco.com
Got this for my 20 gallon planted tank put this in and waited 3 days even though it says it’s safe right away for fish.. put 2 neon tetras in that night and they were belly up by morning. I keep testing the water and everything has been spiked for a few days so I do water changes every other day and then dose the quick start but no change.. I can’t tell if it’s truly working or not. Might be worth it to save the money and just cycle it on your own with old media if you can. Haven’t put fish in yet I felt terrible about killing the two I had. Just waiting it out myself now..
| Product dimensions | 5.08 x 5.08 x 19.05 cm; 263 Grams |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Is discontinued by manufacturer | No |
| Liquid volume | 8 Fluid Ounces |
| Target species | Fish |
API Quick Start Freshwater And Saltwater Aquarium Water Treatment 237ml
Delivery between 11–17 June $6.31
API Quick Start
Delivery between 9–22 June $9.95
Api Quick Start 237ml
API Quick Start 237ml
Quick Start - Nitrifying Bacteria 237ml
Delivery between 15–23 June $9
On my second bottle and it just does not work. Does not seem to have any live BB. Have been maintaining my tank's ph level, temperature, water changes etc. but adding this does not makes any difference. Do not buy unless you want a bottle of expensive water.
This product is awesome. I used it when starting up my aquarium, and it cycled in just a few days as opposed to the several weeks it would otherwise take. Recently I cleaned my filter and killed off a lot of nitrifying bacteria by accident. Ammonia and nitrite spiked due to this. After using Quick Start, the tank stabilized in about 3 days.
Got this for my 20 gallon planted tank put this in and waited 3 days even though it says it’s safe right away for fish.. put 2 neon tetras in that night and they were belly up by morning. I keep testing the water and everything has been spiked for a few days so I do water changes every other day and then dose the quick start but no change.. I can’t tell if it’s truly working or not. Might be worth it to save the money and just cycle it on your own with old media if you can. Haven’t put fish in yet I felt terrible about killing the two I had. Just waiting it out myself now..
I use this stuff all the time, what's more I occasionally overuse it and see no negative effects...Getting new fish? Use API QuickStart...Changing water? Use API QuickStart...Water a bit smelly? Use API QuickStart...Feel like giving the fish/tank a treat? Use API QuickStart...I have tried some other brands similar products and I get smelly tank or algae growth... Ick... Use API QuickStart...
Love this and ended up moving onto the biggest bottles. Make sure you know how to use it though as its a good trap for many new fishkeepers. It's not that it "doesnt work" you just have to do it right.Make sure the bottle is in date as out of date bacteria is dead bacteria most likely.When using for fish in cycling, dose the aquarium EVERY DAY with this until your ammonia and nitrites are 0ppm (with API liquid test kit; a worthy investment) and make sure you keep nitrates under 40ppm.When adding more fish after your cycle, use the bacteria every day once again for at LEAST a week to let the tank get used to the new ammonia.Always introduce new fish in small amounts.Hope this helped someone, but always do your research!
A neighbor of mine told me that he took his aquarium down because every time he bought fish that just died. After they died he'd close down the aquarium for a month or two then he'd try again. This last time I convinced him to do things a little different. I told him that he could not use tap water and have anything survive instead I got him to use API Quick Start and wait a few day's before getting any fish. I got a call a few days later and he was amazed his fish were still alive. What he didn't know was that Quick Start gives your aquarium a head start in establishing the necessary biological environment needed for the fish to live. It also work on controlling ammonia and nitrite levels until the tank can do that on it's own. I've helped my friend along now and ... MoreA neighbor of mine told me that he took his aquarium down because every time he bought fish that just died. After they died he'd close down the aquarium for a month or two then he'd try again. This last time I convinced him to do things a little different. I told him that he could not use tap water and have anything survive instead I got him to use API Quick Start and wait a few day's before getting any fish. I got a call a few days later and he was amazed his fish were still alive. What he didn't know was that Quick Start gives your aquarium a head start in establishing the necessary biological environment needed for the fish to live. It also work on controlling ammonia and nitrite levels until the tank can do that on it's own. I've helped my friend along now and he still is enjoying his healthy aquarium. If you have to set up an aquarium and enjoy watching your new fish in less time then normal then Quick Start is definitely something you need.
AVOID this stuff unless you want to waste money. Get Dr Tim's bacteria instead. More expensive but it's the real deal. The problem with API is most of this crap has been sitting around for a long time at the wrong temps and the bacteria dies.
Whilst I don’t buy this with the intention of putting creatures straight into the tank, I use it to add bacteria to the tank and force the tank to start cycling so that I can then leave a week or so before adding any inhabitants to the water.On this occasion it’s been 8 days since the tank start and plants were added. The tank has been running since and should now be settled enough to add occupants. I’ve added 2 shrimp and a snail today (day 8) and so far everyone appears fine. Hopefully in a few more weeks I will add a few others and everything should remain steady.As with all my reviews I will update accordingly should anything change.
I used this solution about a week into cycling my fish tank (fishless cycle using ammonia) and it did bring down the ammonia in a few days. It didn't appear to make any noticeable difference for nitrites though as the levels continued to climb past 5ppm to unmeasurable levels due to test kits stopping at 5ppm. Later on I purchased a competing product and it effectively brought down nitrites in one day.I believe a 2 part process where you first input the bacteria for ammonia and then several days later administer nitrite bacteria would be more effective than an all in one solution sort of a part 1 and a part 2.
I changed out my substrate and added a new canister filter, so basically I restarted my stocked freshwater tank. I continued to run my hang on filter hoping to help get the biological process going but I ended up with an ammonia spike and cloudy water. I did a 50% water change and added API Quick start and the water became clear by the next day. No problems with ammonia as it was kept in check with QuickStart. Definitely helped to jumpstart the tank cycling.
| Product dimensions | 5.08 x 5.08 x 19.05 cm; 263 Grams |
| Country of origin | USA |
| Is discontinued by manufacturer | No |
| Liquid volume | 8 Fluid Ounces |
| Target species | Fish |
API Quick Start - 237ml
API Quick Start API Quick Start nitrifying bacteria allows for the instant addition of fish, as it immediately starts the natural aquarium cycle with beneficial bacteria, which converts toxic ammonia into nitrite, then into harmless nitrate to help prevent fish loss in your tank. Best for use when starting a new aquarium, after water changes and filter changes, and when adding new fish to an existing aquarium. Quick start nitrifying bacteria may be used in both fresh and saltwater aquariums. Add 10 ml. per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Can I add fish immediately after adding Quick Start nitrifying bacteria to my tank? Yes, you may add your fish to your aquarium immediately after dosing with Quick Start nitrifying bacteria. Is Quick Start nitrifying bacteria safe for soft coral? Yes, Quick Start nitrifying bacteria is safe for Soft Coral. Have a look at our other API Products.
API Quick Start API Quick Start nitrifying bacteria allows for the instant addition of fish, as it immediately starts the natural aquarium cycle with beneficial bacteria, which converts toxic ammonia into nitrite, then into harmless nitrate to help prevent fish loss in your tank. Best for use when starting a new aquarium, after water changes and filter changes, and when adding new fish to an existing aquarium. Quick start nitrifying bacteria may be used in both fresh and saltwater aquariums. Add 10 ml. per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Can I add fish immediately after adding Quick Start nitrifying bacteria to my tank? Yes, you may add your fish to your aquarium immediately after dosing with Quick Start nitrifying bacteria. Is Quick Start nitrifying bacteria safe for soft coral? Yes, Quick Start nitrifying bacteria is safe for Soft Coral. Have a look at our other API Products.
API Quick Start API Quick Start nitrifying bacteria allows for the instant addition of fish, as it immediately starts the natural aquarium cycle with beneficial bacteria, which converts toxic ammonia into nitrite, then into harmless nitrate to help prevent fish loss in your tank. Best for use when starting a new aquarium, after water changes and filter changes, and when adding new fish to an existing aquarium. Quick start nitrifying bacteria may be used in both fresh and saltwater aquariums. Add 10 ml. per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Can I add fish immediately after adding Quick Start nitrifying bacteria to my tank? Yes, you may add your fish to your aquarium immediately after dosing with Quick Start nitrifying bacteria. Is Quick Start nitrifying bacteria safe for soft coral? Yes, Quick Start nitrifying bacteria is safe for Soft Coral. Have a look at our other API Products.
API Quick Start API Quick Start nitrifying bacteria allows for the instant addition of fish, as it immediately starts the natural aquarium cycle with beneficial bacteria, which converts toxic ammonia into nitrite, then into harmless nitrate to help prevent fish loss in your tank. Best for use when starting a new aquarium, after water changes and filter changes, and when adding new fish to an existing aquarium. Quick start nitrifying bacteria may be used in both fresh and saltwater aquariums. Add 10 ml. per 10 gallons of aquarium water. Can I add fish immediately after adding Quick Start nitrifying bacteria to my tank? Yes, you may add your fish to your aquarium immediately after dosing with Quick Start nitrifying bacteria. Is Quick Start nitrifying bacteria safe for soft coral? Yes, Quick Start nitrifying bacteria is safe for Soft Coral. Have a look at our other API Products.
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The lowest price for API Quick Start - 237ml right now is $24.43 at Peekapaw Pet Supplies, compared across 30 retailers.
The all-time low was $7.50 on 29 Nov 2025 — today's price is 226% above the lowest ever. It has been notably cheaper before — worth setting a price alert.
Prices last updated 9 June 2026.
