Loaches Online Forum

I'm still slowly researching everything in preparation for getting my first tank & kuhli loaches.

I came across this stuff: TetraAqua SafeStart
it is apparently similar to Biospira but doesn't require refrigeration.

Seems to be fairly new and I cannot find much independent discussion of it, but Biospira seems to be considered reasonably good stuff.

Has anyone tried it? Would it be helpful in speeding up cycling and getting a tank ready for loaches?

From what I’ve read opinion is quite divided, slightly edging towards the negative. The thing is as you say it speeds up the cycle & is not the instant cycle that some people think it is, so fish need to be introduced gradually. Khullies as with other loaches do need an already mature tank so will not be the best fish first into a new tank so you may want to hold back on the khullies for a little while. I used safe start when I set up my big tank, but as a top up for some already active filter material, I found it took a little over a week & a half for my water stats to get to a satisfactory level.