Is it possible to overdose Seachem Stability in an aquarium?

Last Updated on November 15, 2021 by cmoarz

Bottled beneficial bacteria like Prime and Seachem stability are fantastic for cycling a new tank and avoiding new tank syndrome. But can you overdo it?

Can you overdose on Seachem stability if you add too much into the freshwater and marine systems? Can you put too much beneficial bacteria in your tank? What will happen? This article aims to answer these questions and put your mind at ease!

What is Seachem Stability used for?

“Seachem Stability will rapidly and safely establish the aquarium biofilter in freshwater and marine systems and prevent the serious danger of the infamous new tank syndrome.”

In other words, It’s bottled beneficial bacteria that help cycle a tank for aquarium life faster and allow you to put living fish into the tank almost immediately before a cycle has had a chance to take hold.

Normally a large ammonia spike is needed during the cycling stage, Which is almost sure to kill fish. With bottled bacteria, it makes it possible to have live fish without the ammonia spike of death.

The beneficial bacteria present will jump-start the nitrifying bacteria cycle, which in turn lowers ammonia toxicity for the aquatic organisms living in the tank.

The beneficial bacteria in Seachem Stability contains a blend of aerobic, anaerobic, and facultative bacteria that aids in the breakdown of organic wastes and ammonia, giving something for the aerobic bacteria to feed on, Thus kickstarting a healthy nitrate cycle.

So with specifics aside, It’s *mostly* the same as any other bottled bacteria. So what happens if too much nitrifying bacteria is added to the tank? Can an overdose of Seachem Stability cause a problem in the aquarium?

Can you overdose Seachem Stability?

You can’t realistically overdose on Seachem Stability or any other nitrifying bacteria. At most, you will lower the oxygenation level in the tank water for an hour and extra bacteria bloom will starve off after a while as well.

There’s never really been such a thing as too many beneficial bacteria – At least ones without additional chemical additives.

In fact, The amount of non-toxic Seachem stability you would require to overdose your tank is probably more than your ever going to have at any one time.

It is possible to use too much, but the side effects are generally pretty mild. Lower oxygenation levels in the water column can be quickly dispelled with an airstone.

You will also notice frothing or bubbling at the surface of the water where there is agitation, This is also normal and will go away with subsequent water changes.

So no, when you ‘overdose’ good bacteria while trying to jump-start your cycling process, you won’t mess up your water parameters too much, nor will your tank inhabitants notice much of a difference.

For a time you may notice them come up to the surface for a gulp of air on occasion if your tank is particularly low on oxygen, but this will ease as it becomes more saturated from the airstone.

What to do if you think you added too much Seachem Stability

If you think you may have added too much Seachem Stability to your new aquarium and are worried about an ‘overdose’ stability harming tank inhabitants and other aquarium life including plants then there are some things you can do.

By doing frequent 20% water changes you will help dilute the concentration of bacteria in the water column, as well as do some general cleaning that never hurts!

The foaming will continue for a time until you’ve sufficiently diluted the tank.

After one or two water changes, depending on how severe you believe the overdose to be, your tank should return to normal without any negative effects on fish or plants.

Remember – this is normal! And not harmful to fish or plants in any way, so don’t fret over it ~ Rest assured all is well!

Recommended Seachem Stability Dosage

Shake well before use. Turn off UV/ozone. Use 1 capful (5 mL) for each 40 L (10 US gallons) on the first day with a new aquarium.

Then use 1 capful for each 80 L (20 US gallons) daily for 7 days. Fish and other aquatic species may be introduced at any time as long as the dosage is maintained for 7 days.

For optimum biofilter performance use 1 capful for each 80 L (20 US gallons) once a month or with each water change and whenever introducing new fish or whenever medicating an aquarium.

Source from their website

Seachem Stability instructions

Bellow, you can see a copy of the Seachem Stability instructions for printing