API Quick Start Freshwater & Saltwater Aquarium Nitrifying Bacteria, 32-fl oz bottle

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About This Item

Details

  • All-natural solution that allows for the immediate addition of fish to a new tank.
  • Starts the natural aquarium cycle with beneficial bacteria to remove harmful compounds.
  • Converts toxic ammonia into harmless nitrate.
  • Helps prevent the loss of fish in both freshwater and saltwater aquariums.
  • Ideal for starting a new aquarium, adding new fish and changing water or filter.

Instructions

Learn More About API From Our Team of Experts

About API Water Conditioners

It’s Smart To Be Proactive!

The best way to keep your aquarium clean is to maintain good water quality. This will help keep your fish strong and vibrant and prevent disease. Water conditioners and test kits from API can help you keep your aquarium water safe and healthy.

How Do I Maintain a Healthy Environment?

It is important to test your aquarium water weekly to ensure it stays healthy for your fish.  In addition, a bi-weekly partial water change of no more than 25% will help reduce toxic buildup, remove debris the filter missed, and replenish the oxygen available to your fish.

Feed Twice Daily and Test Water Weekly

Feed your fish twice a day, check their water temperature, and observe them to make sure they are active. You should also test water quality weekly for optimal safety. For fish to thrive, their water must closely match that of their natural environment—poor water quality can cause stress, illness and even fish loss. The 6 important parameters for healthy aquarium water are ammonia, nitrite, nitrate, pH and water hardness (GH & KH). All of these can vary over time and are invisible to the eye.

Change Water and Restore the Ecosystem

In a closed aquarium environment, there are no natural rivers or streams to carry away debris and other waste materials. That is why you should replace 25% of your aquarium water every two weeks, making sure to add water conditioner to your tap water to make it safe for your fish. You should also change your filter media and clean your gravel monthly. Adding beneficial nitrifying bacteria with API Quick Start when you do will help restore your aquarium’s fragile ecosystem and avoid disruption.

What Do API Products Do and When Do I Use Them?

API Test Kits

Use test kits weekly to monitor water quality parameters, which can vary over time and impact the health of your fish.

API Stress Zyme

Using this every week will help keep your aquarium clean and your gravel and ornaments sludge-free.

API Algaefix

Use weekly to control algae growth and keep aquarium glass, ornaments and plants clean.

API Stress Coat

Use every 2 weeks during water changes to make tap water safe, and when adding fish, or when fish are injured.

About API

The team at API has a passion for fish and understands the rewards and relaxation fishkeeping can bring. For almost 60 years, they have developed premium products with a focus on proven and effective results. API offers a range of testing kits, water conditioners and nutritionally superior fish foods. They are dedicated to making a better underwater world for the benefit of fish and those who keep them.

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Questions & Answers

3 Customer Questions

Will this reduce the smell in a turtle tank and is it safe to use exclusively with turtles ?

Answer by Chewy • Mar 18, 2020
The Quick Start is appropriate for every aquarium containing water, including those containing turtles. The Quick Start will help to process ammonia waste from fish or turtles, which will cut down on any ammonia-type smell from the turtle. If there are additional smells or additional sludge in the aquarium, API recommend to use the Turtle Sludge Destroyer as well. This will break down smells that are associated with extra organics and sludge within the aquarium.

Should I be using this API Quick Start or the API Tap Water Conditioner? What are the differences?

Answer by Chewy • Sep 07, 2021
Both should be used. The API Tap Water Conditioner is needed to first dechlorinate the water and to neutralize any heavy metals that could be within the water that could harm your fish. After the water is dechlorinated and added to the aquarium, then the Quick Start is added to the aquarium. The Quick Start contains live nitrifying bacteria that are needed in order to make sure that the ammonia fish waste is properly converted to less toxic compounds. As the aquarium gets established with this nitrifying bacteria, things become more stable. However, any action that could disturb the bacteria (such as large water exchanges, tank maintenance, or exchanging or cleaning filter material) should be followed up with a dose of the Quick Start to make sure things stay stable and safe for the fish.

how many gallons will the 32oz bottle treat

Answer by Chewy • Apr 10, 2020
A 32 ounce bottle will treat approximately 940 gallons. Add 10 milliliters for every 10 gallons. For saltwater tanks, it is recommended to double the dose.
Reviews
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4.4
Rated 4.4 out of 5 stars
28 Ratings
Terms & Conditions

11 Customer Reviews

Rated 3 out of 5 stars
By Jamie on May 3, 2025

Take lots and min help

I use to try and keep levels nitrates on track but takes so much and have to so so often. Would he great for just setting up not great for maintenance

I use to try and keep levels nitrates on track but takes so much and have to so so often. Would he great for just setting up not great for maintenance

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Heston on May 1, 2025

Pond supplies

There was no problem with my products and they had no scrapes or scratches of rough handling so 5star keep up the great work!

There was no problem with my products and they had no scrapes or scratches of rough handling so 5star keep up the great work!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Pam on Jul 21, 2025

Good product , good size for my use

Easy to get, good price

Easy to get, good price

Rated 3 out of 5 stars
By Madilin on Jan 28, 2025

Don't order in winter

The bottle came frozen solid and took a whole day to melt and became room temp. I hope it's still good.

The bottle came frozen solid and took a whole day to melt and became room temp. I hope it's still good.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By James on May 30, 2025

Ease of ordering

Fish supplies are great

Fish supplies are great

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Tuere on Apr 2, 2025

Happy

Very happy

Very happy

Rated 4 out of 5 stars
By Charlene on Oct 17, 2024

Seems to work

Fish are still alive

Fish are still alive

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By dee on Nov 28, 2023

The Best

If you have fish tanks this product makes life so much easier. My tanks go through a lot of water. I add a couple gallons twice a week add the correct dosage of

If you have fish tanks this product makes life so much easier. My tanks go through a lot of water. I add a couple gallons twice a week add the correct dosage of Quick Start & all is good. Highly recommend.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By Leigh on May 2, 2023

It’s great

Just what I needed and it came next day and didn’t expect that!!!

Just what I needed and it came next day and didn’t expect that!!!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars
By lisa on Jun 20, 2022

Can't do without!

API and other products at Chewy are less expensive than other stores. That's why i choose Chewy for my freshwater fish supplies and for my my dog food and dog t

API and other products at Chewy are less expensive than other stores. That's why i choose Chewy for my freshwater fish supplies and for my my dog food and dog toys.