Dr. Tims Horrible Customer Service Story

[oigimsar]

I would encourage you to call Dr. Tim's with the number they supply on the website. The last time I called, Dr. Tim actually answered the phone himself and was very helpful with advice on what his product can and can not do.

If i remember correctly, he will tell you that it is safe to put fish in the tank immediately. The ammonia and nitrites will rise but there is enough bacteria in his product to immediately convert them to nitrates so it is not dangerous for the fish.

 

[Rhino]

Stories like this only help solidify my reasoning for being patient and doing a fishless cycle. Sorry about your bad luck.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Clearwater]

Patience is key to this hobby. Well said Rhino

 

[NanaReefer]

I'm no longer feeling so anal about my tank.

 

[funny718]

Dude really I've use dr.tims on more then once never had a problem. User error on this on pal

 

[143gadgets]

Your WAY over the top. U need to relax and find something else to do while your tank settles in. Your bashing a vendor that did nothing wrong. I have recently used Dr Tim's and it did an amazing job for me.

 

[CJO]

You keep saying that your ammonia is rising, but you didn't state that to the vendor and haven't given any ammonia test results in this thread either. Why should they give you a new product if, based on what you wrote them, it is working like it should? Based on your correspondance with the vendor, it sounds like they handled it appropriately.

The good thing is, neither nitrites nor nitrates will harm your fish unless they are VERY high (in the hundreds). It's really only ammonia that you need to worry about. The natural cycle is that the ammonia will rise and the bacteria you added will multiply and feed off of the ammonia, turning it into nitrites. Then, a different type of bacteria that you added will multiply and feed off the nitrite, turning it into nitrate. This will continue until there is a large enough colony of bacteria to handle the ammonia given off by the fish. At that point, you should have no measurable levels of ammonia and minimal, if any, nitrites. The nitrates will continue to climb until you do a water change to get rid of them.

If the ammonia is getting too high, then you have a valid complaint, but the vendor wouldn't that was an issue until you tell them. In any case, let us know how things are working out.

CJ

 

[KoleTang]

UV Sterilizers are called sterilizers for a reason. When adding live bacteria to a tank I would assume it is common sense to shut of the sterilizer.

By the way. You never specified the size of the tank or how many fish were added.

 

[bobssecrtsn]

can you reefers be reasonable to the guy and stop picking sides? lets just say, both of them is right.. now, the fact that Dr. tim's product DID NOT! state to turn off UV lights. and lets just say this guy did not know what he was doing. but researched that this product had alot of reviews and bought it, and followed the instructions. how would he know to turn off the UV light?

at the end of the story, what the person is trying to get here is, , and lets just supposely say he finished his cycle added to much livestock, started a cycle because there wasnt enough bacteria present, thus using DR. tim's product.

there is also some user errors here, he should've researched because everyone knows. searching helps you learn things you did not know!
he didnt know how to properly cycle a tank.
he also probably did not know that DR. tim had a guide on HOW TO cycle a tank.
he should've researched on what UV lights do and also the pro's/ con's ( if he did he should have known to turn it off when using any liquid type of bacteria)

sorry its very late and im just trying to help both of them out! i do not mean to offend anyone here! i have problems of my own with cycling my tank ATM!

 

[Flipside]

Hey! Easy there Bob! There's a few of us here that aren't picking sides and have stayed fairly neutral. Of course, I'm not one of them.

Just kidding! I hope he gets it worked out. I just feel like "sometimes" customers are a bit unreasonable.

Personally, I would never use bacteria in a bottle, but that's just me...

 

[ironworker]

Ok post your levels and what brand test kit you are using. Also how may fish do you have. All you really need to do is slow down and give your tank a little time it will cycle on its own I have added bacteria before and have never really noticed a difference in the time of the initial cycle to establish. Also your cycle is never complete it only begins and your bacterial populations establish themselves. This may be your first mistake in this hobby but I can assure you its not your last. And you can't blame a manufacturer everytime. Do your research before you waste your money on products that don't work. And nothing good comes fast in this hobby so get some patience or you will go broke and fail at the same time.