Tetra Safe Start and fishless cycle question!

[George9]

Look at the left tube, lol! Those rosy red minnows are really hardcore. Btw, i just did water change since they keep swimming up and down against my glass tank. Brought the lvl down to 1 and that's what i heard when TSS works best. Now I've to wait 24 hours before dosing TSS again since i used prime. Am i doing right?

Sounds perfect. Did you add ammonia when you had the fish in the ttank? Or were they just recently added?

 

[daniel2509]

Sounds perfect. Did you add ammonia when you had the fish in the ttank? Or were they just recently added?

No, yesterday I didn't add anything. It's like I went to petsmart and get 2 minnows, threw them straight to the tank. Btw, atm one of them is still swimming up and down while the other is chasing for food, lol. Will prime wear off after 24 hours? I'm still confused about my next moves, whether I'll take em' out n dose TSS in or keep em' there to do regular cycle. If i choose solution one, then should i dose 1 drop of ammo in everyday? Otherwise, I'll use those minnows as ammo source.

 

[George9]

No, yesterday I didn't add anything. It's like I went to petsmart and get 2 minnows, threw them straight to the tank. Btw, atm one of them is still swimming up and down while the other is chasing for food, lol. Will prime wear off after 24 hours? I'm still confused about my next moves, whether I'll take em' out n dose TSS in or keep em' there to do regular cycle. If i choose solution one, then should i dose 1 drop of ammo in everyday? Otherwise, I'll use those minnows as ammo source.

If you have fish in the tank you shouldn't dose any ammonia. The fish will act aas the ammonia source.

Prime does wear off after 24 hours and its fine to add TSS 24 he's after prime.

I would do another water change and get the ammonia down to .25. its better for the fish and the TSS will probably work best

 

[daniel2509]

If you have fish in the tank you shouldn't dose any ammonia. The fish will act aas the ammonia source.

Prime does wear off after 24 hours and its fine to add TSS 24 he's after prime.

I would do another water change and get the ammonia down to .25. its better for the fish and the TSS will probably work best

Ok then, 2 is good enough or i need 3, 4, 5? That's a lil bit stuck right here, if i bring ammo down to 0.25 then i have to use prime again. It means another 24 hours? With this method, how long in your estimation will it take for a complete cycle?

 

[George9]

Ok then, 2 is good enough or i need 3, 4, 5? That's a lil bit stuck right here, if i bring ammo down to 0.25 then i have to use prime again. It means another 24 hours? With this method, how long in your estimation will it take for a complete cycle?

How long have the fish been there? You're combining the fish in cycle with a fishless by adding ammonia. It's kinda tricky now, hm.

If it were my tank, I would get a few more fish for the fish in cycle and keep adding TSS. Don't add anymore ammonia! It's not helping since there's fish in the tank.

It's hard to say since the cycle never really "started" IMO since the ammonia never dropped or converted to nitrite or nitrate. But, most people say that it took them a week or two with terra safe start.

 

[George9]

Oh also, I just noticed the tank temp is 86 degrees, that's really hot. I'd bring it down to 77-78

 

[daniel2509]

How long have the fish been there? You're combining the fish in cycle with a fishless by adding ammonia. It's kinda tricky now, hm.

If it were my tank, I would get a few more fish for the fish in cycle and keep adding TSS. Don't add anymore ammonia! It's not helping since there's fish in the tank.

It's hard to say since the cycle never really "started" IMO since the ammonia never dropped or converted to nitrite or nitrate. But, most people say that it took them a week or two with terra safe start.

The fishes were there since yesterday and I won't combine them if i know TSS can help me that fast. The only thing i'm scare of is having a mini cycle, which can brutally kill my fish anytime. Sadly, I'm still putting my show bettas at pet store for day care until my tank stable. On the other side, I'm still planning to cycle another 5g since I have 2 male bettas. 10$/each betta for day care every week, and it's more than 2 weeks already, lol! Btw, i should buy u a beer, George!

 

[George9]

The fishes were there since yesterday and I won't combine them if i know TSS can help me that fast. The only thing i'm scare of is having a mini cycle, which can brutally kill my fish anytime. Sadly, I'm still putting my show bettas at pet store for day care until my tank stable. On the other side, I'm still planning to cycle another 5g since I have 2 male bettas. 10$/each betta for day care every week, and it's more than 2 weeks already, lol! Btw, i should buy u a beer, George!

Pretty bettas!! I'm sure they're having fun on vacation lol!!

Yeah, mini cycles are no fun. I went through one, it's horrible watching fish suffer and knowing you can't do much about it. If you add more fish you'll build up a bigger bioload for when you want to add more fish to the tank. I'd get a few more of those minnows. If you're still worried just go slow with stocking.

LOL I don't drink, I'm only 15 years old haha.

 

[Ian086]

You say you have a buddy who has a pet store. Why not ask him for some of his filter sponges or whatever media he/she uses. You could even use some gravel from his/her tanks??

 

[daniel2509]

Pretty bettas!! I'm sure they're having fun on vacation lol!!

Yeah, mini cycles are no fun. If you add more fish you'll build up a bigger bioload for when you want to add more fish to the tank. I'd get a few more of those minnows. If you're still worried just go slow with stocking.

LOL I don't drink, I'm only 15 years old haha.

Oh lol, then pepsi! Btw, 4 sounds like a pretty good number and those minnows produce tons of waste. Back to the main problem, think about Prime if you do wc then u have to wait 24 hrs, because Prime will detoxic Ammonia which will cause tss bacteria starve to death. If you use the regular water condition, my basic tap is 1.0 ammo already so it would be a lil bit useless.

 

[George9]

You say you have a buddy who has a pet store. Why not ask him for some of his filter sponges or whatever media he/she uses. You could even use some gravel from his/her tanks??

I didn't even think about that. Putting an entire sponge from one of their tanks would instant cycle your tank.

Oh lol, then pepsi! Btw, 4 sounds like a pretty good number and those minnows produce tons of waste. Back to the main problem, think about Prime if you do wc then u have to wait 24 hrs, because Prime will detoxic Ammonia which will cause tss bacteria starve to death. If you use the regular water condition, my basic tap is 1.0 ammo already so it would be a lil bit useless.

Oh, well then your ammo level will never get below 1 PPM until your tank is cycled. So leave it be, and add the TSS tomorrow. A whole sponge from your friends tank with the fish store would completely cycle your tank though too

 

[daniel2509]

You say you have a buddy who has a pet store. Why not ask him for some of his filter sponges or whatever media he/she uses. You could even use some gravel from his/her tanks??

I tried it last time, squeezed everything into my tank but it didnt work out. I myself used a hob filter! U have any suggestion, Ian?

 

[George9]

I tried it last time, squeezed everything into my tank but it didnt work out. I myself used a hob filter! U have any suggestion, Ian?

Take the entire sponge and put it in the filter rather than just squeezing it.

 

[daniel2509]

Take the entire sponge and put it in the filter rather than just squeezing it.

And put where? Near my hob filter media, cadtrige, tube or just simply throw it in the tank?

 

[Ian086]

I tried it last time, squeezed everything into my tank but it didnt work out. I myself used a hob filter! U have any suggestion, Ian?

As George said below!!!

Take the entire sponge and put it in the filter rather than just squeezing it.

Exactly....

 

[Ian086]

And put where? Near my hob filter media, cadtrige, tube or just simply throw it in the tank?

Yeah put it inside the HOB with the media, so it's touching it.....

 

[daniel2509]

As George said below!!!

Exactly....

Ok, i'll give it a try on tuesday. In the mean time, I've already purchased 4 bottles of TSS and threw my receipt away, plus I want to see if TSS will work or not. I'll put that sponge in my main tank, and do TSS for the other 5g.

 

[Ian086]

Ok, i'll give it a try on tuesday. In the mean time, I've already purchased 4 bottles of TSS and threw my receipt away, plus I want to see if TSS will work or not. I'll put that sponge in my main tank, and do TSS for the other 5g.

It's your call mate but would your buddy exchange them for some store credit and use it to buy some nice fish when you get sorted. I'm not a fan of adding 'chemicals' to the tank unnecessarily. I'm not against those products but personally I think they are just a gimmick. I use the old fashioned, tried and tested method!!.
When you get the sponge or any other media off your mate, remember to keep it wet. Get him to put it in a bag of tank water. You could also use some gravel from one of his tanks. Put it in some NEW pantyhose or a mesh bag and put it in the HOB, making sure it touching your 'new' media....
As George said, this will instantly cycle your tank. No more waiting and adding chemicals. Leave it in there for a few weeks to be sure....

 

[daniel2509]

It's your call mate but would your buddy exchange them for some store credit and use it to buy some nice fish when you get sorted. I'm not a fan of adding 'chemicals' to the tank unnecessarily. I'm not against those products but personally I think they are just a gimmick. I use the old fashioned, tried and tested method!!.
When you get the sponge or any other media off your mate, remember to keep it wet. Get him to put it in a bag of tank water. You could also use some gravel from one of his tanks. Put it in some NEW pantyhose or a mesh bag and put it in the HOB, making sure it touching your 'new' media....
As George said, this will instantly cycle your tank. No more waiting and adding chemicals. Leave it in there for a few weeks to be sure....

Thanks Ian. Should i take the cadtrige out of my filter? Let the sponge in the mesh bag with filer media? I dont think there will be enough space!

 

[Ian086]

Thanks Ian. Should i take the cadtrige out of my filter? Let the sponge in the mesh bag with filer media? I dont think there will be enough space!

What type of filter have you got. Make, model??