GUPPIESAGAIN
Aquarium Advice Apprentice
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2015
- Messages
- 11
After a self imposed 18 year hiatus from fish tanks I have found my self back for another round.
A lot of things have changed and when I purchased my new 29 gallon Biocube the fish guy sold me a bottle of SafeStart to aid in the cycling process.
I waited 3 weeks to finally set up my tank (long drawn out story) but this weekend I added live plants, finally got the Seachem Florurite rinsed enough added the SafeStart and felt great about where I was, let the cycle begin!
So this morning the temperature looked good the tank was a little cloudy, I figured the bacteria was blooming and I decided to give the amazing Betta (which took me nearly 2 hours to pick out) that had been living in a large glass vessel on my kitchen island for the last 3 weeks a little taste of paradise.
I acclimated him as one would do to most fish they bring home and set him free. About 20 minutes into his release I noticed that he seemed to have an issue fighting the pull of the filter intake so I turned off the Biocube filter and left the air stones on to keep the water flowing.
It was at this time I thought if the current was too strong in the Biocube then I needed to set up the small Marineland 5 gallon that I bought for him immediately.
It was somewhere within an hour of setting him free that I came downstairs to find him in total distress, he was resting at the top of the tank and not looking good. I quickly poured some room temperature bottled spring water into his old glass home added Prime and began my attempted to fish him out of the planted tank.
Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in my attempts to save him and I feel horrible.
I've spent the whole afternoon rethinking what I did and didn't do when setting up the tank and it hit me I was so overjoyed with the SafeStart that I didn't add Prime or any water conditioner. I have searched the world wide web looking for a definite answer if I can add Prime after SafeStart and I can't seem to find it.
At this point in time I don't know what to do. I could care less about a quick cycle but I don't know what will happen to the cycle if I add Prime now. If memory serves me correctly the chlorine will evaporate but the chloramine is forever unless you add a water conditioner.
My main outcome is not to kill any more fish period. I know there is no guarantee I won't have fish die while in my care but I do want to do my best to provide them with the best environment possible and it begins with water quality.
I know I am a newbie and there may be 1,000s of posts which relate to this topic but I've spent the day grieving because this is exactly why I gave up this hobby years ago, life happens fish die but when it happens on my watch I feel badly.
So if anyone out there can cut me a newbie break and offer me some sage advice or point me to the correct thread I would be grateful.
Dayna
A lot of things have changed and when I purchased my new 29 gallon Biocube the fish guy sold me a bottle of SafeStart to aid in the cycling process.
I waited 3 weeks to finally set up my tank (long drawn out story) but this weekend I added live plants, finally got the Seachem Florurite rinsed enough added the SafeStart and felt great about where I was, let the cycle begin!
So this morning the temperature looked good the tank was a little cloudy, I figured the bacteria was blooming and I decided to give the amazing Betta (which took me nearly 2 hours to pick out) that had been living in a large glass vessel on my kitchen island for the last 3 weeks a little taste of paradise.
I acclimated him as one would do to most fish they bring home and set him free. About 20 minutes into his release I noticed that he seemed to have an issue fighting the pull of the filter intake so I turned off the Biocube filter and left the air stones on to keep the water flowing.
It was at this time I thought if the current was too strong in the Biocube then I needed to set up the small Marineland 5 gallon that I bought for him immediately.
It was somewhere within an hour of setting him free that I came downstairs to find him in total distress, he was resting at the top of the tank and not looking good. I quickly poured some room temperature bottled spring water into his old glass home added Prime and began my attempted to fish him out of the planted tank.
Unfortunately I was unsuccessful in my attempts to save him and I feel horrible.
I've spent the whole afternoon rethinking what I did and didn't do when setting up the tank and it hit me I was so overjoyed with the SafeStart that I didn't add Prime or any water conditioner. I have searched the world wide web looking for a definite answer if I can add Prime after SafeStart and I can't seem to find it.
At this point in time I don't know what to do. I could care less about a quick cycle but I don't know what will happen to the cycle if I add Prime now. If memory serves me correctly the chlorine will evaporate but the chloramine is forever unless you add a water conditioner.
My main outcome is not to kill any more fish period. I know there is no guarantee I won't have fish die while in my care but I do want to do my best to provide them with the best environment possible and it begins with water quality.
I know I am a newbie and there may be 1,000s of posts which relate to this topic but I've spent the day grieving because this is exactly why I gave up this hobby years ago, life happens fish die but when it happens on my watch I feel badly.
So if anyone out there can cut me a newbie break and offer me some sage advice or point me to the correct thread I would be grateful.
Dayna