Recent content by sharvison

Thank you, but that is not entirely accurate. Seachem has stated that you can safely use Prime and StressGuard with Purigen because they are not amine based. They have also said if you use API StressCoat, purigen can be safely added back to the filter after 24-48 hours. Finally, they have said...

Thank you for the info, but we are good now. We did not cycle with fish in the tank, the tank was empty. It took about a month to cycle using Tetra SafeStart and we successfully added fish about 3 weeks ago. They are all happy and healthy, and water perimeters have been perfect.

I could probably add them safely by Friday. What should the ammonia drop to? Below 2? 0? What else could even be going on with the tank other than making sure the water is safe?

Update: I’ve been testing and keeping the ammonia up since I posted last. Yesterday I dosed to ammonia back up to about 4 ppm after not dosing the previous day since it was still above 2 ppm. Tonight (about 24 hours later) these are the readings. pH 7.2-7.4, ammonia between 1 and 2 ppm, nitrite...

Tonight’s readings done with API kit 22 hours after dosing ammonia to 4 ppm - pH 7.4, ammonia about 3 ppm (between 2 and 4 on the API kit), nitrite 0.5 ppm, and nitrAte between 5 and 10 ppm. Should I add any ammonia tonight, or just leave it as is and check again tomorrow?

Yes, I did last night. This morning I just used the strips since I was under a time crunch. I’ll check using the kit/tubes again tonight after work.

Sounds good. I didn’t have time to use the kit this morning, but wanted to check so I used the Tetra easy strips. Ammonia 3 ppm, nitrite 1 ppm, and nitrAte 20 ppm. The readings are quite different than the readings from the kit last night.

Tonight’s readings are: pH 7.4, ammonia 2 ppm (this was a little hard to tell tonight), nitrite 0 ppm, and nitrAte 5 ppm (maybe a little more, but less than 10 ppm). I am going to dose to 4 ppm again. Do these readings sound right? Are we moving in the right direction?

I dosed about 7 mL to get 4 ppm then after 18 hours it was down to 1 ppm. I dosed 4 mL to get it back up to 4 ppm was when I posted yesterday. I think the ammonia I found is pretty deluded, it is taking more to dose it than more sites say it should.

It has been about 18 hours since I dosed the ammonia. Current levels are as follows: pH 7.4, ammonia 1 ppm, nitrite 0 ppm, and nitrAte 5 ppm. I plan to use the remainder of the SafeStart and then dose the ammonia again. Is that correct?

Great, thank you! I got the ammonia up to 4 ppm tonight, I’ll check everything again in the morning.

Thank you!

I did the tests and only thing I have a current concern about is the pH. The normal range solution put it at 7.6 so I tried the high range solution and it put the pH at 7.8-8.0. I tested the water out of the tap and it was exactly the same. Thoughts? Is this okay? Ammonia came out at 0.25 ppm...

Yes, I have the test kit. And yes the water was already treated with dechlorinator. I’ll add the ammonia today and then safe start tomorrow. I would then test again daily and add additional ammonia up to 4 ppm, right? And I do not add more Prime unless I do a partial water change or add more...

For filtration I am using a Bio Wheel Penguin 150 with the included cartridge and a Seachem purigen in the other slot. I found everything I needed between a few stores - ammonia was a little more difficult to find. I am working on it all this morning. What is the order I should start...