disturbedme

I was reading around about this product. About how once you add it to your tank, don't do any testing or water changes until after a week. And cloudy water is okay because that means good bacteria are multiplying.

But what I'm worried about: Hasn't anyone worried about adding it and then having their fishies in the high ammonia or nitrate/nitrite levels I know I'm going to be going crazy not knowing how high the levels are with my fish in there possibly being harmed.

Also, I know you're supposed to start the TSS WITH the fish, but my fish have already been in the tank for about a week and a couple days. The cycle though hasn't really done much by itself. Still has low level ammonia reading and no nitrate/nitrite levels showing up. Will it be okay that I use the TSS now?

Thanks for the help!

Amanda

Yes, add the TSS. It will add the beneficial bacteria needed to start the cycle. When this bacteria is established, it will eliminate the ammonia & nitrite.

disturbedme

Have you tried it? Were you worried about the build up of ammonia and such harming the fish?

Oh, another question: I was going to start this tonight. I was going to do a water change first and add in Prime. Would that be all right to do?

Amanda

I use it when I cycle all my tanks.
I used it in my 55 gal., and I'm going to use it in my 20 gal. soon.
I wasn't worried, the bacteria will take care of the ammonia.

Amanda

A water change & prime should be alright with the TSS. I'm not entirely positive about the prime though.

AlyeskaGirl

Yes, as long as the water is de-clorinated before you add the new water to the tank, since you have fish.

disturbedme

I don't have an airstone or anything like that - will my tank still cycle?

Shawnie

yes your tank will cycle without an airstone..just do the water change with prime as you said, then add the tss and leave the tank be for a week...id back off just a bit on feeding ..maybe half of what you were until after the week..no need to add more ammonia ...then test after the week and go from there tss is amazing and does what it says

disturbedme

I know I leave the tank for a week, but I'm worried about the ammonia/nitrites getting too high. LOL. Worried about it hurting my fishies.

Amanda

That's what the TSS is for. To prevent that exact thing from happening.

disturbedme

Okay, good to know.

Is there going to be enough ammonia to feed the bactera if I only have one fish in the tank right now with one mystery snail?

David C

I've used TSS 3 times so far to cycle a 55, 10, and 6.6... it's the greatest product for us impatient sorts. You're definately overthinking it, just dump the stuff in and don't check the readings for the week because they'll be outta whack and drive you nuts. The fish will be fine and you'll have a fully cycled tank even with 1 fish and a snail

disturbedme

LOL Thanks, David.

Yes, I am definitely one of those 'impatient sorts'.

Red1313

The spikes are so brief i wouldn't worry about them. With only one fish in the tank just keep an eye on paramaters when you add the other one back in.

disturbedme

Okay, it's day three of the stuff and I did what I wasn't supposed to and tested the water.

Oddly - there was like no ammonia, and from what I saw no nitrates or nitrates. Unless there was a tad bit of nitrates, but I really don't know. They looked to be all 0 to me. I don't get it! What does that mean?!

Shawnie

means leave it alone for 4 more days

disturbedme

LMBO! I just thought it would have been making some kind of nitrite/nitrates by now.

Shawnie

back away from the tank!!!

disturbedme

lol

Shawnie

disturbedme

Ooohh, new question.

I got the 50ml bottle which is for a 15 gallon. Mine is only a 10 gallon, so I didn't put the whole bottle in, but most of it. Should I just dump the rest in? The guy at the LFS where I bought it told me to. LOL.

Amanda

I would put the entire bottle in.
I bought a 25 gal. bottle for my 20 gal. tank.

haedra

I apologize for posting in someone else's thread... but it is for the exact same thing. So please forgive me, OP for posting my same worries in your thread!

I am a worrywort. I called Tetra and asked them specifically two things: whether it was ok to stock my tank with 4 sterba corys while adding the safe start at the same time, and whether to use the whole bottle for my 10 gallon tank. He confirmed adding the whole bottle, and as well told me specifically that the product was designed to be added to a tank that would be fully stocked. So that's what I did.

I did not read anywhere on the instructions however, to not take any water parameter tests, so of course I did that anyway... and now I worry over readings I got 36 hours after the introduction of the both the fish and the safe start. I got .25 ammonia and .25 nitrite.

I love my fish already and would never have intentionally done anything to put them in harm, which is why I called Tetra and asked first.

I will now go spank myself on the wrist for hijacking your thread with my worrywart nature.

Red1313

No worries haedra, what tss does is basically speed cycle the tank. In a normal cycle the spikes takes days/ weeks with TSS all of it is over within 7 days. That's why you don't test b/c the readings you get will drive you insane.
You're fish will me fine.

P.S.
WELCOME TO FISHLORE!!!!

haedra

Thank you. I didn't realize how much I would love them already.

I searched the bottle of safe start carefully and could not find anything saying not to test the water.. Tetra should put that there, so people like me don't end up with an ulcer from worry!

To help out with nitrates and such, I already added a hornwort plant too, yesterday. The thing already grew an inch, on at least one "branch" I KNOW was shorter last night... I had heard it grew fast, but my lord.

In any case, despite my need to ask about these tests, the corys seem quite happy. They were a bit shy at first, but soon came out to explore the tank quite determinedly.

Actually this leads to one more question.. should I avoid any water change then for at least a week?

Red1313

my bottle does say that I think. But anyway no water changes for at least 7 days. After 7 days do a test. If you're cycle isn't done yet wait 3 more days then test and do a change.

Glad to hear things are going well with you're tank. Fish do have a way of growing on you especially corys.

krismoore888

Hi guys, if tss is so good at what it does, what is the point in waiting? Sorry if that sounds like a dumb question

agabr123

you mean, why bother ever doing a fishless cycle if you can use TSS? well, although most people seem to agree that there isn't any harm to the fish (and I agree with that as well), personally if i have the time and the patience i'd rather do a fishless cycle with ammonia. it's possible for products to not do exactly what they say that they do. from my understanding, TSS claims to make the spikes in ammonia and nitrite so short that they don't affect the fish very much, and to severely lessen the "toxic" amount in the tank. however, there is really no way for most of us to be able to prove or disprove that. if i can, i prefer fishless, but I do have a bottle of TSS as backup in case anything happens.

haedra

I definitely see what you're saying here...

There is always a chance of a product being defective, or mishandled and thus ineffective, no matter what type of product it is. There is always a chance that will be taken by using safe start, no matter how good it is... because you never quite know if somebody screwed up in manufacturing, or if it was left in 90 degree heat in a shipment truck, etc.

krismoore888

ah ok thanks