pumpknmom

I'm sorry, I looked through the threads, but I didn't exactly find an answer to this question.

I'm setting up a new 10 gallon freshwater tank. (Haven't got the fish yet, because I want the tank cycled first.) It was a kit, and included something called "stress coat" and also "stress enzyme." It said to add it to the tank water as part of the set up, so we did that. I didn't think this "stress enzyme" would cycle the tank, but my husband thinks it will. I asked the guy at the pet store about a chemical for cycling and he said we should do it with fish, chemicals aren't natural, etc. Since we've read so much about not cycling with fish, there's no way we're going to cycle the tank with fish.

So, my question is, will this "stress" stuff work? Or do we need something else? We will be using a test kit. The one we bought has something missing though, so I need to return it. Therefore, we might not have a test kit for a few days.

Thanks for your help!

AlyeskaGirl

Welcome to Fishlore!

Don't use Stress Zyme it contains the wrong kind of bacteria. Do a fishless cycle, I put a link below for instructions....if you have any questions about it just ask.

Ammonia instructions for a fishless cycle

Lucy

I'm with Christine, skip the Stress Zyme.
This thread has Four Methods of Fish Less Cycling

aquarist48

Hello PumpknMom and Welcome to Fish Lore. Great tips and links provided above. If you have more questions don't hesitate to ask. I'll be looking forward to hearing and hopefully seeing somephotos of your progress
Ken

Lucy

Ooops!!! I forgot to say welcome to FishLore!

bolivianbaby

Welcome to Fishlore Wonderful advice above.

pumpknmom

Thanks for the welcomes and the advice! I haven't started cycling yet, but I did get my new test kit today and I tested the tank water just for fun. It's been running about 24 hours, and I had added the "stess zyme" at the beginning. Right now, the tank water has a pH of 7.2, and the nitrate level is 5 PPM. I don't understand why there's nitrates in the tank- could it be from the filter or stress zyme?

I still plan on cycling the tank (fishless), I was just curious.

Thanks!

thorpbrian

Welcome to fishlore. Good thing you found this site before you killed a bunch of fish like a good portion of us did on here.

Stress zyme will give you a nitrate reading but the bacteria in the product will eventually die off and leave your tank uncycled. This product contains the wrong type of bacteria for aquariums. I'd suggest doing a large water change to get the stress zyme out of the tank before going about doing your fishless cycle.

The only bacterial enzyme product on the market that seems to work is Tetra Safe Start (I've used it to cycle both my 20 gals and am currently using it to cycle my 55 gal).

However, fishless cycling is probably the most preferable method.