jdhef

Yeah Lucy, I told her it was ammonium back in post #2...so there!

Tigerlily

Ten stores, 3 counties and a 100 mile round trip later... I found a store that carries TSS. They use it when they set up new tanks and recommend it highly. I had purchased pet stuff from this store 20+ years ago when I lived in that city. I thought they'd closed when I saw their store front had become a dollar store. Turns out they moved and are continuing their 40 year-old business from a new location. They specialize in aquariums and it was amazing to see the tank room. The owner breeds angel fish and has a huge tank with hundreds of teeny tiny babies. When she put her hand near the glass they all swarmed towards it like metal filings to a magnet. Delightful! She had many baby bettas, bred locally. The marine fish were incredible too. And ohhhh, all the different tanks and set ups for sale. I'm in deep trouble now. LOL

Anyway... 6 hours ago I added TSS to Maynard's tank.
Current water conditions:
pH 6.6
ammonia a terrifyingly high 8.0
nitrite 0
nitrate 5.0

Is it possible the addition of TSS could be causing the ammonia to convert directly to Nitrate?

I added Prime again this evening... the ammonia with a 6.6 ph is so scary to me.

Oh yeah, I followed the suggestion on the site Ken sent about testing ph of tap water after 24 hours (and again at 48) of oxygenation with an air stone. My tap water was 7.8 24 hours ago (different from a few days ago) and is still at 7.8.

Thanks to the good advice I got here... seconded today by the lady at the fish store... I'm feeling optimistic and not fearful of turning around any second and seeing my cute boy in distress or dead. Thank you all!

mommybaby295

Once you add the TSS, do nothing for 10 days except feed the fish. No testing the water - the results come back crazy. I did exactly what you did, panicked, added Prime. But TSS does not work with Prime, and I messed up the TSS by adding it. I had to start over.

I hope the prime didn't mess you up like it did me.

edit: I would strongly suggest you not add it again. TSS is made so that your fish will be safe after you add it, for 7-10 days.

jdhef

TSS should have the bacteria that converts nitrite into nitrate as well as the bacteria that converts ammonia into nitrites. So it wouldn't be surprising to find a nitrate reading. But like mommybaby said, don't test your water or add anything to your tank other than fish food for the fish. Hopefully the Prime doen't interfere with the SafeStart doing it's job.

Tigerlily

Okay, the Prime is put away and I won't test until next weekend.

Lucy

Good luck Tigerlily!