antbfc

I am going to cycle a new small tank (28 litres) which is going to be for my male siamese fighter fish.

My last cycle was done with fish and i lost a few so just want to do this one without harming or losing any.

I have bought 100ml of tetra safestart and my other tank is newly cycled. I added fish food to start the ammonia levels off, but i don't know how high i need to get them and when to add the safestart? i've heard 5ppm but once it is at that do i keep adding?

Any help is appreciated

Lucy

With Tetra SafeStart, I'm pretty sure you add the product and the fish at the same time.
At least that's what the bottle says.

The 5ppm you've heard about is when you're cycling with ammonia, not TSS.
If you brought the ammonia up that high, it would probably overwhelm the bacteria in TSS.

antbfc

so should i just add the tss and the fish? i thought we weren't supposed to do that too the fish? I could just add the tss leave for a week then add the fish?

Lucy

Without an ammonia source the bacteria in TSS would die off.
Normally you wouldn't want to add a fish to an uncyled tank, but the TSS has the bacteria that should process the ammonia.
This poll might interest you:
If you've used Tetra Safe Start, please take this poll

antbfc

ok so from reading through that i need to get my ammonia up to 4ppm and then add the tss and let it work, which one of the posters did? So if i do that do i continue to add fish food as a ammonia source so the bacteria has something to feed of or will the initial 4ppm be enough for the cycle?

Lucy

I sent Shawnie a pm asking her to look at this thread. She's got more experience with TSS than I do.

Shawnie

if you are going to use tss, fill the tank...add your tap water conditioner and let the filter and heater run for 24 hours with that..then add the tss and your betta...give it 7 days and test your water after that... do NOT use tss with ammonia and give the tank 24 hours to run with the tap conditioner before adding the tss...good luck!

antbfc

ok thankyou shawnie. I won't be able to pick up a betta until next weekend so looks like i'm going to have to go a different root.... shall i try the add ammonia option? do i just add the ammonia up to 4ppm then let it drop and the cycle continue?

Lucy

If you already have the TSS just wait till next week to add it with the fish.
If you cycle with ammonia (not TSS) it could take up to a month to cycle.

Shawnie

+1 just wait until next week.... patience is something I wish they sold in a bottle like tss!!!!!

antbfc

lol ok no problem! thanks guys!