Any Advise On Fish In Cycle

I got prime. I got distilled water with seachem replenish if never done this and my tetras have already been through a lot.
20gallon
7 black neon tetras
The reasone I'm using water from a bottle is because my tap water is to bad.

So any advice.

Edit:I'm looking for info tips

 

Just checking you've got a test kit?

 

Yes API

 

Also I have to go to my dads on the weekends how can I keep them monitored and alive. My mom has no clue about fish so she can't help.

 

Ok first use as much media from the old tank as you can in the new filter. That will move the cycle faster. If not going to use old filter add it to new tank for about a month and you will just transfer the cycle and will be done.
With being away on the weekends. Do all water changes and filter cleaning before you leave and have mom feed them small amounts of food.

 

You might want to try adding tss plus again now that you're using water without such high ammonia.

If you do try tss again, don't add it for 24 hours after you add the prime and don't do any water changes unless the ammonia is over 2 ppm or the nitrates are over 40 ppm. Then, do a small water change of 10 to 15% preferably with water that had prime added to it at least 24 hours prior to adding it.

 

How much can I reily on plants to help? I'm getting birthday money and will probably go to Amazon and petsmart to by plants and liquid fertilizer.
Edit: what if the fish poop to much before I get TSS and there's high ammonia?

 

How much can I reily on plants to help? I'm getting birthday money and will probably go to Amazon and petsmart to by plants and liquid fertilizer.
Edit: what if the fish poop to much before I get TSS and there's high ammonia?

Plants mainly help after the cycle is completed especially if you have gravel. Plants help break down waste and remove nitrates. Different plants are better than others. I would recommend regarding the plants is, if you can, while at petsmart, google the various available plants to see which ones are more useful and easy to care for. This is also important because petsmart sells some plants as aquatic that are not aquatic.

My petsmart carries Staurogyne repens which I picked up because it says it's easy to care for and one of the articles I found on it says it's good for reducing nitrates. Not completely sure because I only bought it 3 days ago but so far it's good.

As for tss+,

You want to add it when the ammonia ppm is less than 3, preferably less than 2 ppm, and 24 hours after filling the tank with conditioned water.

Once you add it, don't worry if you ammonia stays between 1.5 and 2.0 for the first 2 weeks. The bacteria is so ok mixing and slowly working through everything. At some point, your tank will probably look cloudy. This is due to a bacteria bloom. It is not dangerous and will go away in about 24 hours.

In the first two weeks, only do a water change if the ammonia is 3.0 or higher or if the nitrates are over 40 ppm. At that point, only do a small 10% to 15% water change.

After the two weeks, then you can do a 25% water change weekly along with regular maintenance because the colony will have established itself.

One other thing you can do to help your tank is encourage the bacteria to colonize mainly in your filter by grabbing 1 or 2 small biomax filter medium. You put the little net of ceramic tubes in the open part of your filter and you'll double or triple the area for your bacteria to colonize. An advantage of having multiple pieces of filter media is you can rinse 1 piece every week to help maintain filter cleanliness and it won't crash your cycle because you're leaving part of your filter media alone.

One more thing on adding live plants, definitely research the plants before you get them because some plants need lots of light and extra fertilizer and others need very little. If you get a high maintenance plant and it does in your tank, it will add to your problem because it will give off more nitrates.

 

Something about pet smart that they don’t advertise. If you find a better price online they will match it. Most everything in there is cheaper online. Not fish or plants though.
Sorry I don’t see you stating you have an ammonia problem. Is this a new tank? Or an existing tank?

 

Thanks

 

I’m guessing you want fish in you tank ASAP?

 

Just ask a friend for some established media