API Quick start, and ammonia is up?

Hey all, concerning little thing here... I just filled up my 2nd 75 gallon yesterday and added a de-chlorinator. I also put Tetra safe start in there but since I put it in so close together I'm assuming the Tetra was wasted. I purchased API quick start today and added it since my tank has had a filter running for > 24 hours after the de-chlorinator was added. After running a test on the water I'm rather concerned. My Ammonia is up around 1.0 and nitrites are 0. I know that it may take a bit to develop the nitrites but I can't understand why the tank would have so much ammonia after adding 6 juvenile fish in a 75 gallon tank, 20 minutes prior.

Please help me understand, is this what Quick start is supposed to do? Should I be concerned? should I move the fish back to the stable tank?

Thanks.

 

From what others have told me, Quick Start just has bacteria from land-based bacteria. Those out compete the true bacteria that will survive in the water. It is something you would have to keep adding because the bacteria die off due to them not being truly aquatic.

It would be better to take some of the media from your established aquarium. Then again, if your first tank has only been up since July 4th - it might not be fully established to be able to assist in seeding your second aquarium.

Hope some of that helps and someone else should come by to add more.

 

My first one does show zero nitrites and ammonia now. I have also taken some media from the other tank and added it to the new one. Thanks for the advice!

 

I've never used it personally but you might want to look into getting some Prime if your cycling with fish. It blocks the ammonia/nitrite from harming your fish but still allows the bacteria to develop. I also hear of people using Tetra Safe Start to jump start a cycle. Again I've never used it but I know plenty of other people who have successfully started tanks with it.

 

HI Brad,
Which dechlorinator are you using? Prime is known to distort ammonia readings.

Despite this, there was a recent topic regarding the new API Quick Start Product. Based on what I could discover from API's published articles, I would not recommend the product as a bacterial supplement. The thread (with all relevant links) is here:

 

Yes, I use prime. I knew it could throw levels off so I was hoping this was indeed the reasoning why it was off. Thanks again for your replies ill check the levels again this evening. Hopefully they are more in line with good parameters.

One more question. Would it be ok to add tetrasafestart at this point? It won't cause any harm will it?

Thanks!

 

Make sure you leave 24 hours (or more) before readings when using Prime.

I think you want to slow down, so far you have TSS and Quick Start going in your tank.

I would wait a week at least before adding any more supplements to your tank.

Have you read the instructions for TSS? https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/

 

I agree with Ryan, in that you should spend a week doing partial water changes with Prime before adding SafeStart again. The reason being that the Quick Start may interfere with the SafeStart. SafeStart is a great product, but it can be very finiky in not used in the precise way it was designed to be used.

So a week of daily partial water changes with Prime should keep your fish safe, plus get some of the Quick Start out of your tank. If it were me I would also change out the filter media to ensure there is no Quick Start in there.

Then 24 hours after your last water change with Prime, add a bottle of Safestart.

 

Sounds like a plan guys! I'm no stranger to the water changes and with the python its no big deal. Thanks again for your advice and opinions!