Beginner With A Few Questions

Hello Everyone, I have researched these forums for a week and still have a few questions I’d like to ask

I am a beginner with a few questions. I started by setting up the tank one night by adding TSS and a dechlorinator and adding 3 fish the next morning because I did not know about the cycle and my LFS misguided me. I woke up the next day and all 3 fish were at the top of the tank. This is when I began my research.
2 died and I am now doing a fish in cycle with this 20 gallon tank with 1 fish (dwarf gourami). The gourami has been completely normal ever since my first water change. I started 1 week ago by using TSS, again, I used it with a dechlorinator the same night which probably killed off the bacteria. I have tested the water levels daily and have 0 for everything, and 7.4-7.6ph. Temperature 75-76 degrees F. I do a 25-35% water change everyday with Seachem prime.
I have a few questions.

• is 1 fish enough of an ammonia source for the cycle to finish? Should I add 1 more?

•I have an API masterkit, how do I test the ammonia levels if I am using Seachem Prime?

• is a water change still required daily if I am using prime?

•*** should I dump another bottle of TSS into the tank or do you think 1 week was enough time to establish my own natural source of bacteria (I was thinking about buying Seachem Stability and adding it with daily water changes)***

• should I do anything differently from here on out?


Thank you!

—————

UPDATE:
On Sunday I ended up switching out the DG for 3 Black skirt tetras because he wouldn’t let any other fish in the tank.

My ammonia and nitrite was 0 each time with the DG. My ammonia and nitrite is still 0ppm 48 hours later even with the 3 black skirt in there. I just received my Stability in the mail today and dosed that as well as prime again . My plan is to continue dosing prime until I get a 1.00ppm total Ammonia/Nitrite before I do a water change as stated in the formula recommended to me in the comments.

 

I've heard mixed reviews about the bacteria boosts. It may or may not actually end up adding anything. If you are cycling with a fish, I'd still do daily water changes even if t's overkill to minimize the chances of the gourami dying. Seachem prime only kills ammonia for a while, and even though you're adding it every day it's still safer to keep up the water changes. I'm guessing to test the water right before you change, when the ammonia killer isn't really working anymore. You could try another bottle, but from what I've heard it can be hit or miss. I did a fishless cycle, so I don't know a lot about cycling with a fish, but from what you're saying it seems like the daily water changes should keep the dwarf gourami alive until it's cycled. If you happen to know anyone with a cycled tank, you could as for 1/4 of their filter which will definitely add their beneficial bacteria.

 

Thanks for the reply, I have gotten 0 ammonia on every test that I do right before my water changes up until today. But then again, it’s only been 7 days. That’s another reason I asked if 1 fish was enough and if I should still go daily changes.

Thanks again for your reply, definitely helped

 

Thanks! I'd definitely poke around a bit more since this is me trying to accurately guess. I did a fishless cycle, so I could have my facts wrong. I'm glad to help though!

 

TSS+ Does work, but you need to wait 48 hours after adding prime to use it. Then wait two weeks, do nothing, do not test the water, and only top off with water that's either aged, or RO water. At the end of the two weeks, you can test your water and do a water change.

Stability works if you want to do water changes during the cycle. However, with just a DG in a 20 gallon tank, the fish probably aren't producing enough ammonia for a cycle. You may need to add another fish or two in order to get things going. Make sure you quarantine any new fish before adding them to the tank.

 

So if you had to pick 1 route to go, would you do the TSS+ with no water changes for 2 weeks or go with the Stability?

I’m assuming I’d need to add a fish for both methods as you stated before.

 

I've personally used stability and I've found it works really well. You add it every day according to the instructions so if you need to do a water change, you can. However even with moderate stocking levels I actually didn't find a water change necessary until the regular weekly water change.

I would add fish regardless, just add them slowly and after a long QT.

 

A dg in a 20 should be enough of a bio load to cycle your tank. I cycled my 75 with 4 guppies. It a lot easier with a low bio load because you only need to do water changes every 3-4 days instead of daily. With a fish in cycle since I don't use anything including water treatment products I try to keep ammonia under .25 as well as nitrites under .25. Test your water every day and when its over do a water change to bring the numbers back down.

 

A dg in a 20 should be enough of a bio load to cycle your tank. I cycled my 75 with 4 guppies. It a lot easier with a low bio load because you only need to do water changes every 3-4 days instead of daily. With a fish in cycle since I don't use anything including water treatment products I try to keep ammonia under .25 as well as nitrites under .25. Test your water every day and when its over do a water change to bring the numbers back down.

Thanks! How long did the cycle take with that method?

 

About 5 weeks if I remember right. I think I only had to do about 25% every 5 days.

 

Both TSS+ and Stability work. TSS will be faster however. Tetra recommends 1-2 small fish per 10 gallons if cycling with TSS. If cycling with Stability, follow this formula:

Ammonia + nitrite (combined, so add them to get the total) = less than 1ppm, add full tank volume of Prime. Recheck parameters in 24 hours.

Ammonia + nitrite = 1ppm or more, do a sufficient water change to get both around .25ppm. Add full tank volume of Prime. Recheck parameters in 24 hours.

Prime is 1ml per 10 gallons, so 2ml for your tank.

Prime doesn’t remove ammonia, it just detoxifies it so your test kit will still register the ammonia.

 

Thank you everyone for the advice!

 

UPDATE: On Sunday I ended up switching out the DG for 3 Black skirt tetras because he wouldn’t let any other fish in the tank.

My ammonia and nitrite was 0 each time with the DG. My ammonia and nitrite is still 0ppm 48 hours later even with the 3 black skirt in there. I just received my Stability in the mail today and dosed that as well as prime again . My plan is to continue dosing prime until I get a 1.00ppm total Ammonia/Nitrite before I do a water change as stated in the formula recommended to me in the comments.

Does this sound Ok? I’m just confused why my ammonia is 0 even 48 hours after adding 3 black skirt

 

If you are anything like me (skimming directions) the negative ammonia readings could be improper testing. When I started my fishless cycle two months ago the first couple ammonia tests I did I was only using bottle #1. I just assumed they included 2 of the same bottle. Anyways when I realized I was supposed to use drops from both I felt dumb and joined this community and glad I did. From one newbie to another welcome!!

 

Ya I follow the directions correctly lol, thanks!

 

Check nitrates again. But shake the crud outta the test bottles and bang them on table a couple times and shake again. See if you get any reading


"Nitrates"

Also I heard prime converts ammonia to non toxic form but most tests still show it. I may be mistaken on that though.

 

Nitrates 0 , really strange

 

Ah ok. Was hoping you did what I did at first and were just not getting a reading because the tester bottles werent shaken up and beat on enough. Lol

 

All good lol. Ill give it a few days