Can I ADD water during cycling with tetra safestart plus?

Hello again. I am back with another question.
I am in the process of a fish in cycle with tetra safe start plus. I am currently on day 9 and have 6 happy healthy skirt tetras that seem to be thriving and no visible signs of stress or illness. The water is a bit cloudy/hazy, but from what I’ve read that is most likely a bio/bloom which is good. I tested the water last night using master test kit and the ammonia is .25, nitrite-0, nitrate-5. So I feel like the cycle is going well and we are making progress. I know during the cycling with tetra safe start you can’t do any water changes, unless an extreme emergency. That’s fine. But my question is can I add water? I won’t be taking any away, but it looks like I need to add a few gallons to top the tank off and get it to the appropriate level. I have water prepared(conditioned/dechlorinated) in 5 gallon totes as well as a few gallon jugs that I’ve had on stand by since the beginning of the cycle. Is it safe to add a few gallons if needed and it not mess up my cycle or stall it? It’s going so well I hate the thought of messing it up. Also if I can add water should I also add more safe start? Thanks in advance!!!

 

Yes. You can top off the tank whenever you need it.

Water changes only affect a cycle by 1. removing ammonia/nitrite needed to feed the nitrifiers, and 2. impacting the tracking of parameters. Water top-offs affect neither situation (materially).

With fish-in cycling, the above point is also moot by the way, the no water changes thing only applies to fishless cycling.

On a related note, a bacterial bloom is generally neither good or bad during a cycle.

 

As Azedenkae said, there's no reason you can't add water, or do a water change. In fact, with a fish-in cycle you typically need to do water changes to keep the ammonia and nitrites at safe levels.

Considering all the mixed reviews I've seen about the bottled bacteria products I won't attempt to advise you on whether or not you should add more when you add water or do a water change.

 

My first fish in tank had similar situations where no3 started to rise. And then no2 shot up through the roof, scared me to death. So I did 50%WC every day. And then no2 just drop off and I was left with happy fish.

 

Thanks everyone. I’m glad to know adding water will not adversely effect the cycle. From my research before starting with safe start plus, people who have used it successfully have said it is intended as a fish-in only product and that in many cases it skips the nitrite part of the cycle completely. They also say very clearly DO NOT do water changes during the first 14 days unless it’s an emergency such as ammonia or nitrite spikes. That’s why I was afraid to add, so I’m glad to know that won’t effect it, thanks again. The reason I said that I think of the bio-bloom as good is because a lot of people doubt the effectiveness of bacterial products and a bio bloom is evidence that the bacteria is in fact growing and in my opinion that’s a good thing hahah I feel like it’s going very well so far and I am hopeful for the process to be a success. I’ll definitely continue to monitor the parameters and if there are any spikes or dangerous levels I will do the necessary water change for sure. Thanks again everyone!!

 

As others have said, yes it is fine to replace the evaporated water. Your numbers are looking good so allow the TSS the full two weeks recommended before doing any water changes.

 

As others have said, yes it is fine to replace the evaporated water. Your numbers are looking good so allow the TSS the full two weeks recommended before doing any water changes.

Thanks! That’s what I’d read also I’m glad someone else has seen it lol
Here’s another question if you don’t mind. Does the bacteria grow on the glass inside the aquarium? I know it grows in filter media, substrate etc but wasn’t sure about the glass. My glass is spotty inside and I wanted to give it a bit of a wipe down but wasn’t sure if bacteria accumulate there. And like I said I have water pre treated on stand by. But the temp of that water is probably around 74. My tank is heated to around 77-78. Is that much of a temp difference ok?

 

The reason I said that I think of the bio-bloom as good is because a lot of people doubt the effectiveness of bacterial products and a bio bloom is evidence that the bacteria is in fact growing and in my opinion that’s a good thing hahah I feel like it’s going very well so far and I am hopeful for the process to be a success.

Unfortunately this is not necessarily true. Bacterial blooms tend to be caused by heterotrophs, as they rapidly consume organics, along with nitrogen sources like ammonia for growth. The nitrifiers that we tend to want to cultivate are autotrophs, which do not tend to form such blooms. The reason is because they replicate much more slowly and often stick to surfaces, so would not form such dense populations in the water to be seen as a bloom. This is especially true for Tetra SafeStart Plus, which boasts that they contain three types of these autotrophic nitrifiers.

Assimilation of nitrogen by heterotrophs is not necessarily a bad thing, especially if it can be sustained. It's just not an indication of products like Tetra SafeStart Plus working.

 

Thanks! That’s what I’d read also I’m glad someone else has seen it lol
Here’s another question if you don’t mind. Does the bacteria grow on the glass inside the aquarium? I know it grows in filter media, Sinatra etc but wasn’t sure about the glass. My glass is spotty inside and I wanted to give it a bit of a wipe down but wasn’t sure if bacteria accumulate there. And like I said I have water pre treated on stand by. But the temp of that water is probably around 74. My tank is heated to around 77-78. Is that much of a temp difference ok?

You are so very welcome Yes, bacteria grows on ALL the surfaces in our tank. I would hold off on cleaning anything in there for at least the first month. If it is getting really bad on the glass you can go ahead and clean one pane at a time. I would use something like a expired credit/debit/gift card to scrape it off. You won't really be removing bacteria by doing it this way.

Since you are just topping off the temp difference shouldn't be a problem.

 

You are so very welcome Yes, bacteria grows on ALL the surfaces in our tank. I would hold off on cleaning anything in there for at least the first month. If it is getting really bad on the glass you can go ahead and clean one pane at a time. I would use something like a expired credit/debit/gift card to scrape it off. You won't really be removing bacteria by doing it this way.

Since you are just topping off the temp difference shouldn't be a problem.

Thank you! You are always so helpful and so nice! I appreciate you.

 

You are so very welcome Yes, bacteria grows on ALL the surfaces in our tank. I would hold off on cleaning anything in there for at least the first month. If it is getting really bad on the glass you can go ahead and clean one pane at a time. I would use something like a expired credit/debit/gift card to scrape it off. You won't really be removing bacteria by doing it this way.

Since you are just topping off the temp difference shouldn't be a problem.

Hi! I’m sorry to bother you, but I need you help again I am at the 2 week mark on my cycle with Tetra safe start plus. Tomorrow, Wednesday, will be the full 14 days. My problem(not sure if it’s a problem) is that for the past at least 5 days, my numbers haven’t really changed much. I’ve tested every night and it consistently been ammonia.25-.50 nitrites-0 nitrates-10. I’m not panicking because the numbers don’t seem to be bad. They’re just not moving. The ammonia isn’t going down and the nitrates aren’t going up. I’ve done no water changes in the 2 weeks. I added a small bottle of tssp tonight to see if that’ll help but it was only enough for a 10 gallon so not a lot, it’s all my lfs had. I have more ordered that’ll be here Friday. Should I continue waiting or once I get the tssp do a water change now that the 2 weeks are up? I know it can take longer than 14 days, just where the numbers haven’t changed in several days I’m afraid I’ve stalled. I’ve seen several people mention that after a while water loses the nutrients required to continue to build bacteria and was concerned about that.
may water is heated to a consistent 77-78 and my ph has been consistently 8 the entire time as well. I have conditioned water on stand by just in case as well. Any thoughts and advice will be greatly appreciated!! Thanks again!

 

No bother at all. I would go ahead and change out half the water now that the 2 weeks have passed. The fresh water may give the cycle what it needs to finish up. Just be sure you've added your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in there if you have chlorine in your tap water. Unlike my recommendation for top offs, since you are changing out half the water try to get the fresh water close to the same temp as the water in the tank.

 

No bother at all. I would go ahead and change out half the water now that the 2 weeks have passed. The fresh water may give the cycle what it needs to finish up. Just be sure you've added your water conditioner to the fresh water before pouring it in there if you have chlorine in your tap water. Unlike my recommendation for top offs, since you are changing out half the water try to get the fresh water close to the same temp as the water in the tank.

My tank temp is pretty consistent at 77. The water I keep prepared is room temp and about 73-74. I plan to do the water change Friday once I receive the tetra safe start. Would it be a good idea to lower the heater temp to 73-74 until I get the water changed so the temp will be closer or is that not too much of a difference?

 

Probably not a problem but if it were me I would just add enough hot water to get it up closer to the tanks temp.

 

Probably not a problem but if it were me I would just add enough hot water to get it up closer to the tanks temp.

Thanks so much! You are the best!!