Cycling with fish?

I'm a bit confused but what should the process be when cycling with fish? should I be changing the water everyday? and do I put conditioner evertime I change the water?

Trying to start this today if someone could help?

My ph level is 7.8-7.9 and ammonia is 0.5ish

 

Are you using any products like Tetra Safe Start? If you are doing a fish in cycle you should be using Tetra Safe Start which will provide the proper type of bacteria to convert the ammonia into nitrites and the nitrites into nitrates. If you use TSS you don’t do any water changes for at least the first 10 days and you sure don’t use Prime during this time because it can slow the cycling process. If you are not you need to be doing large daily water changes and using Prime to detoxify the ammonia and nitrites between water changes. Prime only detoxifies for 24 hours so you need to do water changes daily and treat the tank with Prime to detoxify what is left.

I hope this makes sense to you. Use TSS – no water change – no Prime --- Not using TSS – large daily water changes – Dose tank with Prime.

 

Yes, I am using TSS its been about 24 hours what should I be looking for next? I'm just really confused on how the process goes i've read a bunch of articles but don't exactly know what i'm looking for.
I just need a quick step-by-step if anyone can help?

-my water is alittle cloudy btw.

 

When you use TSS you're not supposed to test or change the water for 10-14 days.

This should help answer some of your questions:

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/

Good luck

 

Using TSS is pretty simple to do. Get the tank ready, add fish, add TSS and leave alone except for feeding for the next 10 to 14 days. Do not do any water changes and don’t worry about doing any testing for the first two weeks.

After the 10 to 14 day period has passed you will need to test for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. If at that time the ammonia and nitrites are showing zero and you have some nitrates showing you are good to go. If the test results are not what they should be just stay the course for a few more days. If after a few more days you are still not getting proper results I would guess that the TSS failed to work and you would need to dose the tank again and start all over.

If after the proper time period the test results are what they need to be I would do a large water change with water treated with a product like Seachem Prime and start enjoying the new tank. You will need to then start your weekly and monthly maintenance schedule.

The link Lucy posted is a good place to get some of your questions answered about the TSS process but as long as you follow the directions on the bottle you should have a cycled tank in about two weeks.

 

Thanks for the advice everyone! But for now I won't need to do any testing for anything? and last question is in 10 days lets say the test are showing good results I then do a6-70% water change and add another TSS or jus the Prime?

 

According to tetra, don't test. the readings will be wonky and worry you.

If in 10 days your readings indicate that you're cycled, just do a water change with prime (or another good water conditioner).
You should be good to go.

Let us know how you make out.

 

Well it hasn't been the full 10 days yet but around 5-6.. and bad news my pH went up to 7.5ish and my ammonie shot up to 4.0! idk what to do almost giving up on this. I still haven't got a chance to get a nitrite and nitrate test kit so that's also another fail.

Well hopefully this TTS is a miracle worker in next few days.

 

The TSS has failed. It happens sometimes. Have you done a water change at all? If so, what type of water conditioner did you use.

We can fix this rather easily, so don't throw in the towel just yet.

 

I have the aqueon water conditioner. It's states 5ml for every 10 gallons. Should I double dose on that with a 50-75% water change and should I double on the TTS?

 

I would do a 50% water change, refill the tank using your Aqueon conditioner, immediately do another 50% change, using only enough conditioner to treat the amount of water you will be adding, and then do another 50% change, so..... 3 or 4 back to back water changes using water set to the same temp the tank is currently in. Then wait about an hour and test the ammonia. Hopefully it will test under .5ppm. Wait 24 hours and then add a full bottle of TSS. Shake the bottle really well, and use the entire bottle. Test the water in about 3 days, and let us know what the result is. The ammonia should remain low. The main reason it's recommended not to test during the use of TSS is because they don't want people prematurely doing water changes due to ammonia levels or because they believe the tank has cycled, so I'd like you to do an ammonia test in 3 days, just so we can keep an eye on the process.

Any questions or concerns, don't be afraid to ask.

 

I have the aqueon water conditioner. It's states 5ml for every 10 gallons. Should I double dose on that with a 50-75% water change and should I double on the TTS?

From what I read about Aqueon Water Conditioner it can detoxify ammonia and if so it shouldn't be used with TSS because it might cause the cycle process to fail or be real slow. I might be totally worng here because I know they make several products so I would suggest you read on the bottle and if it clames to detox ammonia I wouldn't use it. I would just go get something that is only going to remove chlorine and chloramines.

 

Wow I love the information you guys are giving me thanks for really helping out.. So heres what I'm going to do a 50% water change today and do 5ml of conditioner.. In the morning I wil repeat the process 2x then follow by two tabs of TTS? Hows that sound and I'll wait 24 hours after that and if it done work I'll go out and buy prime

 

And question also isn't an ammonia spike part of the nitrogen cycle

 

Ah, you're right bowcrazy, the link I read didn't state that, but I looked at a different one after your post and it does say it treats ammonia. As long as the TSS isn't added before the 24 hour period is up, the TSS should work but it would be better to use a conditioner that only treats chlorine and chloramine and not ammonia or nitrites etc.

Another thing Souzaaaaa that I should get you to do, is an ammonia test on your tap water. Run some water into a container and do one without adding conditioner, and then do another one after you add enough conditioner to treat that water. Stir the water up well after you add the conditioner, and wait at least 5 minutes before you run the second test. This will help determine if you have chloramine in your water supply. If you know you don't have chloramine, just do the test on untreated tap water to make sure you don't have ammonia present in your water.

 

No, don't do the water changes using any other product within the 24 hour period prior to using TSS. TSS will fail.

Yes ammonia spike is part of the cycle, but we must keep levels as low as possible when fish are present to prevent sickness and death.

TSS will usually keep ammonia levels well under 1ppm ammonia.

Another thing you could do to help cycle your tank, is add a media bag of biomax to your filter. I don't know what type of filter you are using but even HOB's often have room to shove a small bag of biomax into it. The biomax will give the beneficial bacteria more room to develop a strong colony. If you can't do this for what ever reason, there are other things you may be able to easily do to give the bacteria more area to develop a strong colony.

 

So Aqueon 24 hours wait then use tts?

 

Well I have a simple tetra whisper .. I'm pretty sure I don't have that in the house lol is there anything else I could stick in there?

 

Biomax can be purchased at your fish store at the same time as you purchase the TSS. I'll give you a link so you know exactly what they look like.



You talked about adding "two tabs of TTS", I assume you meant TSS (Tetra Safe Start) but I've never heard of it coming in tabs, so I'm goin to provide you with another link to verify that we are talking about using the same product to cycle your tank.



If you can't use the biomax in your filter, you can try place one or two of these type of nylon scrubbies into your filter. You can cut the elastic in the center and unroll them and then fold them up into a suitable size to fit your filter. Make SURE they are new, and don't contain any soaps or antibacterial agents. This type doesn't typically but I'd rather forewarn you so that you can make sure they don't. Don't use them if you are in doubt.

 

Yea there new I guess



I hope that's the same thing you were talking about ... it says to put one tab for ever 10 gallons.

 

The product you linked me to is Tetra AquaSafe and contains, Chlorides of sodium and potassium, allantoin, polyvinlypyrrolidone and is really nothing more than a standard water conditioner that removes chlorine, chloramine and heavy metals.

The Tetra SafeStart I want you to use contains live bacteria, •The patented mix of Nitrosomonas, Nitrosospira and Nitrospira and is the bacteria that will colonize your filter media and help to establish the aquarium cycle.

So, I guess TSS didn't fail in your case, it was the wrong product.

EDIT: You can use the Tetra AquaSafe for your water changes though instead of the Aqueon water conditioner, it would be better and more TSS friendly. Use the Aqueon again after the TSS has cycled the tank and you start your regular weekly water changing routine.

 

So I should just wait a few more days? or should I just go out and buy the safe smart and restart?

 

No, you don't really want to wait. The ammonia level will keep increasing. You do want to do enough water changes using your AquaSafe tabs for a water conditioner to bring the ammonia level down to .5ppm or lower, then wait 24 hours and add a whole bottle of Tetra SafeStart (TSS). Then you will wait for 10 to 14 days for the tank to cycle before you do any more water changes. You can test the ammonia after a few days and post it here so that we know how the tank is doing.

If you CAN'T buy Tetra SafeStart let us know and we will tell you what you will need to do instead.

 

Hey sorry for not responding I haven't had any time every since my last post. But here's the deal I was doing some research and really liked the product Stresszyme by API so I went out to my LFS and bought a small bottle.

I Took all my water out, cleaned the gravel, the tank, bleached the filter and started out basically from scratch.

I added my water conditioner and let it sit for about 20 minutes, later I went and started my stresszyme cycle. Added about 5ml (a cap full) and let it sit for 3 days like the LFS person told me. She said that if ammonia levels didnt go out in 3 days to basically do another 5ml.

On the bottle it states to add it on 1st, 7th, and 14th day so kinda went ahead of myself and skipped the 7th day and did it earlier. My fish don't seem to be sick or anything they swim around a lot and still eat regular. My pH went completely down to about 7.0 and my ammonia stayed at 2.0+/-

Tested out the tap and ammonia was around 1.0 and pH 7.5-8.0 so hopefully something is working.

Any suggestions would help.

 

Well I hope people are reading this because I just had a few questions.

Its been about 3 weeks since ive been cycling and my ph has gone down to 6.5 - 7, my ammonia reads zero and my nitrates read about 20?? my fish seem to be fine is this meaning that my cycle is ending? should I do a water change?

 

From what I have been told, it's normal for the pH to go down a little after the water has been sitting for a while.

The cycle is looking good. What is your nitrite read?

 

I didnt buy my nitrite kit yet since me being a broke student i'm taking small steps when buying stuff. But I did aquire a Nitrate kit instead, my LFS informed me that once Nitrate was showing then I wouldnt have to worry about the Nitrite. (since nitrite turns into nitrate during cycle)

Also I'm assuming that my cycle is almost complete due to my ammonia levels dropping down to nothing, and my Nitrates dropping down after 5 days being spiked.

 

Nitrates should not be dropping unless you are doing water changes... Ammonia should be dropping though.

 

my LFS informed me that once Nitrate was showing then I wouldnt have to worry about the Nitrite. (since nitrite turns into nitrate during cycle)

Toward the end of the cycling process you'll have both a nitrite and a nitrate reading as the bacteria that process nitrites into nitrate begin to grow.
Since nitrites are toxic it's important to know that reading.

Also I'm assuming that my cycle is almost complete due to my ammonia levels dropping down to nothing, and my Nitrates dropping down after 5 days being spiked.

It's hard to tell without a nitrite reading.

 

I didnt buy my nitrite kit yet since me being a broke student i'm taking small steps when buying stuff. But I did aquire a Nitrate kit instead, my LFS informed me that once Nitrate was showing then I wouldnt have to worry about the Nitrite. (since nitrite turns into nitrate during cycle)

Also I'm assuming that my cycle is almost complete due to my ammonia levels dropping down to nothing, and my Nitrates dropping down after 5 days being spiked.

The LFS is partly right. As long as your tap water don't have nitrates in it they are right but if you test your tap water and it shows nitrates, your tank will show nitrates from day one of a cycle. So going by nitrates alone is the wrong advice to go by. It is real hard to tell if your bacteria is changing ammonia to nitrites and nitrites to nitrates without the proper test kits.

 

The only way to confirm a finished cycle is high ammonia to zero, followed by high nitrites to zero. Nitrates do not give you enough inforrmation. Besides, NO3 should never be dropping???

 

I understand where you guys are coming from but what I was trying to say is I had an ammonia spike for about a week soon as a week ended I tested it and it went down to 0 followed by an Nitrate testing. Where my Nitrates where shot up to almost the highest (80) then 4-5 days later it went down to 5.0.

 

Did you do water changes between these tests? Nitrates are the end result of the nitrogen cycle and can only be reduced with water changes; or by having a heavily planted tank. A cycled tank will have no measurable ammonia or nitrites and some nitrates.

 

Nitrate test kits convert nitrates to nitrites and test the total result. High levels of nitrites will give you false high readings of nitrates with your nitrate test kit, and when nitrites drop, the nitrate reading would also appear to drop. Testing nitrates after nitrites have dropped to about 1ppm has minimal effect on the nitrate reading, but higher levels do.

The only way to be sure your tank is completely cycled is if an ammonia source is added giving you a current reading of ammonia and then wait 24 hours to see if ammonia and nitrite readings are both at zero, which would then leave you just a nitrate reading. Having no nitrite test to determine this for sure makes this a bit of a guessing game to determine if the tank has completely cycled or not.

 

So I got around on getting my final nitrite kit and results were what I though it was light yellow. Guess I'm cycled!

 

Which kit gave you a yellow color? I am not aware of any nitrite test that returns a yellow color. Did you mean nitrAte? Which brand are you using?

 

my nitrIte kit starts at blue.

 

HI all,

Used to keep fish years ago and the science has improved in the years since. I have successfully had ponds, marine tanks, and freshwater, but it has been a long time now.

I recently (2 weeks ago) set up my old 25 gallon acrylic tank (36" x 10" x 16" high). Bought a new Aqua-clear 50 filter and some Prime water conditioner from Seachem. Let the tank run a week, then last weekend (March 3rd) added 5 neon tetras and 2 corydoras.

My substrate is a fairly small natural smooth gravel, not very deep (1/2" - 1").

I am feeding Tetra-min flake and yesterday bought some sinking wafers (was worried the cory cats might not be getting anything). Trying not to overfeed.

Tested the water yesterday, and here are my parameters:
pH = 7.6 (same as my tap water)
Ammonia = .25
Nitrites = 0.00
Nitrates = 0.00

I was preparing to do a water change, but was advised against it by the clerk at the aquarium store, until the cycle is completed.

My question: Is that sound advice? No water change until cycle is complete? I have one corydora that seems listless today and has clenched fins. Looks a bit stressed and now I am regretting putting the fish through the cycle. Never considered alternatives to what I learned back in the day.

What say you, fish gurus?

 

Welcome to FishLore!

If you haven't used something like Tetra SafeStart, you'll certainly want to do daily water changes, with lots of Prime

Actually let the ammonia build up with kill off the bacteria that eat the ammonia, besides it not being healthy for the fish.

 

Welcome back to the hobby!

Pet store employees are usually not very well informed, especially at stores like petsmart or petco. You'll want to do frequent small water changes (around 10%, every day or two) to keep the ammonia levels low, otherwise it'll stress the fish.