Day 14 of TSS cycle. Am I getting close?

okay so today is officially 14 days AFTER starting TSS.
Here are my reading:
Nitrates = 15
Nitrites = 2.0
Ammonia = 3.0

Am I getting close? Should I wait another few days, test and then do water change/prime?

Thanks

Junne

 

If you used TSS something isn't right.
The ammonia shouldn't be anywhere near 3.
After 2 weeks, the tank should be cycled.

What water conditioner did you use with TSS?
Did you have an ammonia or nitrite reading when you added TSS?
Which tank is this and what is the sock?
What are you using to test?

I'm sorry, I know you have other threads up and might have missed this info.

 

You need an immediate water change to reduce that ammonia. I agree, the TSS didn't work.

 

If your ammonia was too high to start it would have killed off the TSS. How much ammonia does your tap have?

Your nitrites should also be 0 at this point but it isn't as alarming as the ammonia.

 

UGH! I was hoping it wasn't this answer...
I used prime - waited 24 hours and then used the full bottle of TSS
I had 0/0/0 when I started. This is for my 36 gallon, stock listed below

 

Agreed...do a large water change to reduce ammonia. You can either finish the cycle yourself or use another bottle of TSS.

Finishing the cycle should be simple at this point! Prime will detox the ammonia while leaving it in-tact for the cycle to continue.

If the second route...Get it below 1 and dechlorinate the water with AquaSafe to ensure compatibility with TSS. Then pour in the bottle.

 

So I should do about a 50% water change on my 36 gallon and then dose with prime? Do I keep adding the prime every day or just test first?
What water perameters should I be looking for? Thanks

 

Correct. You'll want to see ammonia below 1. After you bring the levels down you'll want to do about a 30% water change each day and add prime to detox the ammonia. The filter should make quick work of it.

Test the water each day before the 30% water change and when you have 0/0/5-20 you're good.

 

If you decide to use TSS again, make sure to use AquaSafe, Tetra's water conditioner. Others, such as Prime, may cause the TSS to fail. But you did wait 24 hours before adding the TSS, so I don't think that was necessarily your problem.

If you choose a fishless method, you should dose with Prime for the entire volume of the tank daily to protect the fish from ammonia and nitrites. When you go to test your water, you'll need to wait 24 hours after you last added Prime. Prime can cause the test results to be inaccurate, but it only lasts for 24 hours. So I usually test right before I'm going to add the next dose of Prime.

Hopefully you can get your tank cycled soon! Best of luck

 

I'm not 100% but I think using anything that detoxifies ammonia with TSS will kill the BB in it and higher ammonia levels than 4 PPM will also kill the BB in TSS. Not sure if you already know this or not I've just learned this through reading about TSS myself before using it in my tank. I'm about to use it today and actually have put it off on one tank because I used amquel plus. From what I've read you should always wait 24 hours before putting TSS in a tank that has be doused with ammonia detoxifying chemicals and then 7 days before using them again after putting it in.

https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/
Here is a link that may be helpful although it seems it's too late now for this instance of TSS for the next time if you or a friend you know uses it; it just may help. Sorry you had a bad experience and are having some bad news hope it turns around, I know it can with a little patience and time eventually it will pay off

Nick

Edit

It also seems mmolitor87 mentioned that aquasafe is good to use with it very good! I didn't know that as I'm going to use TSS and would like to have something in case of emergency to do a water change without messing with the cycle.

If you decide to use TSS again, make sure to use AquaSafe, Tetra's water conditioner. Others, such as Prime, may cause the TSS to fail. But you did wait 24 hours before adding the TSS, so I don't think that was necessarily your problem.

If you choose a fishless method, you should dose with Prime for the entire volume of the tank daily to protect the fish from ammonia and nitrites. When you go to test your water, you'll need to wait 24 hours after you last added Prime. Prime can cause the test results to be inaccurate, but it only lasts for 24 hours. So I usually test right before I'm going to add the next dose of Prime.

Hopefully you can get your tank cycled soon! Best of luck

You beat me to it kinezumi89 you are very right! Also I would not recommend a fishless cycle with TSS ( I'm not sure if that's what you meant) because pure ammonia if you do use it; can kill the TSS BB.

Edit

I could be wrong but this is just what I've gathered from reading different articles here on Fishlore.

 

I think KinezumI meant with-fish cycle lol. Brain going in 2 directions...I've done that before. You guys have expanded and clarified what I was thinking.

 

I was there yesterday making ridiculous mistakes in abundance! Ha-Ha but I am using TSS for my aunts 10 gallon today and my 20 gallon tomorrow so it's good I've got to see some of this stuff before I made a terrible mistake and did a water change with kordon. I seem to have an affinity to make fish water bad even when I'm meticulous about the cleaning and changing

By the way awesome tank setup jwebbe

 

I think KinezumI meant with-fish cycle lol. Brain going in 2 directions...I've done that before. You guys have expanded and clarified what I was thinking.

Oops! You're right, my apologies

 

Oops! You're right, my apologies

No need I did far worse yesterday

 

okay so my ocd kicked in and I tested again - with different results but similar
Heres what I see ( maybe I am color blind )
Ammonia = 2.0
Nitrites = 2.0
Nitrates = 20




I am kind of scared to do a water change myself ( hubby is working late next few days )
I got an aqueon water changer but have never used it before and I don't want to make a mess/suck up fish or other disasters without having 2 people monitoring each end........

Junne

 

Your water is at toxic levels right now. You have to do water changes. They can be done in 15 minutes, maybe you could both do either when hubby comes home or in the a.m. before work.

 

xD! You won't suck up fish, I promise lol. At the very least do you have prime? I don't want to see your fish being exposed to the ammonia any longer than they have to be.

 

I am going to do water change in a few - at the very least, I have a gravel cleaner for my 5 gallon so I will use that to suck the water out - I will refill the water using the aqueon since I already tried that and I think I can handle it. I have prime so I will be putting in the one capfull at the same time. Wish me luck! Oh and thanks for the advice!!!

 

You won't need luck. And you're quite welcome.

 

SUCCESS!!!!! I can't believe I did the whole water changing by myself!!! I started to use the 5 gallon sipon but that was way to hard so I just did the aqueon. NOT a drop of water spilled and it was SO easy!!! Thanks for the moral support!!!!!

So I test the water again tomorrow????? Then what?

Junne

 

See what the parameters are. You're aiming for 0/0/5-20. If you still have ammonia do a 30% water change and treat with prime to detox the ammonia.

 

I do have to say, I am very disappointed in the whole TSS. I am about 99% sure I DID everything correctly, that my tank was brand new, water was 0 ammonia before I did the TSS, etc
I sure hope my 5 gallon ( with the one Betta and snail ) is okay after doing the TSS 2 days ago.

Junne

 

TSS protects the fish from ammonia is the main thing. It allows the tank to get a head start because the introduction of bacteria. Otherwise the filter converts the ammonia just like it should. There are various reasons it could work differently...before my canister filter died I had 1 ammonia still...likely because my filter was only trickling. I peeked at my currently cycling tank yesterday and it's .25/0/15 - so I'd imagine it's done because of the previous filter media but I'll give it until friday to see if it completely lowers the ammonia anyways.

You probably didn't do anything wrong. They even say you might need a second dose in the FAQ. You're very close though! I wouldn't sweat it.

 

Thank you. I am just glad I got this done before any of my babies died.......
I'm hoping for better luck with my 5 gallon

 

You can do this! I know it can be scary or intimidating at first but once you get the hang of it; 1 you will feel proud you did it yourself and 2 your fish will thank you. Maybe TMI but when I first started and found out the LFS lied about needing to run your tank a week and then it's cycled and left me with a tank full of fish and an empty brain which needed to be filled with info.

The logistics seemed daunting and impossible but I overcame it. I did lose the fish and that bothered me enough to never lose another and now I have some decent knowledge on fish cycles and lighting some basics pretty much Right now I'm up at 2 36 am getting my laser cories adjusted to the water making sure it's 0 ammonia 0 nitrites and 0 nitrates in a temp 20 gallon tub.

Because I am also using TSS but I put in ammonia detoxifier so I can't have that mixing with TSS. Even worse the tank still has nitrites from mid cycle long story why I stopped a fishless cycle. But yeah a lot of work but worth it when you learn and feel you did it yourself with a little help from fishlore! .... Okay a lot of help!!!

 

SUCCESS!!!!! I can't believe I did the whole water changing by myself!!! I started to use the 5 gallon sipon but that was way to hard so I just did the aqueon. NOT a drop of water spilled and it was SO easy!!! Thanks for the moral support!!!!!

 

So today, this is my reading ( after yesterdays 75% water change and dosing with Prime )
Ammonia = 0.50
Nitrite = 0.25
Nitrate = 5.0
Ph = 7.6 - 7.8

So my question is, do I need to do another water change tonight or wait until tomorrow when I test? Also, can I add any thing to lower ph as it seems a bit higher than usual - all I did yesterday was add Prime and I don't think that takes care of ph?




TIA!

 

Ph will fluctuate while the tank is cycling so you won't be able to maintain it.

Has it already been 24 hours? Prime can mess with the parameters if it's still effecting the tank. But yes, if you still have ammonia you would do a 30% water change and treat with prime again. Unless there's something I'm missing.

 

Ph will fluctuate while the tank is cycling so you won't be able to maintain it.

Has it already been 24 hours? Prime can mess with the parameters if it's still effecting the tank. But yes, if you still have ammonia you would do a 30% water change and treat with prime again. Unless there's something I'm missing.

It hasn't been a full 24 hours - it will be in about 5 hours - I guess I will retest again then and then do water change. How long do I keep this up? ( the water change + Prime )

 

I'm not sure if this has been covered or not, are you shaking your test kit bottles? Especially the nitrate test. Crystals can form inside and mess with readings. I shake my super hard for a couple of mins.

 

I'm not sure if this has been covered or not, are you shaking your test kit bottles? Especially the nitrate test. Crystals can form inside and mess with readings. I shake my super hard for a couple of mins.

Yes, until my arm feels like its going to fall off!!!

 

You would keep it up until your parameters are ammonia/nitrites/nitrates 0/0/5-20.

 

I wouldn't freak out about nitrate above 20 either. keep your ammonia and nitrite at 0 and your doing good!

Also, I'd keep shaking until your arm actually falls off ;D then you'll know you've shaken it enough.

 

rofl! And true enough, only need to worry if they get above 40 since most fish can tolerate up to that.

 

You would keep it up until your parameters are ammonia/nitrites/nitrates 0/0/5-20.

Ugh! I have a feeling its going to be a loooooong month!!!! Thanks for the advice everyone

 

Nonsense! You're actually very close.

 

Nonsense! You're actually very close.

Thank you. Gosh what a long road this has been.......

 

Honestly with the 2 weeks of TSS + the end here...you'll still come out of a shorter cycle than some do. For the future you'll have media you can use to seed any new tanks when MTS strikes again.

 

Honestly with the 2 weeks of TSS + the end here...you'll still come out of a shorter cycle than some do. For the future you'll have media you can use to seed any new tanks when MTS strikes again.

I just wished the TSS worked - so hard to not be disappointed after spending the $$$ and time and effort for this. Right now my 5 gallon is on day 3 of the TSS cycle. Lets hope that one does better.

 

I wish you luck as I am going into my TSS trial, sometimes these things are finicky and are hit and miss. Too bad the company didn't stand by it's product to work with refund upon it being a dud. I'm sure if they made it very clear the perfect conditions for it to work for example. Don't use ammonia detoxifiers or non treated tap water that has no dechlorinator in it. If the perfect conditions were met which should not be hard something like aquasafe for dechlorinator and safestart and if it is a dud you get a refund. Like if you get something and it ends up being broken maybe that's just my view but sorry it didn't work jwebbe