Fish-in SafeStart cycle appears stalled

[Angiessa]

Hi, all -

I'm doing a fish-in cycle using Tetra Safestart Plus. I dosed on Wednesday morning, added fish, and started doing water tests morning and night every day. Wednesday night ammonia was at .25, nitrite and nitrate 0.

Starting yesterday morning and every test since (I just did my second one today, Friday) the ammonia has been .25 and nitrate has been 10ppm. Nitrite has remained at 0 the entire time.

Should I see movement in those numbers by now? I know it's only been a couple of days, but I want to know if nitrate or ammonia will suddenly spike and I need to be even more vigilant? Did I miss the nitrite going up? Can that happen that fast - overnight or in between morning and night tests?

I know Tetra doesn't want you to change water for 7-10 days after adding it, but if my nitrates hit 20 I'm changing water regardless. I'll add another dose if I have to. I'm just wondering if it's normal for a tank to sit half-cycled with identical numbers for days. This is my first time using bottled bacteria - apologies if this seems like basic knowledge.

 

[DaveSch]

I just did a fish-in cycle two weeks ago with a sponge filter full of bacteria from my other tank rather than bottled bacteria, but I had readings quite similar to yours the first week. The ammonia registered .25 each day for nearly a week, nitrites were always 0 - it never registered at all, and I had nitrates between 0 and 10, it hit 10 only once. Everything is now 0, 0, 0.

Also, if you're using the API Master Test kit, be aware that it frequently gives false positive readings of .25 for ammonia. This might be happening in your case too, so if the ammonia is at .25 it may be a false positive and nothing to worry about. Just keep doing your daily readings and follow the instructions on the bottle regarding water changes.

 

[Angiessa]

I just did a fish-in cycle two weeks ago with a sponge filter full of bacteria from my other tank rather than bottled bacteria, but I had readings quite similar to yours the first week. The ammonia registered .25 each day for nearly a week, nitrites were always 0 - it never registered at all, and I had nitrates between 0 and 10, it hit 10 only once. Everything is now 0, 0, 0.

Also, if you're using the API Master Test kit, be aware that it frequently gives false positive readings of .25 for ammonia. This might be happening in your case too, so if the ammonia is at .25 it may be a false positive and nothing to worry about. Just keep doing your daily readings and follow the instructions on the bottle regarding water changes.

Ah, I didn't know that about the master test kit - thanks! I will cautiously relax, haha! I figure it's at least a good sign that nitrates are present - the bacteria must be doing something.

 

[Fishfur]

It’s not uncommon for NO2 (Nitrite) to never show up on water tests but you can’t have NO3(nitrate) without having had NO2 first. So that’s ok.

Sometimes that .25ppm reading for ammonia can be tricky. Matching coloured water to pigment printed charts isn’t all that easy and we’re not all as good at it as we might be - we don’t all see colours the same way.

I find it can help to put the bottom of the vial on top of the colour patch and look down through the water. If you can’t distinguish the patch as a separate colour, it’s a match. It also helps to read the tests in the same light every time, ideally light that’s at 5500K - which is what the industry uses when they develop these tests.

Did you happen to test your tap water as it comes from the tap? Sometimes a persistent low NH3 reading can be due to the use of ammonia plus chlorine for water disinfection with chloramine, which is what forms from mixing those two chemicals. Be worth testing the tap water to find out.

 

[Azedenkae]

Hi, all -

I'm doing a fish-in cycle using Tetra Safestart Plus. I dosed on Wednesday morning, added fish, and started doing water tests morning and night every day. Wednesday night ammonia was at .25, nitrite and nitrate 0.

Starting yesterday morning and every test since (I just did my second one today, Friday) the ammonia has been .25 and nitrate has been 10ppm. Nitrite has remained at 0 the entire time.

Should I see movement in those numbers by now? I know it's only been a couple of days, but I want to know if nitrate or ammonia will suddenly spike and I need to be even more vigilant? Did I miss the nitrite going up? Can that happen that fast - overnight or in between morning and night tests?

I know Tetra doesn't want you to change water for 7-10 days after adding it, but if my nitrates hit 20 I'm changing water regardless. I'll add another dose if I have to. I'm just wondering if it's normal for a tank to sit half-cycled with identical numbers for days. This is my first time using bottled bacteria - apologies if this seems like basic knowledge.

How often have you done water changes?

 

[Littlebudda]

I agree with others on the 0.25 reading on ammonia I just consider that 0 I always get a reading of 0.25 on all my tank’s including my 330gal which runs an fx6 is heavily planted is completely under stocked and has a 50-60% WC each week. All other tanks are under stocked except the nano (these tanks are overstocked when you put one fish in them) and get 40-50% twice a week and still get the 0.25 reading.

 

[Angiessa]

How often have you done water changes?

Weekly, normally, but this is a new tank. With Safestart - Tetra says not to do a water change for 7-10 days after putting it in.

It’s not uncommon for NO2 (Nitrite) to never show up on water tests but you can’t have NO3(nitrate) without having had NO2 first. So that’s ok.

Whew - thank you.

I find it can help to put the bottom of the vial on top of the colour patch and look down through the water. If you can’t distinguish the patch as a separate colour, it’s a match.

Oh, good idea!

Did you happen to test your tap water as it comes from the tap? Sometimes a persistent low NH3 reading can be due to the use of ammonia plus chlorine for water disinfection with chloramine, which is what forms from mixing those two chemicals. Be worth testing the tap water to find out.

I did, and it was all zeroes - but possible margin of error?

Thanks for all of this - I’ll keep an eye on it and keep testing, but will stop stressing.

I agree with others on the 0.25 reading on ammonia I just consider that 0 I always get a reading of 0.25 on all my tank’s including my 330gal which runs an fx6 is heavily planted is completely under stocked and has a 50-60% WC each week. All other tanks are under stocked except the nano (these tanks are overstocked when you put one fish in them) and get 40-50% twice a week and still get the 0.25 reading.

Cool. Mine is heavily planted, too, which I didn’t think about - I’m sure that’s helping. Thanks!

 

[jdhef]

I've always waited 14 days before performing any water changes when using SafeStart+. And I've always been fully cycled by day 14.

 

[Angiessa]

I've always waited 14 days before performing any water changes when using SafeStart+. And I've always been fully cycled by day 14.

I think that’s going to work for me, too - numbers are holding steady, so I’m comfortable waiting on the water change. Was worried nitrates would keep climbing, but that doesn’t appear to be the case.