Fishless Cycling With Tss+ Advice

Ok let me just start off by saying that I think I screwed up so I'll explain:

On day 7 of cycling my 20 gallon long aquarium I had dosed my ammonia to 2ppm and I used a full bottle of TSS+. The next day my ammonia dropped to 1ppm. For the next three days the readings remained the same so on day 11 I dosed my ammonia up to 4ppm thinking that it needed more for the bacteria (I'm guessing this is where I got impatient and messed it up). It's now day 16 and these are my readings:

• Ammonia: 4
• Nitrites: 0 (I haven't seen any nitrites at all)
• Nitrates: 5 (This is just from my tap water)

I'm wondering if I should give TSS+ another try just wait a while longer for the process to handle itself. I also raised my water temperature from 74 F to 81 F. Also the first time I used the bottle of TSS+ it was rated or up to 20 gallons (1.69 Fl Oz.). Should I use the next size up rated for 40 gallons (3.38 Fl Oz) or would adding too much be a bad thing? (Assuming people tell me it's ok to use it again.)

 

Tetra Safe Start is designed for those who choose to cycle their tanks with live fish. It contains bacteria which will consume ammonia. It may be out competing the beneficial bacteria in your filter for the available ammonia. This is causing swings in your cycling.
Skip the TSS and continue on as you were.

 

I dosed my ammonia up to 4ppm thinking that it needed more for the bacteria

I did a fishless cycle, dosing ammonia at 4ppm for four weeks and it stalled out with readings similar to yours. With advice here on the forum, I dropped it down to 2ppm, and it seems to be going better. I would do a 50% water change, and then leave it be. A few have replied to my fishless cycle stall questions, saying that it took up to 8 weeks to complete the cycle.

 

I did a fishless cycle, dosing ammonia at 4ppm for four weeks and it stalled out with readings similar to yours. With advice here on the forum, I dropped it down to 2ppm, and it seems to be going better. I would do a 50% water change, and then leave it be. A few have replied to my fishless cycle stall questions, saying that it took up to 8 weeks to complete the cycle.

Ok thank you. I really wanted to stick with 2ppm all the way but I've seen so many different posts of some people using 2ppm, others using up to 5-6ppm, etc... I really didn't know what to believe so I had to sort of experiment for myself. I'll skip the TSS.

 

Ok thank you. I really wanted to stick with 2ppm all the way but I've seen so many different posts of some people using 2ppm, others using up to 5-6ppm, etc... I really didn't know what to believe so I had to sort of experiment for myself. I'll skip the TSS.

Yes you are doing 2 different cycles. Tss+ is for fish in cycle where you can add your fish right away. And adding ammonia is for fishless cycle that takes a lot longer. Tss neutralizes the ammonia and nitrites. Good luck

 

Yes you are doing 2 different cycles. Tss+ is for fish in cycle where you can add your fish right away. And adding ammonia is for fishless cycle that takes a lot longer. Tss neutralizes the ammonia and nitrites. Good luck

Jeffsglo , I think you're misunderstanding the purpose of tss and exactly what it is. It is a bacteria starter for any aquarium fish-in or fishless. It contains 2 strains of bacteria. One oxidizes ammonia to nitrites and the other oxidizes nitrites to nitrates. It is exactly the same bacteria you are trying to grow in your tank when you cycle it. You need ammonia to keep the tss bacteria alive once it is in the tank. It doesn't matter where the ammonia comes from, fish poop or a bottle.