Local Fish Store Suggested Tetra Safe Start Plus

hey ya'll newbie here and I've made some mistakes so was looking for a place with more experienced fish owners who might know more then me or the guy at petco I have had my tank set up for about 3 months and had an issue where the ph was way too low 6.0 so found out my BFB died off, and just recently last night lost a fish because of it... my friend is moving and having a kid soon so she will be too busy to care for her danio I think it is?? I don't currently have any fish in my tank but was at petco getting some info on what I could do to get a jump start on my now un-cycled tank, they recommended to try Tetra safe start plus my friend is leaving Saturday and I really want to help her out so the little fishie has a chance to a good tank!! so just wondering, my ammonia is about 4,0 and from looking up the info it has to be below that level and no water conditioners for 24 hrs will this be enough time to start it and the fish live??? I have all the things hang on back foam filter type and everything they do need... how much water from my 20 g should I take out to get levels safe to use the product? and is it really safe to add fish after use?? and do you really pour the whole bottle in even if its only 20 gallon and bottle treats about 500 g? thanx

 

Hello and welcome.
If you want to do a fish in cycle using TSS+, hers what I recommend.
1: Get yourself some Seachem Prime.
2: I think it will be best for you to to drain your tank and add new water, or do a huge water change, just to help get the ammonia down.
3: Once that is done, add the Seachem Prime, then wait 24 hours.
4: After the 24 hours is up, you can then add the TSS+.
This is important : It's best to add fish within 45 minutes after adding the TSS+. If not its possible that you can kill off the Beneficial Bacteria ( BB), without a ammonia source, which is your fish.
5: Once you add the fish, (for your tank size,I suggest only 3 fish to start with, you don't have to do anything for two full weeks. This means no water changes, no testing. The only thing that you have to do during the two weeks is just feed your fish...nothing else.
6: After the two weeks is up, do a water change, about 50%, then test, and you should be cycled.
The fish that you intended to cycle with, should be part of your final stock.
It's just too easy with the TSS+ and Seachem Prime.
Hope this helps.

 

Hello and welcome.
If you want to do a fish in cycle using TSS+, hers what I recommend.
1: Get yourself some Seachem Prime.
2: I think it will be best for you to to drain your tank and add new water, or do a huge water change, just to help get the ammonia down.
3: Once that is done, add the Seachem Prime, then wait 24 hours.
4: After the 24 hours is up, you can then add the TSS+.
This is important : It's best to add fish within 45 minutes after adding the TSS+. If not its possible that you can kill off the Beneficial Bacteria ( BB), without a ammonia source, which is your fish.
5: Once you add the fish, (for your tank size,I suggest only 3 fish to start with, you don't have to do anything for two full weeks. This means no water changes, no testing. The only thing that you have to do during the two weeks is just feed your fish...nothing else.
6: After the two weeks is up, do a water change, about 50%, then test, and you should be cycled.
The fish that you intended to cycle with, should be part of your final stock.
It's just too easy with the TSS+ and Seachem Prime.
Hope this helps.

awesome thank you!! I also noticed danios need to be in schools I was thinking of getting another or maybe a male/female couple fancy guppies will he do ok alone without being in a school of fish?? I also think tetras are so pretty!! but also love the harlequin fish!! I do like the smaller fish and most active/vibrant colored fish and also hardy fish,so I'm not quite sure what I want to eventually stock the tank with yet and wouldn't want one whos prone to aggressive bully behavior, I'm thinking of maybe doing a 50 to 75 % change this evening and run off to the fish store to pick up the products I will need for the tank!!

 

As far as Guppies go, I suggest all males. If you have male and females, they will breed like rabbits, and you will be overrun with babbies.
With the Zebra, I would suggest that you get at least 5-6, because they like to school. Also if you happen to have a dominant Zebra, the harassment will be distributed. The Rasboras will also be better off in a school as well.
Imnnot sure if all the fish will be compatible temperture wise, because I know the Zebras need to be kept in cooler water.
I suggest that you make a list of all the fish that you like and want, and there are members here that are very good with stocking a tank. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to help. I suggest TexasDomer and Anders247. There are other members as well, but those two members are very knowledgeable.

 

As far as Guppies go, I suggest all males. If you have male and females, they will breed like rabbits, and you will be overrun with babbies.
With the Zebra, I would suggest that you get at least 5-6, because they like to school. Also if you happen to have a dominant Zebra, the harassment will be distributed. The Rasboras will also be better off in a school as well.
Imnnot sure if all the fish will be compatible temperture wise, because I know the Zebras need to be kept in cooler water.
I suggest that you make a list of all the fish that you like and want, and there are members here that are very good with stocking a tank. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to help. I suggest TexasDomer and Anders247. There are other members as well, but those two members are very knowledgeable.

thank you that is very helpful to know I will see if they will be able to help me with my quest of fish keeping!

As far as Guppies go, I suggest all males. If you have male and females, they will breed like rabbits, and you will be overrun with babbies.
With the Zebra, I would suggest that you get at least 5-6, because they like to school. Also if you happen to have a dominant Zebra, the harassment will be distributed. The Rasboras will also be better off in a school as well.
Imnnot sure if all the fish will be compatible temperture wise, because I know the Zebras need to be kept in cooler water.
I suggest that you make a list of all the fish that you like and want, and there are members here that are very good with stocking a tank. I'm sure that they will be more than happy to help. I suggest TexasDomer and Anders247. There are other members as well, but those two members are very knowledgeable.

I did a 75% water change last night the ammonia is still about 1.0 2.0 ppm should I do a 50% today ??

 

Another water change of 50% is good to do.

 

okay I did do that last night and did some gravel vac, my friend is leaving this afternoon so this gives me the 24 hours between using prime and getting the guy and the other danios, from the store, he's kind of pearl color, I want to try to go for the zebra and long fin if they have them today, she gave me his tank but it's needing a good cleaning will use that as my hospital tank its only 3 g hes been in a too small home thank you again for your help

 

You are welcome. Hope all works out for you.
Good idea to have a QT.