Prime, Aquasafe & Safe Start

Ammonia is 0.5
Nitrate is 20
Everything else is fine.

I've been doing regular water changes and using Tetra Aqua Safe with Tetra Safe Start, but the Ammonia still isn't coming down. I've been told to try Seachem Prime. Can I use this now after already using Aquasafe and Safestart? Are they safe to use together?

Thanks

 

Welcome to FishLore!

When using Tetra SafeStart, you can't be doing water changes. You also need to wait 24 hours between the time you use a water conditioner and the time you put TSS in the tank.

This link my be helpful:
https://www.fishlore.com/aquariumfishforum/threads/q-a-with-tetra-about-tetra-safestart.58116/

 

Ammonia is 0.5
Nitrate is 20
Everything else is fine.

I've been doing regular water changes and using Tetra Aqua Safe with Tetra Safe Start, but the Ammonia still isn't coming down. I've been told to try Seachem Prime. Can I use this now after already using Aquasafe and Safestart? Are they safe to use together?

Thanks

Yes you can use them together but keep in mind both aqua safe and Prime are basically the same thing so there is no need to use both. According the Tetras web page Prime will interfere with the safe start though but I think they have the same precautions for several of the water conditioners 'specially if they claim to detox/lockup or remove ammonia.

Prime will not remove the ammonia. It will just detox it for up to 48 hours.

Are you doing a fish in or a fish-less cycle? How long have you been trying to complete this cycle?

Are you getting or have you gotten a nitrite reading at any time since you started cycling the tank? What is your reading for PH?

 

Yes you can use them together but keep in mind both aqua safe and Prime are basically the same thing so there is no need to use both. According the Tetras web page Prime will interfere with the safe start though but I think they have the same precautions for several of the water conditioners 'specially if they claim to detox/lockup or remove ammonia.

Prime will not remove the ammonia. It will just detox it for up to 48 hours.

Are you doing a fish in or a fish-less cycle? How long have you been trying to complete this cycle?

Are you getting or have you gotten a nitrite reading at any time since you started cycling the tank? What is your reading for PH?

Thanks!

I wasn't cycling my tank.. it's been up and running for 2 years. But my local fish store advised me to change my filter media for a better one (straight swap, rather than having the new one as an additional filter), and I stupidly and naively didn't think twice about removing the established cartridge!

Nitrites are consistently at 0. PH is 7.5.
Nitrates are still present though so would this indicate a minI cycle rather than starting from scratch?

I was hoping to move them into a bigger tank next week too, but not sure if that will make things worse given the current parameters.

 

Thanks!

I wasn't cycling my tank.. it's been up and running for 2 years. But my local fish store advised me to change my filter media for a better one (straight swap, rather than having the new one as an additional filter), and I stupidly and naively didn't think twice about removing the established cartridge!

Nitrites are consistently at 0. PH is 7.5.
Nitrates are still present though so would this indicate a minI cycle rather than starting from scratch?

I was hoping to move them into a bigger tank next week too, but not sure if that will make things worse given the current parameters.

Sadly sometimes we do things without thinking when something is recommended by someone that should know what they are talking about

It does sound like what you are seeing is a mini-cycle. In this case Prime and water changes will help protect your fish until the lost bacteria builds back up.

Fortunately bacteria does grow on every surface in our tanks so even though you did lose some of it you should still have enough to get over this hump. I am not sure TSS is even necessary in this case since you already have some of the same bacteria already in your tank.

As long as you keep the ammonia down below one Prime will detox it.

I think if it were me I would hold off on moving to the bigger tank until your cycle stabilizes.

 

Nitrates could be in your tap water.

 

Sadly sometimes we do things without thinking when something is recommended by someone that should know what they are talking about

It does sound like what you are seeing is a mini-cycle. In this case Prime and water changes will help protect your fish until the lost bacteria builds back up.

Fortunately bacteria does grow on every surface in our tanks so even though you did lose some of it you should still have enough to get over this hump. I am not sure TSS is even necessary in this case since you already have some of the same bacteria already in your tank.

As long as you keep the ammonia down below one Prime will detox it.

I think if it were me I would hold off on moving to the bigger tank until your cycle stabilizes.

Thank you for the help! I’ll continue doing regular water changes and try the Prime.

My local fish store recommended today that I use the API starter in the new tank and should be good to go.. but this is the same guy who told me about the filter.
Would it be worth cycling the new tank with my Zebra Danios, and leaving the barbs in the old tank for now? Or just leave them all and do a fish-less cycle in the new tank?

 

Thank you for the help! I’ll continue doing regular water changes and try the Prime.

My local fish store recommended today that I use the API starter in the new tank and should be good to go.. but this is the same guy who told me about the filter.
Would it be worth cycling the new tank with my Zebra Danios, and leaving the barbs in the old tank for now? Or just leave them all and do a fish-less cycle in the new tank?

Are you going to leave the smaller tank up and running? If you are just going to break it down what I would do is just move this cycle over to the bigger tank. If you move EVERYTHING from this tank including water and fish you shouldn't have to cycle the bigger tank first. Bacteria doesn't live in the water but it is the water your fish are used to so both them and the bacteria will just feel like they have had a big water change.

Yep, I would be a bit leary of following any of his recommendations.