Question about Tetra Safe Start and Meds?

Hello everyone. I am recovering from a total fail on my part after trying to quarantine my first batch of fish ever.

I moved over a sponge filter on my existing 55 gallon tank after it had been in there for about 5 weeks, and the cycle did not hold. Ammonia was about .25 and nitrites were around .50 on day 5 of quarantine which was today even after a 75% water change last night.

I had to get the cories out of there and into my main tank as, even with dosing with prime, I could tell we’re struggling. I lost one and another one isn’t doing so well in my big tank right now, but the rest are doing great.

Anyways, I have 10 rummy nose tetra on the way, and I still want to QT them. I have the existing sponge filter back in my 55 now to try to get some semblance of BB on them, although I know it won’t be enough with the fish most likely arriving in three days.

Because of this, I am going to bring my sponge filter in the QT and add Tetra Safe Start to it (used it for my first betta tank before I knew about the cycle, and it actually worked great) as a back up to my sponge.

I want to treat the fish with ich x and general cure, would that render Tetra Safe Start useless? I am not sure if the meds kill the bacteria, if they do...I won’t use meds and just keep an eye on them. I am pretty disappointed in my first experience with QT as I feel like none of the cories would have died if they went straight in my 55, but I know quarantine is essential for all fish safety.

 

It could be worth buying a UG or setting up a Hamburg matter filter on ur Q so u don't have to worry about the cycle

 

It could be worth buying a UG or setting up a Hamburg matter filter on ur Q so u don't have to worry about the cycle

Sorry I am a newbie. Not sure what those are?

 

I'm sorry about your cories. That stinks. I'm not really positive it was water that got them so fast since you were changing the water but that's a moot point.

Am I understanding that you want to treat the fish even if they aren't showing signs of illness?

 

I'm sorry about your cories. That stinks. I'm not really positive it was water that got them so fast since you were changing the water but that's a moot point.

Am I understanding that you want to treat the fish even if they aren't showing signs of illness?

No, only if they were to show symptoms. I am wondering if that would crash the cycle, because I have a feeling it would. And you don’t think 5 days in those parameters could have weakened them? I have been beating myself up about it

 

The HMF – What’s That? — Seriously Fish and undergravel filter

 

No, only if they were to show symptoms. I am wondering if that would crash the cycle, because I have a feeling it would. And you don’t think 5 days in those parameters could have weakened them? I have been beating myself up about it

Most medications except for dye medication don't have a big effect on your bio filter. They should recover if the water quality is nice in the 55

 

The HMF – What’s That? — Seriously Fish and undergravel filter

That's pretty dang cool.

 

Honestly, no. I mean, the parameters weren't great but you would have seen them struggling sooner if they were. Days 1, 2 and 3 probably didn't have those readings.
How many did you have and how many did you lose?
Sorry, that's way off topic, but I'm curious.

The websites or bottles should say if they effect the bacteria or not. I can't speak from personal experience.

 

Honestly, no. I mean, the parameters weren't great but you would have seen them struggling sooner if they were. Days 1, 2 and 3 probably didn't have those readings.
How many did you have and how many did you lose?
Sorry, that's way off topic, but I'm curious.

The websites or bottles should say if they effect the bacteria or not. I can't speak from personal experience.

Not off topic at all. I take any advice I can get, especially as I begin quarantining all of my fish. So I got 6 panda Corydoras from Aqua Huna on Thursday. I put them in a brand new 10 gallon tank with the existing sponge filter. I bought substrate for them cause I know cories need it. Day 1 they were shy at first but I thought that was normal. They were moving good though for the most part. Day 2 I dropped a wafer in at night and it wasn’t touched the next morning and they were practically not moving at all. Saturday morning I woke up to find them in pretty much the same exact spots, not moving. I checked the water Friday night and it was all good. So Saturday and Sunday go by and nothing really changes, and they aren’t eating much at all except one or two of them. Monday night I check the params to see they are .25 ammonia and .25 nitrite. I do an immediate 75% water change with prime. This morning, they seemed to be doing better so I let them chill. They still weren’t their normal corydora behavior (I have 6 peppered cories and 3 pandas in my 55). So I checked the water tonight around 5 pm to find .25 ammonia and .50 nitrite. So honestly, I panicked and wanted to get them out of there. They have shown no signs of an bacteria or fungal problem. I’m risking parasites, but I really didn’t want them in that water because I didn’t know if it was deadly or not. But now in my 55, they are loving life. All of them are schooling together with the peppered cories and came out to absolutely feast on my shrimp pellets I dropped, which was only three to not overwhelm my cycle.

 

Honestly, no. I mean, the parameters weren't great but you would have seen them struggling sooner if they were. Days 1, 2 and 3 probably didn't have those readings.
How many did you have and how many did you lose?
Sorry, that's way off topic, but I'm curious.

The websites or bottles should say if they effect the bacteria or not. I can't speak from personal experience.

I lost one when I tried to net him out of the QT. I got him in the bucket, but then it was like he couldn’t swim anymore. Almost like swim bladder, but I feel like it was from shock or stress. This is one of the main reasons I am afraid of quarantine because I hate netting my fish. I feel like it is so stressful for them.

 

It's really not unusual to lose a coupe of new fish. It could be one of any number of reasons, differences in water they were in at the store, stress...

 

It's really not unusual to lose a coupe of new fish. It could be one of any number of reasons, differences in water they were in at the store, stress...

That’s good to know. They came from Washington State and I am in NJ, so maybe differences in water could have done the trick.

 

Yep, stress too. Sometimes their package isn't handled with care. Please don't blame yourself.
Read up to how to acclimate fish. There are a variety of ways. if you search the forum. If you ask you'll get several ideas.

Here's an article:
How to Acclimate

 

When shipping fish u don't want to drip acclimate them or add any tank water as all the stored ammonium in the bag will get oxidised. Best to just float them and put them in.