Time to get serious

It's time for me to get serious and stop with the half-measures I've been trying. I made these two threads:

and have followed most of the advice that I was given. I stupidly did not add the whole bottle of TSS+ when I learned that the bacteria didn't have ammonia to eat for the original bottle of TSS I put in because I added fish 2 days afterwards. I added the full bottle once I realized my mistake, and hopefully there is enough bacteria in my tank now. The new date for being able to test water and do water changes is 5/23/16.

I ran my Aquaclear 70 with the Whisper 30 for almost two weeks before taking the 30 out, and am keeping the 30's filter and sponge-rack in the top of the 70 for a few days.

I have decided to finally follow the advice I was given about my dwarf gouramis and re-home one of them. I have been noticing more and more aggression between the two of them over the past few days, so it is finally time to do what should have been done weeks ago.

I will also be re-homing my last two mollies today, even though the one that was swimming strangely is fine now, because 4 livebearers is probably still too heavy on waste production. With these changes, my tank will now be:
1 Dwarf Gourami
1 Swordtail
1 Platy
1 German Blue Ram
1 Bristlenose Pleco

Does anyone have any advice for what I should do in the time being before I can test and change my water again? My fish appear to be opening and closing their mouths rapidly, which is a sign they are not getting enough oxygen (from what I understand). Also, what could I do with regards to stocking? I won't be getting any more fish until I am sure my tank has properly cycled. I was thinking of KuhlI Loaches and/or Neon Tetras because from what I've heard they don't have very much waste production. I'd also like to get one or more individual (non-schooling fish) as well. I'm sorry for not always listening to peoples' advice before, I will follow any suggestions that you have from now on. Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

That is a lot of fish to do a fish in cycle. What size tank do you have? When you put in the second bottle of TSS did you get the right size for the tank? Did it say start up on the front? They have 3 kinds. Tetras Safe Start Plus, Tetra Safe Start, Start up, And Tetra Safe Start, Monthly. Which is a dechlorinator. Either the start up or the Tss plus is the one you want. You could also add some more if you think you need it because it is just the good bacteria to kick start your cycle. I just ordered 6 kuhlI loaches myself. Alison

 

What were your water parameters before you added the TSS? I also see from your previous thread that you had bought the wrong bottle size. Does this mean you added a new appropriate-sized bottle for your 29g?

Did you do a water change before adding the TSS and if so, did you wait the 24 hrs?

 

Highly doubt you're blue ram will survive this. They usually require a well established tank.

Good luck.

 

I added only the amount recommended for adding with a water change. I did the water change and waited the 24 hours then several days later realized the whole bottle should have been added so I put the whole thing in.

I believe ammonia was 2 ppm, nitrites 0 and nitrates 0.

Is it ok to add water to the tank at the moment to replace water lost from evaporation?

 

I believe ammonia was 2 ppm, nitrites 0 and nitrates 0.

Sounds like if it said to use with a water change, you got the wrong TSS meant for monthly maintenance. As @aliray said, you need to get the Tetra SafeStart or SafeStart Plus meant for "Start Up".

That ammonia is pretty high to have added the TSS with since it's likely the ammonia will increase even more. What I would have done is a large water change to bring that down as close to zero as possible, wait the 24hrs and then add the TSS.

Is it ok to add water to the tank at the moment to replace water lost from evaporation?

Yes, it's ok to add for top-offs.

Doesn't sound like your fish are doing too well so I would do a large water change right now and then test your parameters. TSS also recommends one fish per 10 gallon and since you have too many as well as fish with a high bioload, I would use Seachem Stability instead. This will allow you to do water changes during your cycle. Do you have a good water conditioner like Seachem Prime? That will keep your fish safe from the toxic levels of ammonia and nitrite up to 1ppm for 24hrs.

 

Yes I have Seachem Prime. When I was talking about adding the TSS+ with water change I meant that the bottle recommended adding some with each water change. It said for a new tank add the whole bottle.

 

Yes I have Seachem Prime. When I was talking about adding the TSS+ with water change I meant that the bottle recommended adding some with each water change. It said for a new tank add the whole bottle.

Ok, I think it would have been tougher to cycle with TSS+ regardless considering the amount of bioload you currently have. And if you used the bottle meant just for the 20g, I'm afraid it wouldn't have been enough.

I would go with what I suggested above and do a large water change now of at least 50%, dosed with Prime. Let us know what your water parameters are afterwards.

 

If you want to add water to make up for evaporation then add 2 drops of prime per gallon of water that you add. I use an empty water jug to add the prime and put my hand over the top and just turn it up and over a couple times to mix it and add to the tank a gallon at a time of the same temp. Alison

 

I did the water change with Seachem Prime, waited 45 minutes, did API master test and my parameters are now:

pH: 7.4, ammonia: 4 ppm, nitrite: 0 ppm, nitrate: 7 ppm

I'm guessing do the same tomorrow to keep reducing ammonia?

 

How much water did you change out? That ammonia is lethal. You need to do some more back to back larger water changes of at least 50% each asap.

Have you tested your tap for ammonia?

 

Yes I did and it was at 0 ppm. I'll do another WC shortly.

Edit: I did roughly 50%, couldn't quite tell exactly because there was about 3 or so inches lost from condensation. While I was running the two filters together my hood wasn't able to close all the way.

 

If you are going to use water for top offs, pre mix it with the Prime, let it stand for 24 hrs, then use.

Agreed...that amount of ammonia is deadly...keep doing water changes until the ammonia is below.5 (pref. below .25). Make sure water is temp matched to lessen the possible shock to the fish.

 

Actually at that level, I'm pretty sure that it is toxic to both the fish and the beneficial bacteria, aka it can completely kill your cycle

 

Ok, so after numerous water changes over the past two days I have reduced my ammonia to about .25 ppm (may be a bit less but it was hard to tell exactly). Now my question is: what next? What should I do to ensure my tank becomes healthier, more stable, and has the ability to cycle?

 

What I suggested in post 6. Stability and Prime is what you're going to need at this point to get this tank cycled and keep your fish safe. Anytime your ammonia and/or nitrite creeps up to 1ppm, you're going to have to do a water change.

 

Ok thanks, I'll get some stability tomorrow and keep up that regiment until my tank cycles. Thanks for all the help you have given me, I'm glad the fishkeeping community is so willing to help newbies like me

 

No problem. Your tank will cycle!