Trying to kick start cycle again with TSS (fish-in) HELP!

My (poor) attempt at cycling has failed

All readings for ammonia, nitrite and nitrates are at zero.

I ordered TSS and Stability for the first time but TSS came today so I got hubby to dose the tank but then realised I won't get Stability here until Monday :/

So my questions are:

• Have I just wasted that dose of TSS without having Stability?
• Can I wait for Stability to come on Monday? There is a slight chance I could get some today but its more money spent ykwim?
• I read I can't use anything like Prime for 7 days after dosing? Is that correct? If the ammonia peaks, how to I protect the fish?
• I just read an article about how you should just throw the whole bottle worth in rather than the dosage instructions? Is that true?

Thanks in advance, I really want to get this right this time!

 

You need to use TSS or Stability. Not both.

Prime is OK 5 times the dose. Its made to help cycle and protect fish from harmful levels of ammonia and nitrites. I double dose prime always with my water changes.

I would recommend Stability. Follow the directions on the back. 7 days you should start to see better levels. You can double dose Stability as well if you would like. You can use prime every 24-48hrs. Daily 25% water changes if your levels are higher then 1.0 ammonia and nitrites.
Once I got Prime and Stability my fish stop dying.

 

Right now Ive used TSS so I'm not sure where to go from here then....

 

Your bioload seems small. With no ammonia in the water your fish are ok. Just don't let ammonia + nitrates get above 1.0

 

Your bioload seems small. With no ammonia in the water your fish are ok. Just don't let ammonia + nitrates get above 1.0

What IF they do (just working out what to do if so)

 

Well if your going to use the TSS I can't help for I have not used it.


If not then Test. If levels are above 1.0. Dose prime and stability check again 24hrs later. If levels are the same or higher do a 25% water change. I spent 2 weeks doing this. My levels went up and down like a rollercoaster.

What size is your tank?
Stock?

 

Is this your 29 gallon or 10g? It would be helpful if you stick to one thread so all the information is together.

If this is your 29 gallon and you still have the mollies, neons and the apistos in there, TSS+ is not the product you want as they recommend 1-2 small fish per 10 gallon an you are pretty fully stocked for TSS+ to work. Did you move over the other apisto from the 10g?

What are the current water parameters? I'd use the combo of water changes, Prime and Stability to cycle your tank.

 

Is this your 29 gallon or 10g? It would be helpful if you stick to one thread so all the information is together.

If this is your 29 gallon and you still have the mollies, neons and the apistos in there, TSS+ is not the product you want as they recommend 1-2 small fish per 10 gallon an you are pretty fully stocked for TSS+ to work. Did you move over the other apisto from the 10g?

What are the current water parameters? I'd use the combo of water changes, Prime and Stability to cycle your tank.

hes in the 29 gallon Its the 29 gallon I'm working with now, and all my readings are at zero. I will hold out for the stability.

Is there anything I need to know about working with them together and should I just follow the directions on the bottle? And how often should these water changes be?

(I secretly hoped you'd pop by, thank you )

 

So, you still have the mollies, neons and apistos all in the 29g, correct? Are your nitrates at 0 too? I don't remember if you mentioned it in your other thread but what testing kit are you using? Have you replaced or rinsed your media in tap water by any chance?

 

So, you still have the mollies, neons and apistos all in the 29g, correct? Are your nitrates at 0 too? I don't remember if you mentioned it in your other thread but what testing kit are you using? Have you replaced or rinsed your media in tap water by any chance?

You're correct
yes my nitrates are at zero too, I've bashed the out the bottles just in case

I have individual test kits for ph, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate all of which are from NT Labs except the nitrate which is API

no no I haven't rinsed the media in tap water (I know not to )

it seems to me the cycle needs a kick start again

 

And you haven't replaced any of the filter media, correct? With all those fish, especially the mollies which a huge bioload themselves, I'd expect to see SOME nitrates.

Are you sure you're banging the nitrate #2 bottle really hard against a counter or table and then shaking it really really well for 30 seconds before adding it to the tube? Then shaking the tube for the full minute and waiting 5 minutes before comparing the colors? If you're doing all of this, check the expiration dates on the bottles to make sure they're not old.

 

And you haven't replaced any of the filter media, correct? With all those fish, especially the mollies which a huge bioload themselves, I'd expect to see SOME nitrates.

Are you sure you're banging the nitrate #2 bottle really hard against a counter or table and then shaking it really really well for 30 seconds before adding it to the tube? Then shaking the tube for the full minute and waiting 5 minutes before comparing the colors? If you're doing all of this, check the expiration dates on the bottles to make sure they're not old.

Me too, I find it completely bizarre. The nitrate one just stays yellow, there is simply no orange at all. It's not expired but I'm so close to just going out and buying another. :/ I thought I'd get some ammonia readings thanks to the Mollys but none either! I've followed those instructions to an absolute t.

 

Could be a faulty nitrate bottle(s). I don't have experience with the NT Labs test kit but if it's not too much money to spare, I'd get the API Freshwater Master Test Kit just to be sure your ammonia and nitrite numbers are accurate as well.

 

Well as we've been chatting I have tested and obviously TSS has changed my readings at this point

ammonia 0.5
nitrites 0.5-1
nitrates 5.0-10.0

sorry I'm struggling with shades

 

With TSS+, no water changes should be done for 2 weeks so if you've just added it today, it's now just a waiting game. I'd feed VERY lightly once a day or even every other day to avoid huge ammonia/nitrite spikes that would cause TSS+ to fail.

Just be prepared to test every couple of days because if you do get elevated ammonia/nitrite spikes, you may want to do water changes and Stability to get this tank cycled.

 

Thank you so much

I have a bit of faith just even seeing some colour , even if right now it means nothing.

I will ill keep an eye on it but remind myself that there will be mad test results ahead. I'm glad I got stability too now and I'll keep that to hand! Turns out I read the dates wrong and I might even have it arrive as soon as tomorrow

Fingers so so firmly crossed that there's a light at the end of this!!!