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[CaptainBarnicles]

Tetra Aquasafe is water conditioner, tetra safestart isn't.

Water Conditioner or dechlorinater is vital as it neutralises the chlorine and/or chloramine in our tap water. The chlorine added by our water providers makes it safe for us to drink but it kills the beneficial bacteria we're trying to grow to make it safe for our fish

API Tap Water Conditioner, Seachem Prime and Tetra Aquasafe are the more popular brands.

 

[777james777]

Tetra Aquasafe is water conditioner, tetra safestart isn't.

Water Conditioner or dechlorinater is vital as it neutralises the chlorine and/or chloramine in our tap water. The chlorine added by our water providers makes it safe for us to drink but it kills the beneficial bacteria we're trying to grow to make it safe for our fish

API Tap Water Conditioner, Seachem Prime and Tetra Aquasafe are the more popular brands.

Ok so it appears that what I have is tetra safe start.

So what I need to do then is get the ammonia level correct. Then add “Tetra aqua safe”

Then wait and test for ammonia and nitrite 3 days later…

Keep doing this every 3 days till ammonia and nitrite has dropped

As time goes on and I add a bit more ammonia there will come a point that 24 hours later that ammonia I just added and nitrites will be gone.

Then I’m left with just nitrates and can add fish?

If correct my next questions are

What’s tetra safe start? When does this get added?

And

Why when I have spent 40 days getting my water cycle completed to a point of just having nitrates… am I then suppose to do a water change (as il just be taking all my nitrate filled water out) ?

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Ok so it appears that what I have is tetra safe start.

I’m a little confused

If I am adding ammonia to the water… what’s the next step and what am I suppose to then be adding to start the process of ammonia to nitrite?… Tetra Aquasafe ?

What’s tetra safe start? When does this get added

Simply adding ammonia to your tank is all that's needed to start the process. Now we wait! The tetra safestart is bottled bacteria that is supposed to help with the cycling but I'm not sure how effective it is or if it's even the right one to use at this point, @Essjay will know more about this.

I suggest your job for today is getting some dechlorinater

 

[777james777]

Simply adding ammonia to your tank is all that's needed to start the process. Now we wait! The tetra safestart is bottled bacteria that is supposed to help with the cycling but I'm not sure how effective it is or if it's even the right one to use at this point, @Essjay will know more about this.

I suggest your job for today is getting some dechlorinater

Is there a specific brand to look for?

I think Iv watched 3 or 4 twenty minute videos now on the nitrogen cycle and obviously read all this advice, however I don’t remember much on the dechlorinater
Is this something I can pick up from pets at home ?

 

[Lcc86]

API Tap Water Conditioner, Seachem Prime and Tetra Aquasafe are the ones to look for, the one in your image looks right to me. Only thing I would say is that bottle is tiny, it'll obviously do for now but have a look for a bigger bottle online (Pets at Home is notoriously expensive). You'll need to add this every time you do a water change to "neutralise" the chlorine we get in our tap water so it's worth getting a bigger bottle long-term.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Get this one...

Amazon.co.uk

It's highly concentrated so you'll only need to use a tiny amount with every water change

 

[777james777]

@Essjay

I took out half of the water as advised and then refilled and tested again for
Ph
Ph high
Ammonia

Below are the results

 

[777james777]

Get this one...

Amazon.co.uk

It's highly concentrated so you'll only need to use a tiny amount with every water change

Ok just been and got some, my tank currently has 130 - 135 litres of water in.
So with these instructions of 1ml for 60 liters, should I be putting in just a touch over 2ml ?

 

[Wills]

At this stage you need to make sure you are using dechlorinator as any chlorine in your tap water will kill the bacteria you are trying to grow.

 

[777james777]

So just to sum up we’re I’m up too.

Today:

- I have replaced half of the water and ammonia level is now 4.0

- I have got the temperature to 28 degrees

- I have tested the PH level which is currently at 7.4

- I have added 2.1 ml of dechlorinator to the tank.

I’m guessing now it’s time to wait 3 days and then test for ammonia and nitrite OR do I need to test for the nitrite now and take a note?

 

[Essjay]

You don't need to test for nitrite today as you've only just started, but it's worth checking next time you test ammonia in 3 days.

Tetra Safe Start is bottled bacteria known to contain the right species of ammonia eaters and nitrite eaters so if you add that it should speed up the cycle. Follow the dosage amount on the bottle, but use the method on here for the actual cycle.
Once nitrite shows up, I would add pH to the tests just because of your soft water. That way if the pH does drop you'll catch it straight away. The bacteria we grow slow down in low pH which is why you need to check.


I hadn't realised you hadn't used a dechlorinator. Water companies add chlorine to kill bacteria; a few manage to survive which is why there are a few in tap water but not many. Once the chlorine is removed, they can then start to multiply.



Which dechlorinator did you buy? I can tell it's an API one from the photo of the back of the bottle, but they make a few different ones.

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

You don't need to test for nitrite today as you've only just started, but it's worth checking next time you test ammonia in 3 days.

Tetra Safe Start is bottled bacteria known to contain the right species of ammonia eaters and nitrite eaters so if you add that it should speed up the cycle. Follow the dosage amount on the bottle, but use the method on here for the actual cycle.
Once nitrite shows up, I would add pH to the tests just because of your soft water. That way if the pH does drop you'll catch it straight away. The bacteria we grow slow down in low pH which is why you need to check.


I hadn't realised you hadn't used a dechlorinator. Water companies add chlorine to kill bacteria; a few manage to survive which is why there are a few in tap water but not many. Once the chlorine is removed, they can then start to multiply.



Which dechlorinator did you buy? I can tell it's an API one from the photo of the back of the bottle, but they make a few different ones.

I'm assuming it's API Tap Water Conditioner as it's what I recommended to him earlier

 

[CaptainBarnicles]

Just to add where dechlorinator is concerned...is your water treated with chlorine or chloramine? The dose is different depending on which

 

[777james777]

Just to add where dechlorinator is concerned...is your water treated with chlorine or chloramine? The dose is different depending on which

I’m not too sure on this or how I would even find out?

 

[777james777]

You don't need to test for nitrite today as you've only just started, but it's worth checking next time you test ammonia in 3 days.

Tetra Safe Start is bottled bacteria known to contain the right species of ammonia eaters and nitrite eaters so if you add that it should speed up the cycle. Follow the dosage amount on the bottle, but use the method on here for the actual cycle.
Once nitrite shows up, I would add pH to the tests just because of your soft water. That way if the pH does drop you'll catch it straight away. The bacteria we grow slow down in low pH which is why you need to check.


I hadn't realised you hadn't used a dechlorinator. Water companies add chlorine to kill bacteria; a few manage to survive which is why there are a few in tap water but not many. Once the chlorine is removed, they can then start to multiply.



Which dechlorinator did you buy? I can tell it's an API one from the photo of the back of the bottle, but they make a few different ones.

Yes I bought the one @CaptainBarnicles showed me a few posts up.

Ok so no need for the nitrite test just yet I will do that Wednesday evening after work.

Okay I shall also add some tetra safe start in now
You mentioned “following the method on here”

Sorry we’re abouts will I find that? Or is there a short answer

By my calculations this is nowhere near as much as I need… it says do 60 L on the front. So I ideally need another one of these ?
Shall I just put the whole bottle in for now ?