Tetra Safe Start And Cycling My New Tank

[snazy]

I'll continue to log the progress as some people may be interested

Tested the water 20 min ago. Ph is 8.2 still (that sand!!!)
Seems the plants have stopped the hunger strike and there is a slight change for ammonia and bit of more orangie color for nitrAtes, nitrItes are sky blue 0(can't get this wroing)
Or I don't know...I'll post all pictures from each day together for visibility

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How I started before 3.5ml ammonia on Day1

Day2:I presume I contaminated the ammonia test on Day1, so this is a jump to Day2

Day3:

Day4:

Day5:

Day6:

Day6: 3.5ml ammonia added

 

[Prime Ordeal]

Thanks snazy. Try to keep that first post updated with the readings please so that it's easy to follow the progress.

 

[snazy]

No problem. I am not sure what to put for the readings. Ammonia looks like 0.5 to me, nitrIte is bold 0, nitrAte is definately more orange than before but is not quite 10? I have forgotten how to read these colours

 

[snazy]

I was just wondering, is it possible that the bottled ammonia I added raised the PH?

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Yes it is. Ammonia is basic, so it will raise pH. Watch the nitrate level though. If the nitrates raise to high, it will crash your pH. You may need to do a water change later on, so keep an eye on your pH level as well. If it crashes, it can stall the cycle. Hope this helps. (Don't worry, I am not going to harass with anything, I promise anything i say will solely be to assist)

 

[snazy]

Thanks. I'll test it daily. The cause of the high Ph is a bit of a worry if it stays like that after the cycle, as I am not certain that would suit the corys or pleco too much
I hope I am not another victim of the LFS, if it the sand
As for the nitrates, it doesn't look like I should worry about them raising anytime soon

 

[Dieses Madchen]

Once the cycle is good and going, the ammonia will be deplete before it can really do anything to the pH. Remember, you are adding it at concentrated levels. As it stands now, its a good thing that it is high.

My tap water pH is 9.0+. After it cycles through the filter a day, it drops to a nice 7.6, with the exception of my malawi tank, but I have that buffered to stay above 8.

 

[parker313]

I just tested my water. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all still at 0. I added SafeStart on Friday, 8 platies on Sunday. 55 US gallon tank.

 

[Prime Ordeal]

I just tested my water. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all still at 0. I added SafeStart on Friday, 8 platies on Sunday. 55 US gallon tank.

It's a bit too early to know whether it's working or not though after just one day. Keep us updated though as it all helps form a better picture of Safe Start's performance.

 

[parker313]

I will be testing every other day to keep an eye on the ammonia and nitrite to make sure they don't spike on me.

 

[nanoMama86]

Most people are going to use this tetra safestart in EXACTLY the same way snazy is, that is, in a fully decorated tank. I believe she is giving it a practical, real world test. I still think you should consider this product as only a "seeder" of your filter, and stock slowly, with large once a week water changes.


It has also proven to "bulk up" my bb colony when I am going to introduce a significant number of fish, or a large, messy one like Fury, bless her ammo factory heart!

I hate for my fish to stress at all, so if I test in the morning shows any spike at all, large water change+gravel vac, then I pop down to the store and get a bottle. I rarely have any spikes, but it does happen, as it does to all of us.

 

[Dieses Madchen]

I just tested my water. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all still at 0. I added SafeStart on Friday, 8 platies on Sunday. 55 US gallon tank.

The good thing about how you are doing it as those are some small fish in a HUGE tank. If you do have any spike they will be very small and water changes won't be a pain in the butt. BUT I would test everyday because the higher the spike is, the larger the water changes. Definately want to keep ammonia and nitrites below .25

 

[snazy]

Hi all. I posted the picture for day 4 under post #61 for visibility. Please scroll above. Generally, no real change so far. Ammonia is kind of the same, nitrite is 0, nitrate looks paler than yesterday and is 5

 

[parker313]

I just tested my water. Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate are all still at 0. I added SafeStart on Friday, 8 platies on Sunday. 55 US gallon tank.

The good thing about how you are doing it as those are some small fish in a HUGE tank. If you do have any spike they will be very small and water changes won't be a pain in the butt. BUT I would test everyday because the higher the spike is, the larger the water changes. Definately want to keep ammonia and nitrites below .25

Absolutely. I will test every day. Assuming no spike, I will add some cory catfish 2 weeks after the platies were added. The rams and angels will most likely have to be purchased online so they may be added at the same time but the angels I'd get would be small juvys anyway.

 

[snazy]

I uploaded a picture of the tests today above under post #61. There is no change in nitrites or nitrates. Ph is still 8.2. I think I am colour blind and I can't decide how much the ammonia is now.
I made a test of the tap water too to compare the colours if it helps.

How much does the ammonia look like to you?
Left is ammonia test from the tank, right is the tap water?