Tetra safestart

[Fishytaletold]

Evening all, I am a complete newbie so be gentle!
I am trying to cycle a 60l tank. Initially I bought and used tetra safestart. I left the tank for a couple of days and then tested and didn’t have any readings for ammonia nitrites or nitrates. I then read the article on this site in regards to fishless cycling and realised that I have no idea what I’m doing. I decided to start the cycling using the ammonia method thinking that the tetrastart didn’t work. A week later (today I tested for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates and the results are as follows 4ppm, 0ppm 4ppm. These results have confused me completely as I was expecting only the ammonia to give a result. What do I do now as it seems that the tetrastart has worked. I would appreciate some advise.

 

[Kyle E.]

Good for you for learning how to cycle before putting fish in the tank!



As for your questions the tetra safe start works great. You need to add ammonia AND the safe start at the same time though. The safe start is just bottled good bacteria so if you dumped them in but didn't give them any ammonia to feed on right then, then it all died.

Your tank is not cycled until you have 0ppm Ammonia, and 0ppm Nitrite. You still have 4ppm ammonia so your tank is not cycled. As for the 4ppm nitrate, test your tap water for nitrate. A lot of the time you have nitrate in your tap water already so that could explain that. I would suggest getting another bottle of tetra safe start and dumping it in with the ammonia still in there and go from there.

 

[Fishytaletold]

Good for you for learning how to cycle before putting fish in the tank!



As for your questions the tetra safe start works great. You need to add ammonia AND the safe start at the same time though. The safe start is just bottled good bacteria so if you dumped them in but didn't give them any ammonia to feed on right then, then it all died.

Your tank is not cycled until you have 0ppm Ammonia, and 0ppm Nitrite. You still have 4ppm ammonia so your tank is not cycled. As for the 4ppm nitrate, test your tap water for nitrate. A lot of the time you have nitrate in your tap water already so that could explain that. I would suggest getting another bottle of tetra safe start and dumping it in with the ammonia still in there and go from there.

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I wasn’t clear, but I haven’t put any fish in the tank and I have no intention of doing so until I’m sure that it’s safe. The Nitrate levels were 0 when the water was added to the tank just under 2 weeks ago and I only tested them today out of curiosity. I just don’t understand how the nitrates levels can be so high unless I’m a lot further along the cycle than I thought. Also, the ammonia is high because I’ve been adding it - as per the instructions for cycling a tank.

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Thanks for your reply. Maybe I wasn’t clear, but I haven’t put any fish in the tank and I have no intention of doing so until I’m sure that it’s safe. The Nitrate levels were 0 when the water was added to the tank just under 2 weeks ago and I only tested them today out of curiosity. I just don’t understand how the nitrates levels can be so high unless I’m a lot further along the cycle than I thought.

The nitrate level is most likely from the addition of Tetra Safe Start. If you added the Tetra Safe Start then added ammonia, the bacteria in the TSS are showing up as nitrate which are 'eating' (sorry I don't know scientific terms) the ammonia. Sooner or later you should see the ammonia reduce down to 0 within 24 hours of dosing. You have to keep feeding doses of ammonia so the good bacteria don't starve. Once you see ammonia go down to 0 24 hours after dosing you can do a large water change and add fish. I used TSS on my first tank and it got me fully cycled in about 4 days.

Good luck and post with any more questions.

 

[Kyle E.]

Yep, listen to what she said.

 

[Fishytaletold]

The nitrate level is most likely from the addition of Tetra Safe Start. If you added the Tetra Safe Start then added ammonia, the bacteria in the TSS are showing up as nitrate which are 'eating' (sorry I don't know scientific terms) the ammonia. Sooner or later you should see the ammonia reduce down to 0 within 24 hours of dosing. You have to keep feeding doses of ammonia so the good bacteria don't starve. Once you see ammonia go down to 0 24 hours after dosing you can do a large water change and add fish. I used TSS on my first tank and it got me fully cycled in about 4 days.

Good luck and post with any more questions.

Thank you. How large a water change should I do when it’s ready?

 

[mrsjoannh13]

Thank you. How large a water change should I do when it’s ready?

I think I did about 75%. Make sure to add a water conditioner if filling from the tap. Post pics when you get your fish!

 

[FishGuest5123]

You need to do a large enough final water change to get your nitrates below 20ppm. Most aquarist try to keep nitrates between 5 and 20ppm.

 

[ClownLurch]

Welcome. This lot will look after you. Have a search for the fishes of your choice on seriouslyfish.com while your waiting what’ll seem like decades for your tank to cycle.

Awwwh man this non silent cycling seems a right pain.

 

[Fishytaletold]

Thank you all for your replies. As soon as the tank is ready and I’ve chosen my fish I’ll post some pictures.