Tetra Safe Start And Cycling My New Tank

[snazy]

Hi all,

After so many debates over whether bottled bacteria works or not, I agreed to open a thread and keep a log of cycling my new tank.

Now, this is a bit early, as my tank is still in the post, and I haven't bought yet the substrate, filter, etc..but all of us can use this thread for posting their own success/unsuccess logs with Tetra Safe Start, or similar products.

For those that missed it, I have cycled two tanks with Tetra Safe start, via a fish-in cycle and it took a week.
Conditions:
-No water changes during the cycle
-No ammonia removers of any kind, just simple tap water conditioner(I used Api Tap Safe)
-Water temperature between 20-28 max(mine was at 26.5-27)
-Fish and double the recommended dose of Tetra Safe Start go together(My tank was understocked)
-Ph of water apparently has to be over 7.2 to work properly(Ph on both my tanks is 7.6)
-Nitrite spike was achieved at day 5-6 of the cycle and I poured on both tanks a normal dose of Tetra Safe Start at this stage(Nitrites were gone to 0 in just 24 hours or slightly longer as that's when I came back from work to test. Ammonia was nearly undetectable when nitrite spike occured)
-Feeding of fish was normal( I feed them twice a day at least, but smaller ammounts)
-I remember looking at the expiry date on the bottles and all of them had passed over 6 months from manufacturing date , but I bought them from the same shop at different time.

I will be trying exactly the same on my third tank,but with some plants and it will also be a fishless cycle with ammonia.
In the mean time, please post your opinions and attempts here if you wish. And as soon as I collect everything I need, I will post mine.

Thanks for contributing.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I will summarize the results of the tests for each day below
Date I started the cycle: 15th January.
For other info, read the thread. Pictures will be posted for each day.

Log:

Day 1: added 3.5 ml ammonia
ammonia-1ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-5ppm, ph-7.6, temp-26.8

Day2:no ammonia added
ammonia-1ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-5ppm, ph-8.2, temp-26.8

Day3:no ammonia added
ammonia-0.50ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-7ppm, ph-8.2, temp-26.8

Day4:no ammonia added
ammonia-0.50ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-5ppm, ph-8.2, temp -26.9

Day5:no ammonia added
ammonia-between 0.25-0.50ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-5ppm, ph-8.2, temp-26.8

Day6:redosed to 1ppm ammonia(3.5ml)
before ammonia added ammonia-0, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-between 3-5 ppm, ph-8.0, temp-26.8
after 3.5 ml dose: ammonia-1ppm, no other tests done

Day7:no ammonia added
ammonia-0.50ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-5ppm, ph-8.2, temp-26.9

Day8 earlier during the day:
ammonia-0.25ppm, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-5ppm, ph-7.6, temp-26.9
Day8 4 hours later:
ammonia-0
Day8: redosed to 1ppm ammonia(3.5ml)
ammonia-1ppm

Day9:no ammonia added(7PM in the evening)
ammonia-0.25ppm, nitrIte-0.15, nitrAte-10ppm, ph-7.6, temp-27.1

Day10: 5.30 AM in the morning
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0.10, nitrAte-10ppm, ph-7.6, temp-26.9
Day10: 6AM redosed to 1ppm ammonia(3.5ml)
no test done, ammonia should be 1ppm as usual.
Day10: about 13 hours since the ammonia was dosed to 1ppm
ammonia-0.25ppm, nitrIte-0.50, nitrAte-20ppm, ph-7.6, temp 26.9


Day11: 2.15 AM in the morning
(about 7hrs after previous test)
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0.25, nitrAte-10ppm, ph-not tested, temp 26.9
Day11: 2.40 AM redosed to 1ppm(3.5ml) ammonia
ammonia-1ppm, no other tests done
Day11: 16.45 PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm, nitrAte-20+ppm, ph-7.6, temp 27.1
Day11: 18:50 PM redosed to 0.50ppm ammonia(1.75ml)

Day12: 5.30AM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm, nitrAte-20+ppm, ph-not tested, temp 27.0
Day12: 5.40AM redosed to 0.50ppm(1.75ml) ammonia
Day12: 16.35 PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm, nitrAte-20ppm, ph-7.6, temp 26.9
Day12: 16.40 PM redosed to 0.50ml ammonia(1.75ml)

Day13: 5.10AM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm, nitrAte-20+, ph-not tested, temp-27.6
Day13: 5.35AM redosed 2.5ml ammonia(by accident)
ammonia-between 0.50-1ppm
Day13: 5.30PM
ammonia-0ppm, nitrIte-2ppm, no other tests done, temp-27.7
Day13: 5.35PM redosed 2.5ml ammonia(on purpose )
ammonia should be between 0.50-1ppm, no point testing

Day14: 4.35AM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm, nitrAte-30+ppm, ph-7.6, temp-29.9
Day14: 4.50AM redosed 0.75ppm(2.5ml) ammonia
no test done, no pic taken
Day14: 17.50PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm-3ppm, no other tests done, temp-30.0
Day14: 18.00PM redosed to 0.75ppm ammonia and added 250ml tetra safestart
Day14: 22.35PM, less than 5 hours from adding ammonia and TSS
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2ppm-3ppm, nitrAte-40ppm+, no ph test done, temp-30.0
Day14: 23.00PM, redosed to 0.50ppm ammonia

Day15: 7.40AM
ammonia-0, nitrite-2ppm-3ppm, no ph test done, temp-30.0
Day15: 7.50AM redosed to 0.60ppm ammonia(2ml)
Day15: 12.40PM
Day15: 12:40PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-2-3ppm
Day15: 12:50PM redosed to 0.60ppm ammonia(2ml)
Day15: 16:30PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-4ppm, nitrAte-not tested, ph-7.6, temp-30.0
Day15: 16:35PM redosed to 0.60ppm(2ml) ammonia
Day15: 17.25PM redosed another 1.40ppm+ ammonia(5ml)

Day16: 17:50PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-4ppm+, no other tests done, temp-29.8
Day16: 17:55PM redosed to about 2.10ppm ammonia(7ml)
Day16: 22:50PM just a test out of curiosity
ammonia-1ppm, nitrIte-2ppm

Day17: 16:45 PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-5ppm, no other tests done
Day17: 19:00PM dosed 2ppm ammonia(7ml)

Day18: 19:30PM dosed 2ppm ammonia(7ml)
no tests done

Day19: 19.00PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-1-2ppm, nitrAte-80ppm, ph-7.6, temp-30.0
Did a 70% water change
Day19: 21.45PM dosed 2ppm ammonia(7ml)
ammonia-2ppm, nitrIte-0.15ppm, no other tests done, temp-26.1(ran out of hot water during the water change)

Day20: 5:50AM
ammonia-0.50, nitrIte-0, no other tests done
Day20: 21:00PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0.25, no other tests done, temp-29.9
Day20: 22:30PM redosed to 2ppm ammonia

Day21: 5.40AM
ammonia-1ppm, nitrIte-2ppm
Day21: 22:00PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0.25+, no nitrAte test done, Ph-7.6, temp-29.9
Day21: 12:00 AM redosed to 2ppm ammonia

Day22: 8:30AM
ammonia-not tested, nitrIte-0, nitrAte-40, Ph-not tested, temp-30.0
Day22: 8.50AM redosed to 2ppm ammonia
Day22: 13:00PM(4 hours after redosing ammonia)
ammonia-1ppm, nitrIte-1ppm


Day23: 12:30PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0
Day23: 12:50PM redosed to 2ppm ammonia


Day24: 16:00 PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0.25, nitrate and ph not tested, temp-30.1
Day24: 17:20 PM
nitrIte-0ppm
Day24 : 17:35PM redosed to 0.50ppm ammonia(1.7ml)
Day24: 18:00PM
ammonia-0.50ppm, nitrIte-0-ish
Day24: 20.25PM(3 hours after dosing 0.50 ppm ammonia)
ammonia-0ppm, nitrIte-0.50ppm
Day24: 23:30 PM redosed to 1.50ppm ammonia (5ml)

Day25: 21:30 PM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0, ph-7.6, temp-30.1
Day25: 21:45 PM large 90% water change

Day26: 5:20 AM redosed with a common pleco

Day28: 2:30 AM
ammonia-0, nitrIte-0
Day28: 3:30 AM added 6 albino corys
Day28: 18:00 PM
So far the ammonia and nitrIte are holding on to 0. Temp is set to 25 degrees.


Pictures of the tests day by day are below:

Day1:Before 3.5 ml of ammonia was added

Day2:

Day3:

Day4:

Day5:

Day6:

Day6:3.5ml ammonia added

Day7:

Day8:

Day8 4 hours later

Day8:after 3.5ml ammonia added

Day9:

Day10: 5.30AM

Day10: 5.45 AM dosed 3.5ml ammonia to raise the level to 1ppm
No test done and no pic taken

Day10: test done about 13 hours since 3.5ml(1ppm) ammonia was added

Day11: 2.15 AM((yeah, I know I am crazy )7 hours after previous test

Day11: added 3.5ml ammonia at 2.40 AM

Day11: 16.45 PM

Day11: 18.50 PM 1.75ml ammonia added to raise to 0.50ppm

Day12: 5.30 AM

Day12: 5.40AM redosed to 0.50ppm ammonia
no pic taken, no test done

Day12: 16.35PM

Day12: 16.40PM redosed 0.50ppm ammonia
no pic taken, no test done

Day13: 5:10 AM

Day13: 5.35 AM redosed 2.5ml ammonia(by accident) to 0.75ppm

Day13: 5.30 PM

Day13: 5.35 PM redosed to 0.75ppm(2.5ml ammonia)
No test done, no pic taken

Day14: 4.35 AM

Day14: 4.50 AM dosed 0.75ppm ammonia(2.5ml)
no test done, no pic taken


Day14: 17.50 PM

Day14: 18:00 PM redosed to 0.75ppm ammonia(2.5ml) and added 250ml tetra safe start



Day14: 22.35PM, less than 5 hours from dosing ammonia and TSS

Day14: 23.00PM, redosed to 0.60ppm(2ml) ammonia



Day15: 7.40AM

Day15: 7.50AM redosed to 0.60ppm ammonia(2ml)



Day15: 12:40PM

Day15: 12:50PM redosed to 0.60ppm ammonia(2ml)



Day15: 16:30PM

Day15: 16:35PM redosed to 0.60ppm ammonia(2ml)
Day15: 17.25PM redosed another 1.40ppm+ ammonia(5ml)
Pic taken at 19.20PM

Day16: 17:50PM

Day16: 17:55PM redosed to 2.10ppm(7ml) ammonia




Day16: 22:50PM seems that nitrIte colour is lot lighter

Day17: 16:45 PM

Day17: 19:00 PM dosed 2ppm ammonia



Day18: dosed 2ppm ammonia
no tests done


Day19: 19.00PM

Day19: 21:45PM after about 70% water change

Day20: 5:50AM

Day20: 21:00PM

Day20: 22:30PM redosed to 2ppm ammonia



Day21: 5.40AM

Day21: 22:00PM

Day21: 12:00AM redosed to 2ppm



Day22: 8:30AM

Day22: 8:50AM redosed to 2ppm ammonia



Day22: 13:00PM(4 hours after redosing ammonia)

Day23: 12:30 PM ammonia and nitrite 0
Day23: 12:50 redosed to 2ppm ammonia


Day24: 16:00 PM

Day24: 17:20 PM

Day24 : 17:35PM redosed to 0.50ppm ammonia(1.7ml)



Day24: 18:00 PM

Day24: 20:25PM (about 3 hours after 0.50ppm ammonia dose)

Day24: 23:30 PM redosed to 1.50ppm ammonia (5ml)


Day25: 21:45 PM large 90% water change
Day26: 5:20 AM redosed with a common pleco


Day28: 2:30 AM

Day28: a couple of videos with the fish in

The corys enjoying the extra room
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeGBEkw3g4c&feature=youtu.be

My part time corysitter
http/www.youtube.com/watch?v=fh6JsgV5aCM&feature=youtu.be

 

[Xraymark]

Your pushing the envelope.Good work.

 

[Primous]

Something tells me you're going to have some success with this














.
Sorry I couldn't resist lol

 

[eaglesaquarium]

Well, I will say that the truly "scientific" response would be for you to replicate his methods and refute his findings with documented findings of your own.


For skeptics on both sides, I would suggest that you take pictures of your tubes for each test, just to share that little tidbit. Sure someone could fake the pictures, but that is a harder thing to do than merely type in fake numbers.

 

[snazy]

For skeptics on both sides, I would suggest that you take pictures of your tubes for each test, just to share that little tidbit. Sure someone could fake the pictures, but that is a harder thing to do than merely type in fake numbers.

Will do

 

[snazy]

Tank is staying empty until the filter and air pump arrive and I also need to get sand when the shops open I haven't even bothered to clean it yet, as delivery around Christmas is not going to be speedy
I got a filter from APS, external 2000 litres an hour+ UV sterilizer in one, hopefully arriving this or next week.
And I have also ordered the Eheim 3704 air pump 400.

I might be able to pick some driftwood this week, but there is plenty of time for decoration.

Well, no one has posted a picture yet of a dirty empty tank, so here I go

 

[BigbruiserAl]

You do know you have a large tank a filter thats only going to turn over approx 900LPH right?

 

[snazy]

You do know you have a large tank a filter thats only going to turn over approx 900LPH right?

I'll be running the hood filter in conjunction with an external 2000LPH

 

[BigbruiserAl]

You do know you have a large tank a filter thats only going to turn over approx 900LPH right?

I'll be running the hood filter in conjunction with an external 2000LPH

ah fair enough is it APS then aswell

 

[snazy]

ah fair enough is it APS then aswell

The best I could afford

 

[snazy]

OK, finally... So I think I am nearly ready to start the cycle. I just need to buy a few more things tomorrow.

Yesterday I cleaned the tank and setup most of the stuff. It turns out that the stupid heater that came with the APS tank has a super short cable that is impossible to use even if I had a plug just outside the opening of the back of the tank, just ridiculious

So tomorrow I am going to get a bit more filter media as I removed the carbon, the tetra safe start bottles and a heater of course.

Unfortunately, or fortunately for me, my lovely half has decided to decorate this tank as I apparently have done a horrible job in my attempts with my other two tanks .
So I have been asked to wait before I fill the tank with water, until all decoration and planting has finished.

I know plants and cycle is not a good idea, first because of possible algae blooms and second because I am trying to do a viable test with Tetra Safe start, but I just can't say no to a such a nice offer The plants have been ordered and are supposed to arrive tomorrow or Friday the latest. Then I can start the cycle.

Here are a few pictures from the tank from yesterday before and after:

Tank with the drift wood being soaked for a couple of weeks:

Tank now:

 

[BigbruiserAl]

Quick FYI mate you may as well bin the spray bar, you will get alot more flow without it and with APS you need it The hood will ripple the water enough

 

[snazy]

OK. I'll take it into consideration.
Is the APS ext that bad

I just want to see how it looks first when on and I will take it from there.

 

[BigbruiserAl]

it will look great it just wont do much, there a fair few bends in that pipwork, plus 3 media baskets full lol

 

[snazy]

Would you suggest a third filter, maybe an internal?
The two filters combined are 2900L/H but if the flow is actually not as advertised as you said, then it seems a bit not enough for the tank size?