[Cassandra90]

This weekend I finally revamped my 55 gallon aquarium. My boyfriend and I cleaned the whole tank. We used just hot water and peroxide to clean the hood, lights and tank itself. Then re-rinsed everything in hot water.
I had no idea how much work it would be to completely strip down a tank.

I switched out the substrate to a black sand from petco, added a few fake plants, river rocks, a medium air disc (I need to find a way to keep it down), and a piece of wood that has not soaked and sunk yet.

I have not tested the water yet. I did use the Tetra Safe Start to help the cycle. I will be using this thread to post the results of my water testing. Just to keep track.

I am planning on adding probably 4 fancy goldfish to this tank after it cycles. (First try with goldfish, I have always kept tropical freshwater fish in this tank in the past).

 

[Flint]

What are you using as an ammonia source? I'm sorry to say if you didn't add one or dose liquid ammonia, your SafeStart bacteria has all died and you need to re-dose with an ammonia source.

 

[Cassandra90]

I actually used a shrimp in the tank. I read I have to wait for it to start to decompose to help start a cycle. Is that correct?

 

[Flint]

Yes, it won't start producing ammonia for a few days. The SafeStart won't work. /:

 

[Cassandra90]

I was kinda skeptical about it. I seen mixed reviews online about it.

 

[Cassandra90]

Oh by the way I asked for this thread to be deleted since I put it under Freshwater Journals. So I am not to sure how long this will be up for. I felt like it should be under the Journal thread than here.

 

[Flint]

Tetra Safe Start worked for me but I did a fish-in cycle. Without ammonia the bacteria will just die.

 

[Cassandra90]

So I found it gross with the shrimp in the tank. I removed it and did a 25% water change. I added ammonia and tested it just now, it was at 1ppm. Should this be higher for it to cycle? Should I test it again in an hour or so? To see if it has changed.
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[Cassandra90]

I'm so impatient, I tested it again. It is up to 8ppm. At this point what do I do?
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[Flint]

Do a water change. Anything 8ppm or over will stall your cycle. You want to dose the ammonia so your water tests 4ppm. This will allow for the maximum bioload on your tank. You could add all four fish at once if you really wanted to after it cycled assuming they are still small. Are you going to re-dose TSS once you get your ammonia situation figured out? I've had it work for me.

 

[Cassandra90]

Yes I will redose tss. I will do a water change after work today to get the ammonia down.
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[Flint]

Don't worry about over-dosing. Always use the entire bottle and fill it with tank water and dump it out a few times so you get all the bacteria out you can.

 

[Cassandra90]

I did my water change got it to 4ppm. And added the tss. So just sit and wait?
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[Flint]

Yep, just make sure you keep your ammonia up. Do you know how much it took to get 4ppm? The TSS won't allow it to go over 1ppm so it could get tricky.

 

[Cassandra90]

It took a about a cap. So once it goes down I redose the ammonia?
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[Flint]

Yes, once your ammonia falls, re-dose. It's just a waiting game from there. I got results after using TSS for two weeks.

 

[Cassandra90]

Okay thanks!
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[Flint]

When the ammonia is processed into nitrates in 24 hours for three consecutive days, you're done!!

 

[Cassandra90]

So at that point my readings should be 0ppm for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates?
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[Flint]

No, your readings will be 0 ammonia, 0 nitrites and you'll have nitrates. When you can dose the 4ppm of ammonia and they are like that in 24 hours, do it two more times to make sure, then do a WC to bring your nitrates under 20ppm and you are safe to add your fish.