Looking for Answers about Tetra SafeStart?

Hello,

How exciting! A South American biotope! One of my favorite tanks to set up and maintain. I cannot go into all the details you may be interested in learning about this type of tank, here, in this forum. However, in regards to chemicals, we would recommend AquaSafe Plus, Safe Start, and Blackwater Extract. The first one will condition the water, the second one is your beneficial bactera (add this 24 hours after you set the tank up, and right before you add your first fish), and the third one will soften the water and provide the minerals and trace elements that would make your fish happy. This should be added at least monthly. Give me a call, and I'll give you more info on what you might want to do to be successful with this tank.

Regards,
BREX

Hello,
The number one mistake new aquarium keepers make is they start with way too many fish. This can cause high ammonia because in a new aquarium there is not any beneficial bacteria established to break down the ammonia. Make sure you only start with a couple fish at most, and these should be fish known to be hardy and inexpensive.

SafeStart will help establish the good bacteria faster in your aquarium. You can run the filter while using the product. Don't worry about turning off your UV sterilizer or ozone equipment. This is equipment you would have to buy seperate. Most aquariums do not have these, but some advanced aquarium keepers use them. You would definitely know if you had this equipment.

Hello,
Sorry to hear your frustration. The good news is that once your aquarium matures a bit and the bacteria is able to establish itself in your gravel and filter, your problems will subside. Aquariums are most unstable in the beginning because the bacteria isn't there yet. Adding SafeStart was an excellent idea. You could also use Tetra AmmoniaSafe to detoxify the harmful ammonia. You may need to do frequent small water changes for the next week to get the ammonia lower, but with just the one fish in your tank now the production of ammonia should be much lower and the bacteria will be catching up in population and will soon break it down to nitrite and then to nitrate. You can expect to see cloudy water as the bacterica develops. This is totally normal and will subside. As always, keep your feeding to a minimum. Feed only so much that it is all gone in a few minutes. This will help keep down the ammonia levels too. You are in good company with the thousands of aquarists who have experienced the frustration of starting a new aquarium with too many fish. Fortunately you have learned quickly from this and will be able to avoid further frustration now. Let the aquairum mature and add fish only a couple at a time. Allow enough space for each fish, and do regular partial water changes in the aquarium, and you will likely have few problems in the future.

Hello and thank you for your inquiry.

In short, you can use Safe Start any time you think you need it, it is not a chemical and cannot be overdosed. The long answer to your question is this: why do you see spikes from time to time? You are properly stocked, and you say you do your water changes regularly. Therefore, you either have an issue with overfeeding or with your water source. Have you ever tested your tap water to be sure it is safe to use? If not, you might want to do so. As for feeding, make sure you feed once a day to the upper feeding fish such as your tetras and danios, one flake or pellet per fish. For the catfish and shark, when you turn the lights off at night, drop two small sinking tablets in at opposite ends of the tank.

Last, be sure to maintain your filter regularly. Ignoring this can lead to spikes in nitrite and nitrate. So every month, remove and rinse or replace all media. Every other month, take the filter off and lightly rinse the box out, and run a bottle brush up through the tubing. Remove the impeller and clean it and the motor area thoroughly.

Good luck!
BREX

No, use AquaSafe first to dechlorinate the water, and then use SafeStart immediately before adding your fish.

Hello,

No because the bacteria need a constant source of food. Adding food once a day would not keep them going. You would find it easier to add one small fish along with Safe Start. This would cycle the tank in one to two weeks, and you would never register ammonia or nitrite, unless you overfed. Fishless cycling is a lot of work, especially when there are much easier, better methods available.

Regards,
BREX

The 8.45oz bottle treats 75 gallons - but you can't overtreat with SafeStart, so I recommend that size, and just use the whole bottle. Good luck!

We recommend adding it to clean, dechlorinated water in a clean bucket, and then pouring it into your aquarium. Be sure to use AquaSafe before hand!

It should be dosed as 8-10 drops per gallon.
Thanks.

The water changes are most likely preventing the cycle. Toxic ammonia levels are 1.0 & higher. You may of started over & removed the SafeStart, with those water changes. At this point, I would recommend leaving the tank alone for the next week. Be sure not to overfeed. One or two pieces of food per fish, are all that are necessary.

Thanks.

You can add it either way: directly into the tank or over the bioballs. Make sure you do not add it within 24 hours of using any type of water conditioner. And once you add it, you must put some fish into the tank within an hour or so, otherwise, the bacteria will starve off rapidly. We would recommend adding additional Safe Start approximately one week after adding the fish to the tank, since you are planning on adding so many at one time.

BREX

Definitely! Toxic levels of either ammonia or nitrite will kill any nitrifying bacteria. You would need to get those levels down before proceeding.

BREX

You can use the entire bottle, as this is just beneficial bacteria, not a chemical. However, if you prefer not to, then use only 1/4 of the bottle. Shake it thoroughly and pour straight into the tank. We would recommend you set the tank up, let it run for 24 hours, add the Safe Start, then immediately go purchase the fish. Once you get back home with the fish (be sure to come straight home to keep from stressing the fish too much), float his bag for about 10 minutes. While it floats, mix a little bit of water from the tank into his bag about every 2-3 minutes. When you get ready to put the fish in the tank, drain him gently into a fish net, over a bucket; do not mix the store water with your water.

BREX

Yes, Aquasafe will do the same thing as Prime. Any water conditioner that removes chloramines will harm TSS. Any product that "locks up" or "removes" ammonia will also harm it. So any time you use it, you want to be sure it is at least 24 hours after a water change. No, you do not need to change your water at all, just wait the 24 hours (which you probably already have done). Once you add TSS, you can put your fish in immediately. No need to wait 2 hours. It will really cloud the water for about 15 minutes. Once that clears, add your fish.

I realize some items are missing from the instructions. Some of that is out of our control as the FDA influences our instructions. However, if you will go to the Contact Us button and email us a brief note about this conversation, along with your name, address, and phone number, I will be happy to replace the TSS for you. Please include the UPC bar code number as well. :-)

BREX

No, since you added tap water with Prime, all you have to do is wait 24 hours and then you can use TSS. Any time you add tap water conditioner, whether it is Prime, Aquasafe, or any other brand, you have to wait 24 hours before using TSS. Even if you just do a partial water change, and add tap water with a water conditioner, you have to wait 24 hours if you intend to use TSS, before adding the TSS to the tank. Chlorine will dissipate out of water, chloramines will NOT. You must use a water conditioner for this purpose.

So your tank has been sitting long enough now, that you do not need to remove any water, just add more TSS and then add fish.

Call and ask for me if you are still confused. 1-800-526-0650

BREX (pronounced B Rex)

Our recommendation would be to try a different test kit. The original two zebras cycled the tank for you (even without TSS they would have), so your readings should be 0, 0, and 5 for nitrate. We think the kit could be off. If you stir the gravel up a bit, do you see any debris floating up?

We would recommend vacuuming and changing 25% of the water regardless, waiting 24 hours, and re-test after that to see what you get.

Yes, TSS is good for up to 6 months after opening, as long as it is capped tightly.

BREX

It's not a bad idea to add some after water changes, especially if they are large ones or you have a lot of fish. You would just use about 1/4 of the bottle each time. There is no actual dosage, it is just bacteria, you can use as much or as little as you like.

BREX

Yes, perfectly safe. The uv rays they are referring to are a LOT stronger than any uv that comes through a standard fluorescent bulb.

BREX

That would be the expiration date. It only has a shelf life of one year, total, unopened. Once opened, only 6 months.

BREX

As long as ammonia and nitrite are below 2.0, you can add the SafeStart. Considering the odd numbers you are getting and not having cycled yet, you may want to talk to one of our specialists. 50 ppm nitrate indicates that you are indeed cycled, and need to remove some organic matter from the tank! 1-800-526-0650.

BREX