Question 1

Will these steps work: let conditioned water run for 3 days. Add the fish and tetra safe start at the same time. Tank=cycled?

Accepted Answer

I agree about the statement that 2 weeks are needed at a minimum to fully cycle a tank. Safe start definitely speeds up the process, which usually takes over a month.  If you have a trusted store or friend with an aquarium free of disease, you can also transfer some gravel/substrate or sponge media to speed the process a bit more, but putting fish in before a full two weeks is torturing them (if they even survive) by burning their gills with nitrates and nitrites.  I once tried to put a fish at one week because my test kits (didn’t know they had expired) were indicating that the tank was fully cycled.  The fish was in great distress so I returned it to the store, not wanting to kill it.  At two weeks, I introduced another fish and he’s still happily living in the tank over two years later.

Please don’t use fish to cycle your tank.  I use aquatic plants that are on the hardier side (Java ferns, Anubias, water wisteria, cryptocoryne…).  Otherwise, you can also dose ammonia (search online for technique) or fish flakes (though they can sometimes get moldy).

Question 2

After 4 days my ammonia is 0, nitrite is 0 and nitrates are 5ppm. Is my tank cycled or are these false readings?

Accepted Answer

That's what happened to my old tank and it stayed cycled! I added safestart at water changes or if adding new fish and all was fine

Question 3

can I use water conditioner and this product at the same time?

Accepted Answer

I know this is a old post but I don't want anyone to read this and loose their fish bc of wrong answers. You CAN NOT use this the same day as a water conditioner. You should use a water conditioner first but you MUST wait 24 hours atleast to add safe start plus. If you read about water conditioner (for instance Prime) it binds ammonia making it harmless to your fish for 24 to 48 hours. The bacteria in Safe start plus need ammonia to feed on. It is, after all, the bacteria that eats ammonia In your tank. If there is no ammonia for it to feed on it will die. So it will be useless and a waist of money if you add it before waiting atleast 24 hours after your water conditioner. I always wait 48 hours to be safe.

Question 4

When should i see result ?

Accepted Answer

It works right away. It's good you have fish so the bacteria can eat the ammonis caused by the fish waste. Dont use any ammonia remover within 24 hrs before or after using safe start. You'll kill the food for the bacteria. I wod wait a week before using ammonia remover after you have used the Safestart.

Tetra SafeStart Plus, For Newly Set-Up Fish aquariums, 100 ml, 3.38-Ounce

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