What fish to add with SafeStart?

[irmuddled]

I tried BioSpira years ago and it worked so I'd like to use SafeStart.

I bought a used 36 gallon bowfront. I researched and it seems like SafeStart is for cycling with fish, so I'd like to buy a few hardy fish to do the cycle with... What fish do you recommend I buy, and how many?

Also, could I add a pair of angels in this tank eventually? If so, does anybody have recommendations of compatible hardy fish with an angelfish for this tank?

 

[Belltrain]

Danios is a good choice.

 

[irmuddled]

They wouldn't nip Angelfish fins? I remember they were sort of hyper

 

[Belltrain]

I don't think danios will attack fins. I did my fish in cycle with White Clouds Minnows they could also work.

 

[tanker]

I would try with ammonia. Safer and less stressful for fish.

 

[irmuddled]

Well... I got SafeStart before reading these posts and now I'm nervous about adding any fish at all. I tested the water on the tank without adding anything to it with my API test kit came out with really weird results...


The PH was the highest I've seen... probably at around 8.8
Ammonia was not even green, it turned into a dark blue. I don't even know how to measure it. Over 10 ppm?
0 nitrities
Nitrates between 5 and 10 ppm


What does this mean? Is it possible it had some bacteria from the gravel still? It did come with a used filter also but I used new biobags... the filter is sort of weak so I'm thinking about replacing it also.

Should I still use the SafeStart, or is it too dangerous to add any fish right now? If I leave it on its own will it cycle itself because of the amount of ammonia in it? Maybe adding the SafeStart without fish would also work?

What about that massively high PH? What fish are compatible with PH that high?

 

[tanker]

I have never seen an Ammonia reading like that. What is in the tank now?

 

[myswtsins]

Whoa.... Ok, don't add any safestart or fish. Ammonia can effect pH so don't think that is your normal pH. Why is the ammonia so high? Are you adding ammonia? Test your tap water for a comparison, ammonia test could be bad. What is in the tank now? When was it setup?

 

[irmuddled]

Gonna test tap water ammonia now... the tank has just the gravel, two plants, one fake plant, two fake stumps, the filter, and the heater. I haven't even added prime yet cause I found out it was incompatible with the safestart.

I bought the test kit like 3 years ago, is it possible it's too old and the readings are false? :/

 

[irmuddled]

The tap water has about 1-2 ppm of ammonia, but at least it stayed green?