What fish to add with SafeStart?

[myswtsins]

I think that is oddly high for tap water, test might be bad. pH is off the charts too though, test the ph of the tap.

 

[irmuddled]

I retested everything in the tank... and the readings went down for most:
PH at 8.2
Ammonia at 1-2
Nitrites at 0
Nitrates at 10-20

When I originally posted the test results I had just filled up the tank with water completely and the debri from the dirty gravel was all over the place. Is it possible this tank is close to cycled already? It did had water when I bought it, but no fish... I'll retest the tank water again tomorrow.

The tap water readings are:
PH at 7.8
Ammonia at 1-2
Nitrites at 0
Nitrates at 0

 

[Belltrain]

It's possible that the cycle could be faster because of the seeded material you put in, but I believe your going to still have to go through a cycle.

 

[irmuddled]

Tested the water again this morning, readings are:

Ph 8.2
Ammonia 1ppm
Nitrites 0
Nitrates 10~

Is it safe to add the SafeStart and a few hardy fish now?

 

[fishguychris]

I would say add some hardy fish like minnows or danios , and some type of plant , helps a lot

 

[FreshyFresh]

Got some weird water param readings there for sure. Not trying to be sarcastic, but make sure you're performing the tests correctly. The nitrate test is commonly done wrong. Even the 30sec shaking of bottle #2 can need to be done for a minute depending on how long the kit has been sitting around. Shaking the crap out of the completed nitrate test-tube, and then letting it set for 5min before reading is imperative as well.

Another nitrate anomaly is when using Seachem safe as your dechlorinator, when chloramine is being used in your tap water as opposed to chlorine. You can get an ammonia reading for that.

If you don't mind keeping zebra danios for your final stocking, I'd use them for a fish-in cycle. Just make sure to keep up on water changes so they don't suffer.

 

[myswtsins]

Your initial readings were very odd, don't know what happened there. But pH increase of 0.4 from tap to tank is perfectly normal, mine goes up from 7.6 to 8.2. Although still a high pH most hardy fish can adapt to it. But I do believe the higher the pH the more toxic ammonia is....anyone can confirm this?

Ammonia out of the tap is upsetting.

Another nitrate anomaly is when using Seachem safe as your dechlorinator, when chloramine is being used in your tap water as opposed to chlorine. You can get an ammonia reading for that.
.

Would chloramine show as ammonia straight from the tap also or only when used with seachem safe?

 

[Wild West]

I have never seen test readings like your initial pic....well....ever. Hoping you get it resolved soon

 

[irmuddled]

The reason why the results were so bad in my initial test is because I tested it I had just filled up the tank with water and the debri from the gravel was all over the place... once the dirt settled the readings appeared normal :/ I should have waited after posting but the results were so bizarre I ran here for help!

Anyways, I added SafeStart this morning (with AquaSafe, not prime) and the ammonia went down to 0.25... the nitrites have remained at 0 and nitrates at 10. I did the test a few times to make sure I wasn't doing it wrong and the results seemed pretty consistent.

Also tested the tap water again and it has 1-2 ammonia, 0 nitrites and nitrates. The water where I live has always had ammonia in it :/ Might be cause I live right next to the Mexico border where the water quality is pretty horrid.

I went out to buy some danios, but couldn't find any... the hardiest fish I could find were black skirt tetras so I bought 6. They seem pretty colorful and happy, so far so good... I'll test the water again tomorrow.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Would chloramine show as ammonia straight from the tap also or only when used with seachem safe?

I have not experienced it personally because my city water uses chlorine, but I've read over the years where chloramine will show up as ammonia when treated with Seachem prime or safe.