A few beginning questions

[Thyra]

There is a thread in this forum on the Tetra Safe Start that you should be able to find with a search.

 

[OrangeCones]

Sure, I'd be treating the water for chlorine first, so I'd still have to wait a week for the dechlorinator to do its job,

Curious....what dechlorinator takes a week to do its job?

 

[Thyra]

The article on Tetra Safe Start is in General Discussion on 09/27

 

[OrangeCones]

I don't know about other products, but the 'binding ability' of Seachem's Prime does not stop or harm the beneficial bacteria in the tank, whether there 'naturally' or put there by the 'bacteria in a bottle' products. The ammonia is still there and able to be consumed by the bacteria in the non-toxic form.

If someone from Tetra did say...:

"In regards to ammonia products, yes, they kill TSS. Any type, whether a chloramines remover or detoxifier, etc, anything that says it locks up ammonia or removes ammonia. Do not add TSS for 24 hours after using such a product, and do not add such a product for at least 7 days after using TSS. The bacteria is housed in a special stabilized solution of ammonia, so if you remove/lock up the ammonia, you remove all of the food the bacteria require to live."

...I would love to see the research on that. Since the ammonia is not 'removed' it is still able to be consumed. Some products adsorb ammonia, which IS removing ammonia from the water column, but a good dechlor does not.

 

[Kruse]

Where is the best place to put the thermometer? Top, bottom, close to the heater, far away from the heater, etc.

 

[aakaakaak]

I don't know about other products, but the 'binding ability' of Seachem's Prime does not stop or harm the beneficial bacteria in the tank, whether there 'naturally' or put there by the 'bacteria in a bottle' products. The ammonia is still there and able to be consumed by the bacteria in the non-toxic form.

If someone from Tetra did say...:

"In regards to ammonia products, yes, they kill TSS. Any type, whether a chloramines remover or detoxifier, etc, anything that says it locks up ammonia or removes ammonia. Do not add TSS for 24 hours after using such a product, and do not add such a product for at least 7 days after using TSS. The bacteria is housed in a special stabilized solution of ammonia, so if you remove/lock up the ammonia, you remove all of the food the bacteria require to live."

...I would love to see the research on that. Since the ammonia is not 'removed' it is still able to be consumed. Some products adsorb ammonia, which IS removing ammonia from the water column, but a good dechlor does not.

Thanks for pulling up the quote for me.

You can bond ammonia to other chemicals making them inert and therefore unusable. If you can put something in the water that prevents the ammonia to nitrite chemical reaction from taking place you effectively neutralize the ammonia. I'm not a chemist or anything, but that's what I took out of it. Do you have a different take on it?

Seachem's Prime may completely work with Tetra Safe Start.
Edit: A little googling tells me that Prime wouldn't work with Bio-Spira, due to a chemical conflict (not ammonia locking), but works perfectly with TSS.

 

[freash_water_monster]

Where is the best place to put the thermometer? Top, bottom, close to the heater, far away from the heater, etc.

The best place to put it dosent really matter mine just floats around but if yours has suction cups then i would put it on the opposite side of the tank because you will no the other sides warm because of the heater.

 

[Kruse]

Actually I should clarify that it's just one of those that sticks onto the outside of the tank somewhere.

 

[littletankbigworld]

The kind that stick to the outside of the tank are really inaccurate. Also, they leave adhesive on the side of the tank, which is very difficut to get off. Invest $1.50 on a internal thermometer with suction cups and stick it on the opposite side of the tank as the heater.

 

[achase]

I would agree about investing in an internal thermometer. They aren't that expensive and it's always helpful to have an accurate reading for temperature.

 

[aakaakaak]

For under 10 bucks you can get a digital one that goes inside. Seeing a digital readout is nice.

 

[achase]

Never had a digital one but the idea seems nice.

 

[aakaakaak]

Just be sure to make sure the seal is tight when you put in the battery....

....random thought...

If you didn't seal it right and a small electric charge was coming off the battery would it get attacked by a knife or elephant fish?

 

[prsturm]

The bacteria that eat ammonia and convert it to nitrites is able to heat ammonia and convert it to nitrites. That's why binding ammonia into ammonium doesn't interfere with the cycle.

 

[HEADIN]

Digital 1s r very gd. Very cheap n accurate to .1 of a degree. Lovely job.

 

[Kruse]

So I recently (yesterday) got the water going in my tank and I'm seeing some cloudiness. Everything was pretty thoroughly rinsed. The only thing in there right now is the gravel and a few rock decorations.

It seems to be kind of a "white" cloudiness, and info around the net seems to indicate that is a bacterial bloom. But how could that happen in a completely new tank?

I haven't started the initial cycle process yet, should I despite the cloudiness? Or, would it be better to change out the water?

 

[aakaakaak]

Cycle it unless you used some random cleaner product to clean out your tank and didn't rinse it enough.

 

[achase]

I would start the cycle and the filter should clear up the cloudiness over time.
Leave the water in unless like aakaakaak said you used a cleaner product on your tank, did you?

 

[Kruse]

I didn't use any cleaner products. I just wiped the inside of the tank with a damp cloth. Perhaps I didn't rinse things enough?

 

[aakaakaak]

More likely it's the bacterial cloud. If it tests out at 0/0/0 right now it should be good to start the cycle.