TLC - StartSmart Complete ! (and the Results ARE :)

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I just set up my 2nd 55 tank this weekend and I have a question about StartSmart Complete - The directions say to add fish immediately after dosing with StartSmart Complete.  I am planning on adding some "starter fish" until I am confident that the cycle has completed.  My question is do you have to add fish or can you simply add in ammonia to get the bacteria going?  If just ammonia, how much ammonia do you need to add for a 55 gallon tank.

[RichE]

I just put in some start smart complete and a sponge from another tank and add fish. Never had a problem

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

I've had the Cascade 300 and the AC 30 running on my 1st 55 for the past 5 weeks.  I just moved them to the 2nd 55, so add in the StartSmart Complete and fish and I should be good ? 

[RichE]

As long as the media from the filters stays in for awhile you are good

[jcunningham0295]

I just put in some start smart complete and a sponge from another tank and add fish. Never had a problem

Same here, just used some yesterday on two more 75 gallon tanks.  No issue, I have used it several times before.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Wow - this stuff is magic in a bottle,  definitely better than waiting 7 weeks for a fish-in cycle...

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

Riche - now I am looking for a couple more hob filters, what do you have available in your stock ?

[RichE]

Riche - now I am looking for a couple more hob filters, what do you have available in your stock ?

I have all sizes but I have them boxed up right now as I put my stuff "away" because of the surgery tomorrow but hopefully by Friday I will be able to get around on the crutches enough and with the help of my awesome wife I will be back and open for business LOL I will be on a pick up only but can bring some stuff to the belle Isle trip as I plan on going with the family

[linuxrulesusa]

Wow - this stuff is magic in a bottle,  definitely better than waiting 7 weeks for a fish-in cycle...

One caveat with the TLC StartSmart vs. other products, e.g. Tetra SafeStart.  I've used both and am very grateful for all the free bottles of the TLC product.

However, I feel that the StartSmart does allow a higher nitrite spike (2+ ppm) vs. the SafeStart (1+ppm).  This is from limited testing - I only used SafeStart twice and then StartSmart about 3 times now.

Neither, I feel, is a high enough level of nitrite in a rapid cycle approach to cause a problem for most fish.  Since it is not extremely high and not extremely long (less than a day if I remember right).  But, something to be aware of.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

That is good advice, thanks...I will be testing often to see the fluctuations...I'm glad I was able to seed the hob filters prior to setting up the tank,  that should make for a quicker cycle.

I am amazed at how much info you can gather from the MCA and the internet, I am so grateful to have access to this site as a reference. The people here are so very helpful.  Thank You !

Back when I was doing this 20 years ago, I had no idea how much the chemistry of a tank is affected by even the most subtle of variances in WQ...

[African cichlid Keeper]

I use tetra safestart work great. 

[four_by_ken]

I think together are way over thinking this.

Start the tank up... and fish slowly.. done.  That is what I have always done and over had issues.

The only time I think this add a bottle bacteria stuff is needed is when you have to introduce a lot of fish all at once.

[linuxrulesusa]

I think together are way over thinking this.

Start the tank up... and fish slowly.. done.  That is what I have always done and over had issues.

The only time I think this add a bottle bacteria stuff is needed is when you have to introduce a lot of fish all at once.

The bacteria will grow in time, but if you can reduce that time to a few days (bacteria in a bottle) or even less (cycled media from a healthy running tank), why add the extra stress to the fish?

[four_by_ken]

I think together are way over thinking this.

Start the tank up... and fish slowly.. done.  That is what I have always done and over had issues.

The only time I think this add a bottle bacteria stuff is needed is when you have to introduce a lot of fish all at once.

The bacteria will grow in time, but if you can reduce that time to a few days (bacteria in a bottle) or even less (cycled media from a healthy running tank), why add the extra stress to the fish?

It doesnt hurt anything.  But, I just never saw the need for it.  I never have had issues setting up a tank because of not cycling it.

[Maize-N-Blue-D]

It took me nearly 7 weeks to do a fish-in cycle on my first tank (using no bacteria in a bottle additives),  if I can drop that to say a couple of days, I would do it every time...I'm just not going to use my Africans as Guinea pigs.