Any fishkeepers here? Saltwater or freshwater

[Silock]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

Corrent, the bacteria adheres to surfaces. However, by doing such massive water changes you're depriving those bacteria of ammonia (I know, it's a catch-22. That's why they call it a "cycle") and potentially changing water parameters like dissolved organic compounds, gH, kH, and other things that are important to allowing the cycle to finish.

Right. I was just assuming (perhaps incorrectly?) that since my chloramine-laden tap water reads 5 ppm on the scale after dosing with Prime, that that was enough to maintain ammonia in the tank for the bacteria to eat. Is that incorrect? I was under the impression that Prime separates the chloramine into chlorine and ammonia.

Actually, cycles work that way. They run and run and all of the sudden - bam - finished. It's possible that the Start Right worked but there's also volumes of anecdotal and scientific evidence that it doesn't.

Oh, I'm not doubting that it's entirely possible it did nothing. I just figured it couldn't really hurt with the levels being so astronomically high.

Prime detoxifies nitrite. I'd add your Prime and otherwise leave it be. It sounds like you're nearing the end which is good news.

Sweet.

Hmmm...I've not experienced fish being stressed from "too much" air, especially Tetras, which generally love as much current as you can give them. My guess would be that their discoloration and lethargy is due to the tank cycling but I guess anything is possible.

They were stressed with the bubbles on, but as soon as the bubbles turned off, they regained their color and began to school again. I've been reading that bubble bars can give a bit too much air for some fish, but I, like you, was under the impression that they liked currents...

Thanks again, everyone, for all your help.