[Dman911]

I don't want to get into a big debate on this but my personal opinion of TSS is "snake oil in a bottle" The reason you are seeing the reading you are is because you transferred your filter to the new tank. My opinion

Dan

 

[Dman911]

If you ask me keep ammonia below .5 and nitrates below 40ppm if they reach these values do a 50% water change is a rough guideline that I feel is appropriate. Never used that water conditioner but I would recommend using seachem prime as it has an established reputation. Depending how you do your water changes you can treat the water before you add it to the tank only treating the volume your adding before adding it to your tank. If you are using a python or water changer to fill the tank directly treat for the entire volume of the tank. PH has an large effect on the toxicity of ammonia and water temp will have an effect on the dissolved o2 in you tank. I try to avoid adding a concoction of different chemicals to my tank and find them more often than not to be unnecessary and possibly harmful. Some additives can reduce the oxygen levels etc. Prime can do this at high concentration's but it don't let that worry you as it was just an example. Unless you have a high PH I would just do water changes at the max. levels stated above you can do more if you like but make sure you treat the water and continue until you are only reading nitrates then 10-30ppm nitrates would be ideal I shoot for 20ppm ish for planted tank.

What is your PH (highest if using Co2) and tank temp?

Dan

 

[Dman911]

Just tested my water, looks pretty good. Ammonia is 0-0.25ppm, Nitrite is 0ppm, and Nitrate is around 20ppm, maybe a bit less(or more..) My temp is 78F, and Ph is 7.4-7.6. I'll lower the temp to 74 due to my Cory cats, I just have it raised to help the bacteria. If using the python for water changes, it's safe to put tap water right into the tank as long as you dose for however much water you remove?

74-76 is probably good not sure what type of corys you have. If you are using a python you need to add water conditioner before adding the water and treat the entire tank volume, so in your case you will need to add enough water conditioner to treat 40g before filling with the python. With those numbers your at most a week out from being cycled provided you don't change all your filter media or do to much tank cleaning. I would leave the maintenance until after the tank is cycled and then do different maintenance at different times for a few months until its a little more matured. Just my opinion.

Dan