I have used this to cycle my 29 gallon when I killed all the bacteria from replacing all my filter media. It cycled my tank in 2 weeks with a messy bristlenose plecostomus! I then used it to cycle my 10 gallon for a betta fish and some corydoras. It took 1 week! I recommend this constantly to anyone I know struggling with cycling their tanks. I will continue to use this product at every tank start up because after three different brands this is the only one that actually did something! Remember the cycling isn't instant but it is quick and the bacteria have to have some type of ammonia to stay alive such as fish poo or fish food.

+2points

2of 2voted this as helpful.

Review 2 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

5 / 5 10 reviews

As stated+ more

July 11, 2012

by dg78

frommo

What is your gender?M

How many pets do you have?5 or more

How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly

1. Follow the directions.
2. I choose to do a fishless cycle. (WAY FASTER)
Without fish you can turn up the heat to 86-88 degrees to increase the establishment of bacteria. I used a seachem ammonia alert and purchased suffocant free ammonia at ace. You can find more on the internet. Anyways, my tank fully cycle in four days and I have it stocked now:)

+2points

3of 4voted this as helpful.

Review 3 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

5 / 5 10 reviews

Miracle Product!

September 17, 2011

by GuppyGuide

fromDC

What is your gender?F

How many pets do you have?5 or more

How often do you shop at PetSmart?Monthly

Effectiveness

5 / 5 10 reviews

Quality

5 / 5 10 reviews

Ease of Use

5 / 5 10 reviews

After cleaning out my 10gal tank and changing out the gravel substrate my tank had a nitrite reading of 0.5-3.0 (no ammonia) and suffering from new tank syndrome. I was super skeptical this product would work, especially having stubborn very hard well-water. I followed the directions...removed my carbon filter, shook the bottle, poured in 1/3 of the small bottle (as the whole small bottle claimed to treat 30gal). Less the 10hrs later I tested the water and absolutely NO nitrite! I definitely recommend this product to others having the same issue as this was an absolute miracle product that actually did work immediately as it claimed to do.

Pros: works great, easy to use

0points

1of 2voted this as helpful.

Review 4 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

5 / 5 10 reviews

Pleasantly Surprised Pond Owner

September 11, 2011

by chiWOWa

fromEastern North Carolina

What is your gender?F

How many pets do you have?5 or more

How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly

Effectiveness

5 / 5 10 reviews

Quality

5 / 5 10 reviews

Ease of Use

5 / 5 10 reviews

We have had a lovely 200 gal water garden for 11 years. Always with at least 10 goldfish/koi thriving. Ever since our water co. changed sources three years ago it has been nothing short of a death trap- even the plants would die. Very alkaline (8.6) yet soft water (not normal). Could never get the pH stable nor the bio filter to seed. Had read a lot of mixed reviews about this product. (Many not so good.) But some of the European sites gave it rave reviews. After two straight months with ammonia and not a trace of nitrites or nitrates we had to do something. So we gave Safe Start a try. Had already tried several other bacterial supplements with no changes in the ammonia or other levels. Put a bottle of this into the pond and one week later, the ammonia level has dropped in half and we have nitrates! NEVER saw any nitrites- weird, yes but it is true. Also, we only used one big bottle- according to the directions should have needed at least two bottles but due to the high price, we decided to see what would happen- figured we could always buy another bottle. Well, before heading to the store, we decided to do one more water test just to see and boy were we surprised! Also note- we live near wetlands so we do not use pH adjusters, algaecides, or antibiotics. In July we installed a special umbrella to shade the pond and we use barley balls (natural algae control); hornwort attached to lava rocks, potted blue rush and horsetail (O2, pH stability and veggie filtration); a 400 gph pump in a filter box with bioballs, sponge media and a water bell exit fountain (biofilter and aerator). We started collecting rain water to use for water changes (lowered and stabilized the pH) and kept the fish safe from ammonia/nitrites with Amquel (but only twice per week). Lastly, we always add about 1/4 cup of pond salt when needed per the salt level test. The only thing missing was some good bacteria- now that we have found a reliable source, we are very happy. We plan to add more Safe Start any time we increase the number of fish, when the filter gets flushed and with large water changes. (per my research)

Pros: works great, easy to use

+1point

1of 1voted this as helpful.

Review 5 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

1 / 5 10 reviews

Does Not Work!

April 22, 2011

by KISSfn

fromDallas, TX

Effectiveness

1 / 5 10 reviews

Quality

1 / 5 10 reviews

Ease of Use

1 / 5 10 reviews

Followed instructions to the letter. Safe Start does absolutely nothing! Save your money!

Cons: didn't work

-8points

0of 8voted this as helpful.

Review 6 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

2 / 5 10 reviews

Not effective.

April 16, 2011

by JoeyV

fromBoardman, OH

What is your gender?M

How many pets do you have?5 or more

How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly

Effectiveness

1 / 5 10 reviews

Quality

3 / 5 10 reviews

Ease of Use

5 / 5 10 reviews

Used this product to cycle a new 60 gallon aquarium. Added as directed and added two small fish. Ammonia was very hard to keep under control. I had to do water changes every other day. I called the number on the bottle to question about how long after adding this product that you could add fish, and as the bottle stated immediately. This simply is not an instant cycle in a bottle.

Cons: didn't work

-4points

0of 4voted this as helpful.

Review 7 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

5 / 5 10 reviews

True 5 Star Product

March 1, 2011

by Wirtz88

fromWaterloo, Ia

Effectiveness

5 / 5 10 reviews

Quality

5 / 5 10 reviews

Ease of Use

5 / 5 10 reviews

To be honest, I had low expectations for this product. I've tried others in the past with no results at all. My new 10 gallon tank was slow to cycle and was tired of daily water changes. I bought this on a whim thinking if it speeds the process even a little bit I would be happy. I added the recommended dosage for my tank size. 24 hours later I checked the ammonia and nitrite levels to find them the same as they were right before I added it. Nitrite was a little high, so I did a 50% water change, and checked nitrite and ammonia again. Ammonia was almost 0, and nitrite was still showing elevated, but not enough to worry about. Two days later I checked levels again, and to my absolute surprise, both ammonia and nitrite showed 0! Absolutely gone, and nitrate level was only high enough to barely even register. Three days after adding this product, my tank appears to have gone from complete nitrite spikes to nothing! Completely cycled. I will recommend this product to everyone! I would almost call it a miracle product, it worked that good. 5 star and more!

+2points

2of 2voted this as helpful.

Review 8 for Tetra Safe Start

Overall rating

5 / 5 10 reviews

safe start

October 10, 2010

by coryshore

fromorange county, CA

What is your gender?M

How many pets do you have?5 or more

How often do you shop at PetSmart?Weekly

this stuff works great

Pros: quick

+3points

3of 3voted this as helpful.

Ratings-only reviews for Tetra Safe Start

Based on the average of (2) ratings-only reviews

Overall rating

5 / 5 10 reviews

2 out of 2 recommend this product