Cycling of the aquarium
How do I cycle my Aquarium? What is cycling?

 

You have arrived at possibly the most important part of setting up your new tank, but don’t worry! You have already completed the hardest part and in appreciation the tank will complete the rest for you!
Fish waste and excretion release ammonia into the water column and ammonia kills fish, bacteria within the filter will convert this ammonia to nitrite which is even more toxic!, but another type of bacteria in the filter will consume the nitrites in the tank and convert them to nitrates, which are not toxic but are not healthy for your fish either (too higher levels will lead to loss of colour/appetite and also algae blooms). This is why cycling the tank is so important, it produces bacteria in the filter that will support your fish economy by neutralizing there waste.

cycling

How to cycle your aquarium

  1. You will need to add a few fish to the aquarium to produce ammonia that the bacteria feed on, these should be hardier species but also fish you would like to keep, barbs such as tigers and cherries are a hardier species (if you have a heater(tropical)) or danio’s for a coldwater.
  2. You should add about 1.5 fish per 10gallons of water, so for a 10g – 2 fish,  20g – 3 fish etc. You do NOT want to overstock the tank at this stage as you will result in lots of death and death is money$$$ so as tempting as it may be, keep it to just these few fish.
  3. If you add too many fish it will lead to excess waste that the filter cannot consume yet, spiking ammonia levels and killing your fish!
     
  4. The fish will probably be stressed as they carry the brunt of the cycling process, a good way to reverse this is to do small water changes every few days, about 10-15% should be changed, any more and you will be taking away the ammonia and nitrite that the bacteria are trying to feed on.
  5. Once again make sure you have used a de-chlorinator in the water as any chlorine/chloramines will kill the bacteria and ruin the cycling
  6. When you feed your fish do so very carefully and sparingly, any excess food left over will only add to the ammonia and nitrite that are already present.
  7. This process will take anywhere from 2 – 8 weeks, if you do not stock too many fish and follow this guide after the second or third week you should test your water (or find a pet store to test it for free) and check the levels of ammonia and nitrite.
  8. The nitrite should spike around the second week and then convert to nitrates, at this point (anywhere from 2-8 weeks) you are able to slowly add more fish into the aquarium, do this slowly as not to produce another mini-cycle.
  9. If you are certain that your nitrite and ammonia are at 0, and then feel free to experiment with slightly more exotic fish. If your tank has been running for a couple of months and you feel in control, why not try an angelfish or gouramis?how to cycle the aquarium
  10. After the tank is up and there is still excess ammonia this may be due to inadequate filtration or overpopulation or even over-feeding.

 

Tips:

  • During the cycle be sure not to add any chemicals that remove ammonia, the bacteria need this to feed!
  • You may end up with some dead fish during the cycling period, this is normal but can be reduced by maintaining the 10-15% water changes every couple of days to remove excess waste.
  • Try not to be impatient and add more fish before its ready, this only worsens the cycling process leading to more ammonia and all the fish dieing
  • I would not recommend bacteria starting kits as these will not be helpful in the long run, it is best to cycle the tank naturally
  • If you already have an established aquarium, you may wish to use some of the filter medium and gravel from there, this will NOT skip the cycling process but will give you a kickstart.
  • Feel free to add plants during the cycling stage, these will often consume excess nitrates and lead to a healthier tank, they will not be affected by the rising ammonia but be sure to remove any decaying leaves or stems as these will increase ammonia.

Now that you have successfully bought and constructed your very first aquarium, you are an accomplished aquarist. Why not impress your friends and family by turning your aquarium into a planted aquarium, the plants will give a natural feel to the tank and enhance its aesthetics. Click on the link below.

 A Guide to the Planted Aquarium

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