Cycling a New Aqurium

So you got your first tank. There are a few things to know prior to adding your new fish in. 

All tanks need to be “cycled". This means that your tank will begin to handle most of the toxic products produced in the tank. Making your life easier and your fish happier. There are many different ways to cycle a tank, all of which will produce the same results.

When setting up your tank, get off of your substrate, decor, heater, filter etc. Every time you add water you should add a water treatment, this will eliminate all the chlorine and chloramine in the water that is added in to make it safe for human consumption. Without water treatment you run the risk of crashing your cycle and possibly harming your fish.


What is the Nitrogen Cycle and why is it so important?


Unlike us, our fish don’t have a toilet to get rid of their waste. This waste, along with uneaten fish food, breaks down causing ammonia. Ammonia is toxic to our fish. But luckily, there is a naturally occurring beneficial bacteria that assists in converting the toxic ammonia. There are three main components: ammonia (toxic), nitrite (toxic), nitrate (safe within certain levels). 


How long does cycling a tank take?


In most cases cycling a tank can take potentially 6-8 weeks, but there are chemical additives that can assist in making this process faster. 


Starting your Cycle


After setting your tank up and prior to adding fish we will want to begin your tank cycle. 

1.Add fish food to your tank daily. As the food breaks down this will cause ammonia. Your tank's ammonia should rise to toxic levels. 

  • When testing your water you should see a reading on your ammonia with your nitrite and nitrate at 0ppm.
2. As ammonia is present in your tank, the first beneficial bacteria will start to populate. This bacteria eats the ammonia and its waste is in the form of nitrite. 
  • Testing your water now should show the ammonia levels should drop and begin seeing the nitrite levels become present, with nitrate remaining at 0ppm.
3. As nitrite is present in your tank, the second beneficial bacteria will start to populate. This bacteria eats the nitrite and its waste is in the form of nitrate.
    • Testing your water now should show 0ppm of ammonia, lowered levels of nitrite, and low levels of nitrite. 
    4. Continue adding fish food to your tank daily and eventually your tank should hit equilibrium. 
      • Testing your water should read 0ppm of ammonia, 0ppm of nitrite, and 10-20ppm of nitrite. At this point you have completed your cycle. 
      5. After we see the desired levels of ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate it is recommended to perform a 25% water change and repeat adding fish food daily for an additional week (7 days). This will ensure that from one water change to the next your tank remains stable.
        • Check your water prior to your water change to ensure there are no elevated levels of ammonia or nitrite. 
        • Testing your water should read 0ppm of ammonia, 0ppm of nitrite, and 10-20ppm of nitrite.
        6. You are now ready to add fish! Note that the beneficial bacteria in your tank will populate and stop growing based on the amount of ammonia that is produced in your tank. 
          • Adding fish to a stable tank will increase ammonia levels through more fish causing waste and feeding more. 
          •  It is recommended that when adding fish, you add a small number at a time to reduce the potential for a high ammonia spike, waiting 1-2 weeks prior to adding more fish. Allowing your beneficial bacteria levels to grow.

          You will only need to do this procedure once on each tank, unless another external factor disrupts your cycle, known as a crash.


          NOTE: It is recommended to not add any plant fertilizer during this time. Fertilizer is a nitrate and can possibly distort the readings, potentially causing a false positive on a complete cycle.