Cycling??

[Pmcgoldie]

Please explain to me what cycling a tank is and how I should do it

 

[bloodlucky]

Cycling a tank is creating beneficial bacteria for your tank. Any tank that hasn't gone through with this process has New Tank Syndrome.

Ammonia is fish waste. Ammonia is unsteady in New Tank Syndrome making it harmful to introduce fish before you complete the nitrogen cycle. To start the nitrogen cycle, you need to add an ammonia source (fish or fish food) which brings me to my next point about how to cycle your tank.

There are two most common ways to cycle a tank for beginners. The first, safest and easiest way is without fish. First, find an ammonia source (ironically, you need ammonia to kick off the cycle) such as fish food. Add a pinch of food each day and test your water daily at your pet store or with your own water tester kit. You will note that the ammonia will rise and eventually, fall. After ammonia has been eaten away, it becomes it's proceeding product nitrite. Like ammonia, it rises and falls, then becoming nitrate. Once your nitrate builds up, your tank is cycled. So in the end, you should have:

ammonia: 0ppm
nitrite: 0ppm
nitrate: <20ppn

The cycle goes in this order:

ammonia--->nitrite--->nitrate

The process should take about a month

 

[Cichlid Kid]

Some tanks cycle quicker than others. Every one differs in some way. The easiest way "and safest" is to go fishless. This way alows you to cycle w/out endangering your pet and avoiding pwc's "partial water changes" everyday for weeks on end. If you could acquire some seeded filter media from an lfs or other hobbyist, that could help you speed up the process. Either way you will need a few essentials.
1. Liquid test kit. (API freshwater master kit) is the choice of many of us here at AA.
2. water conditioner. (Prime) made by SEACHEM is again the choice for many of us.
3. Source water ie. Tapwater or any other source that isn't contaminated with high levels of ammonia,nitrite or nitrate.

 

[Pmcgoldie]

All right thanks everyone!! I've had my tank for a while now, and had never heard this term before...all the readings are ok now, I guess that I just started my water adventure a while back the wrong way... :/

Quick question: do you have to do this every time you add additional fish to your already existing fish filled tank, or should you be okay with just sticking them in there?

 

[Andrew McFadden]

All right thanks everyone!! I've had my tank for a while now, and had never heard this term before...all the readings are ok now, I guess that I just started my water adventure a while back the wrong way... :/

Quick question: do you have to do this every time you add additional fish to your already existing fish filled tank, or should you be okay with just sticking them in there?

No to your question

I think your understanding this wrong. After setting up a fish tank you have to cycle just when setting up. You may have what we call mini cycles at times when cleaning but they ain't as bad as a full blown cycle. Depending on how your tank tests and how long its been set up you have probably done a fish in cycle and didn't even notice. Here is a article on fish in cycling so you know for the next time.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/fishin-cycling-step-dark-side/

Or you can do a fishless cycle and here is an article for that
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/


And this article says I just learned about cycling but I already have fish
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/i-just-learned-about-cycling-but-i-already-have-fish-what-now/

 

[Pmcgoldie]

No to your question

I think your understanding this wrong. After setting up a fish tank you have to cycle just when setting up. You may have what we call mini cycles at times when cleaning but they ain't as bad as a full blown cycle. Depending on how your tank tests and how long its been set up you have probably done a fish in cycle and didn't even notice. Here is a article on fish in cycling so you know for the next time.

http://www.aquariumadvice.com/fishin-cycling-step-dark-side/

Or you can do a fishless cycle and here is an article for that
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/the-almost-complete-guide-and-faq-to-fishless-cycling/

And this article says I just learned about cycling but I already have fish
http://www.aquariumadvice.com/i-just-learned-about-cycling-but-i-already-have-fish-what-now/

Thanks...now I know...