Tank Cycling?!?

[Sara]

I know that I was alot of trouble on the last thread I started, and I apologize for it. I was just freaked out I guess about loosing my fish. Anyways my last fantail that seemed so strong and had no more ick on it died last night . I want to make sure I do this right this time. Maybe I got lucky with my big tank, but I don't have a clue on how to cycle a tank. I have a ph tester, and the stuff to bring ph up and down, so far what I have done is I did a 75% water change to the empty tank, put one more dose of ick clear in, added my aquarium salt, and washed the log and plants with really hot water. What else should I do?

Sara

 

[Undawada]

First, you have to understand how the nitrogen cycle works in an established tank.

Fish produce ammonia which is eaten by nitrifying bacteria who in turn excrete nitrite (notice the ITE)

Another bacteria eats nitrite and produces nitrate (notice the ATE)

Nitrates are less harmful to fish than ammonia or nitrite, so this is good for your tank. Water changes are still needed, though, to keep nitrate levels from becoming to high.

Now, in an uncycled tank you will have insufficient bacteria to absorb your ammonia, and your fish risk ammonia poisoning. The bacteria will grow over time, and your ammonia levels will go down. The same time this is happening, your Nitrite levels will be rising...

It takes a few more weeks for your second group of bacteria to establish and lower Nitrite levels. Until you test your water and get 0ppm ammonia and 0pm Nitrite, your tank is "cycling".

The best way to cycle a tank is without fish. You add pure ammonia to the tank to simulate fish waste, and let the bacteria cultures form on their own. No water changes are neccessary until you are ready to add fish.

If you already have fish in a uncycled tank, you should do daily water changes until your tank is fully cycled, otherwise your fish may die from ammonia or nitrite poisoning.

If you dont have test kits, buy some. The ones you need most are Ammonia, Nitrite and Nitrates.

 

[Fawke]

More info can be found in the beginners sectionhere

Once you have got your head around cycling read this log for info on a previous "cycle" on another tank. Link to info

Good luck!