Nitrogen Cycle

What you will need:

·         Gravel Syphon

·         Seachem Stability or API Quick Start

·         Seachem Prime or API Stress coat

·         API Freshwater Master Test Kit

The nitrogen cycle has many different names that it is known as.
Names such as Biological cycle, tank cycle, breaking in cycle and starting up cycle.

Because new aquariums lack the colonies of bacteria that are necessary to provide biological filtration, the aquarium must be cycled. Cycling refers to the process of establishing and maturing the biological filter.

The cycle is important because in your aquarium the water volume is far less than it would be in their natural habitat with less filtration. For your fish to be happy and healthy in your aquarium it is important to have control over the water chemistry.

Every tank will go through this process, sometimes it may take longer than others but it is necessary.
It is a chain of reactions which one chemical converts into another to establish beneficial bacteria. The beneficial bacteria and other filter medias help convert ammonia to nitrite, then converts one more time to nitrate.

Ammonia and nitrate are toxic to fish and also nitrate when in high amounts. This is why it is important to cycle your aquarium before adding in fish, as it most likely will result in fish loss.

Step one:

Depending on the size of your aquarium, add in a big pinch of fish food as decaying food is broken down to ammonium or ammonia. This is the safest way of adding ammonia into the tank without adding in fish, as it can often be far too stressful for them.
Ammonia is generally present after 3 days. This is the beginning of the cycle.

Alternatively, follow the instructions for how much of your beneficial bacteria, such as Stability or Quick Start, you should be adding in.

Step two:

Nitrosomonas bacteria will oxidise the ammonia which removes this toxin. Nitrite is then produced once the ammonia is oxidising.
This toxin is also very toxic to fish like ammonia.

Using your API Test kit, keep testing the water to watch the nitrite levels rise, and the ammonia decrease.

Step three:

Nitrobacter convert the nitrites into nitrates. Nitrates are not as highly toxic to fish in low to moderate levels.
Routine partial water changes will keep the nitrate levels within the safe range of under 10ppm. When it begins to rise near that, often after 7-14 days, perform a partial water change of 25% using your gravel syphon.

Use a quality test kit to test your water conditions every other day, and when both ammonia and nitrite levels return to zero, you'll know the cycle is established.

It is now safe to gradually add your fish to the tank!
Adding too many fish at once can cause the ammonia to spike, which can be bad for the cycle your tank just went through and also for your fish as it could be toxic.

What not to do during a cycle:

·         Don’t be tempted to add fish until the cycle is completed.

·         Don’t change the biological filter media – the beneficial bacteria are growing there. Don’t disturb them until they have become well established.

·         Don’t try to alter the pH or any other levels – the beneficial bacteria can be affected by changes in pH. Unless there is a serious problem with the pH or ammonia, leave it alone during the start-up cycle process.