Fish tank cycling is a process that converts harmful ammonia to nitrite, and then eventually nitrate. Through this cycle beneficial colonies of bacteria form.

There are nitrifying bacteria all throughout the world, including in water. The process of cycling is accelerated when making use of ammonia in bottles or “seeding” with the old filter media. But this isn’t necessary since the bacteria naturally grow.

Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle describes the method by which the wastes of fish and plants are transformed into ammonia, followed by the process is followed by nitrite and then finally nitrate. This cycle can take place in saltwater aquariums or freshwater aquarium. It may also take place in an pond. It is a very important and intricate process that every fishkeeper needs to know about.

Ammonia is generated from the feces of fish and food that has been discarded. Fish are poisonous when they exceed 2 ppm. Nitrosomonas bacteria convert ammonia into produce nitrite. Nitrites can also be toxic to fish in concentrations higher than 1 ppm. Nitrites are converted by Nitrobacter bacteria, forming Nitrates that are less harmful to fish.

The plants absorb the nitrates and use them as nutrients. It is a natural process that can happen in every type of aquarium. It’s a slow and challenging process. It is typical for aquariums to take one month to stabilize nitrogen, ammonia and Nitrate levels. The thi cong be hai san aquarium needs to be clean for these beneficial bacteria. This process could be hindered when a tank is cleaned too often and resulting in the production of ammonia and nitrite to increase. A good quality API Master Test Kit is crucial for monitoring your aquarium’s water parameters.

Method of Fishless Cycling

The traditional method of cycling a fish tank is the process of adding a few hardy fish to the aquarium to jump start the process. Unfortunately, this is brutal and cruel. While the fish may endure, their gills may be sprayed with ammonia, which can negatively impact the quality of their lives. The fishless cycle removes this step and creates an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.

Two ways are available to perform a cycle without fish: 1.) in the beginning, you can seed the tank with bacteria colonies that have already been established in the previous tank. This method is similar to traditional cycling however, it’s more fish-friendly and does not have the same effects on water quality. The use of a product like Septo-Bac can accelerate the process. It will require the same amount of time as traditional cycling and may not be efficient in all circumstance.

During the cycle of no fish it is crucial to monitor the ammonia and Nitrite levels frequently. It is possible that if ammonia levels spike, it indicates that the bacterium has not fully established. If ammonia falls to zero and nitrites rise this is a great indication that the cycle is complete. It is important to change the water regularly during the cycle without fish in order to ensure that the bacteria can thrive.

Aquarium Beneficial Bacteria

Biologically speaking, cycling occurs when the nitrifying bacteria in an aquarium are large enough to process the full bioload (exceedingly poisonous ammonia and even nitrite) as they produce. This is why it is essential to fill a tank in a gradual manner instead of introducing a huge amount of fish all at all at.

These microorganisms that nitrify can be found on any surface in an aquarium. They will be more concentrated in areas in which oxygen and food sources are scarce. The porous nature of the filter medium offers an enormous surface for microorganisms to flourish and thrive within the flow of water that flows through the filter. The bacterial colonies found in the biomedia outcompete bacteria elsewhere in the aquarium, consuming ammonia and nitrite as fast as they are produced and making them undetectable.

These nitrifying bacilli are found in both the water column and the sediment. The majority of the nitrifying bacteria is located in biofilm. This is the reason it’s hard to create pure cultures of the bacteria. Recent research conducted by LI et al. (2018) showed that ammonia-oxidising and the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NO3) reside within the water column. They are able to be introduced into an aquarium using products like API Quick Start, Fritzzyme Turbostart or Tim’s Aquatics Live Nitrifying Bacteria and can speed up the aquarium cycle considerably.

Steps to Cycle a New Fish Tank

When you are setting up your new aquarium whether it’s a live rock or a plain bottom tank the first thing that needs to be accomplished is seeding the tank with beneficial bacteria. This can be done using products like Tetra Safe Start or a freshwater master test kit. After this step is complete, you can include the remaining equipment and water into the aquarium.

The cycle begins and the process of generating beneficial bacteria that regulate the nitrogen cycle within the aquarium. The ammonia levels will fluctuate, followed by Nitrites and the nitrates. When all three are at zero ppm an aquarium can be utilized for the keeping of livestock.

During the cycling process it is important to regularly examine the water, looking for ammonia and nitrite as well as Nitrate. It is recommended that if you find a rise in nitrate you add 1 tablespoon of aquarium salt or table salt for every 10 Gallons. This will allow beneficial bacteria to develop faster and reduce the toxicity of nitrates.

It’s also crucial to remember that the aquarium shouldn’t be fully stocked at any point during this process. Ammonia levels can rapidly rise in the event that you add fish to your aquarium in too fast. This is harmful for the fish.