How To Cycle A Fish Tank?

Beginning a new fish tank has some serious thoughts. Mainly what fish are we going to keep? What equipment will be needed?

How big do I want the tank to be where to place this awesome new tank in my home? All valid points but first we need to cycle this new tank. How to cycle a fish tank

In this post, I’m going to explain the NITRITE CYCLE.

Or How To Cycle a Fish Tank?

The Quick Answer 

How to cycle a fish tank use used cycled filter media and gravel. Add to your tap-safe water two drops of ammonia per 50 litres of water. Wait for 24 hrs test the water and start to add flakes a pinch a day. Test every few days we’re looking for zero ammonia and trace nitrite.

Before going on and explaining in much more detail here are some facts

FAQ Related to Fish Tank Cycling

How long does it take to cycle a fish tank?

This process can take anywhere from two to six weeks at above 70 degrees Fahrenheit. the Nitrite cycle will take longer at lower temperatures.

Do Nitrites mean my tank is cycled?

Yes, we are looking for zero ammonia and trace nitrites and enough good bacteria nitrates.

How long does nitrite spike last when cycling tank?

The cycle can be slow and a nitrite spike can happen this can last a few weeks be patient and don’t clean anything let the process work and keep testing.

How can I speed up my nitrite cycle?

Used seeded filter media and substrate as well as put some old cycled media into the tanks water keep the waters ph on or over seven and heat above 70f

AMMONIA AND WHY CYCLE OUR TANKS?

So you’ve been thinking of keeping fish and wondered how to start a tank from scratch. Well, you are in for a treat here’s a complete guide on how to cycle a fish tank.

How to Cycle a Fish Tank The Nitrate Cycle

Or to give its proper name the nitrate cycle. Fish need water der right but what we really mean is the quality of the water needs to be just right.

Because a fish tank is an enclosed system. Fish if put into an uncycled tank will release Ammonia into the water via wee and poo and also through their gill’s general waste.

Dealing With Ammonia 

This is highly dangerous to our little fish friends and will kill them. Not so good right? So we have to find a way to deal with this build-up of ammonia.

The wild fish, don’t have this problem as their waters are huge and the ammonia is diluted by so much water what to do?

 

FISHLESS CYCLE AMMONIA-NITRITE-NITRATE!

Ok, let’s look at how to cycle a fish tank doing so without adding any fish. In a fishless cycle what we need to do is get ammonia into the water. Without any fish then turn that into nitrite and then nitrate or the nitrate cycle.

How To Cycle A Fish Tank As With Moat Things Fishkeeping It All Comes Down To Water Quality

As stated before fish keeping is all about water quality. The better the water the healthier and happier you and your fish will be.

We need to add conditioned dechlorinated water to our new tank first. We need to add our substrate if you have any substrate from an already cycled tank this will help speed things up slightly.

Adding Substrate Conditioned Water & The Heater

Once you’ve added both the substrate and the conditioned water we need to add a heater and filter again if you have some used media you can add it to the filter this will help speed the process up.

The heater will speed things up too as we need bacteria to grow for this process to work. Anything above 70f is gonna help tremendously.

Adding Some Lighting & The Ammonia

You can now add lighting too. Now we have our tank ready we are gonna add some ammonia to the tank ourselves.

For this, you’re going to need a bottle of household ammonia from the supermarket or chemist. A syringe, and a test kit for testing ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate.

Test kits Are an Essential Part of Fishkeeping

(It’s the only way you can be sure what’s going on in your tank.)

Household ammonia is typically 10% ammonia. The quantities used in the calculator are based on this. Commonly added amounts to the tank are between 2ppm and 5ppm (parts per million.)

We recommend starting at 2ppm at a good level so all the following instructions are based on using 2ppm. To do this we add 2 drops per 10 gallons which is around 50 litres.

Based on our 150-litre tank this equates to 6 drops of ammonia.

Testing The Water Cycling Our Tank

Now we leave for 24 hours and then test with our kit for ammonia levels. You can add some fish flakes in now and keep adding a pinch of flakes every 12 hours but keep testing. How to cycle a fish tank testing always test.

Keep Growing Bacteria 

Don’t go over 5ppm as this will kill the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria slowing if not stalling the process. After a week you can now test for nitrite.

If you have nitrite this is good and the cycle has now started. As ammonia turns into nitrite and then into nitrate keep adding fish flakes daily and testing regularly.

Testing For Nitrate 

Every few days for 2-3 weeks you can now test for nitrate. You may have some nitrate now and if zero ammonia and nitrite congratulations you’ve cycled your tank.

Don’t panic as this process can take a good 6 weeks or so. But if you seed your tank with established media into the tank’s water and use some used gravel etc and keep the temperature over 70f you should see much faster results.

ADDING BIO BOOST OR SIMILAR PRODUCTS

Yes, indeed adding a bioboost to the mix near the end of the process is great. We need to get ammonia and nitrite out of the way and get those good bacteria circulating.

Ideally, wait till the tanks are cycled then add as a preventative measure once a week to help keep your fish healthy.

 

Bacteria Need Oxygen 

Some things to consider. Make sure the tank is well-oxygenated. As bacteria need oxygen. The ammonia if used should not contain any perfumes or additives and don’t use any water conditioner.

That removes ammonia as this would negate the process lol. Remember you will have to keep feeding your tank ammonia after cycling.

Fish Waste Produces Ammonia 

Until you stock it with fish then and only then will the fish waste provide the ammonia. This can be done via fish food only now no need to add chemicals etc.

How To Cycle A Fish Tank – We Never Fish Cycle 

As you would have been told and seen and heard from people. Both online and in some nameless retail outlets er you can cycle a fish tank with some hardy fish.

It all be fine er no it’s not fine. It’s not clever and can be done just as fast these days without harming any fish in the process. Just thought we’d throw that out there before anyone says you can cycle a tank with fish.

(YEAH, WE KNOW BUT WHO CARES RIGHT!) 

 

Well Cycled Media

We cycled our first tank a good few years ago and it took 4 weeks. We used some media we were given and we had a filter that had been well-cycled.

No Fish Flakes No Ammonia

If memory serves me we used some cycled gravel too that’s it some might say we got lucky. As we didn’t put any ammonia in ourselves and we didn’t even add fish flakes.

No Added Ammonia Just Bioboost

We didn’t add extra ammonia. After 3 days we added some bio boost to help with killing off the ammonia and we added more bio boost on day 6 and again on around day 9.

Always Test

We tested it on around day 14 and also went to our local maidenhead (fish retailer) and had them test the water. It was doing good but still had nitrite so we waited another 2 weeks and tested again.

Zero nitrites and trace nitrate are all good to go. Patience is key it just sometimes takes longer than others but think that the filter we used and putting some media in the tank for the first few days is what did the trick.

How To Cycle A Fish Tank Conclusion

These days there are a plethora of products to aid us in how to cycle a fish tank. The main thing to remember is to get good bacteria to grow as we will always need them. Also, patience and testing always test and you shouldn’t go too far wrong.

Here are a couple more posts to Enjoy

How to Introduce Fish to an Aquarium?

Do Fish Tanks Need A Lid?