| When setting up any new fish tank, you will need | | | | the consequences. |
| to "cycle" it before you can add one, or any fish. | | | | If, like me, you are too impatient to wait ten |
| Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle, which is the | | | | days, you can set up you tank, add some of the |
| process of breaking down food and wastes into | | | | cycle, and put in 1-2 small (less than an inch) fish. |
| relatively nitrates and nitrites. The problem is that | | | | Then, about 3-5 days later when the ammonia is |
| in the early stages of this cycling process, there | | | | spiking, you can do a 30-50% water change. |
| are spikes of ammonia -- times when the | | | | Then, about a week later, when the ammonia is |
| ammonia level in the water will be five to ten | | | | spiking again, you can do another 30-50% water |
| times the "safe" amount of ammonia for fish. | | | | change. After that, you can add one or two more |
| It is very, very common for new tank owners to | | | | fish. This is very hard on the "test" fish, and most |
| setup a beautiful tank, buy a bunch of fish, and | | | | aquarium owners view it as cruelty to the fish. |
| then have a mother of an ammonia spike that | | | | If you can get some gravel or some "dirty" filter |
| kills all their fish. Even if some of the fish survive, | | | | media from an already established tank, put it in |
| their lifespans will be substantially reduced. The | | | | your cycling tank to reduce the cycle time. The |
| way to avoid those ammonia spikes is cycling the | | | | gravel or filter media has lots of the "good" |
| tank, which allows the tank to go through a few | | | | bacteria you are trying to grow (the kind that |
| smaller ammonia spikes and drops while the good | | | | eats bacteria), so adding some from another older |
| bacteria build up. After the good, ammonia eating | | | | tank will speed up the process a bit. |
| bacteria are established, the ammonia spikes go | | | | You can get ammo-rocks to soak up ammonia, |
| away and fish can safely be introduced. | | | | but they are not going to make much of a |
| Here is the bad news. If you do nothing, and just | | | | difference in the kind of ammonia spikes you will |
| let your tank run (adding some organic matter, | | | | get when you first set up a tank. Also, do not be |
| like fish food to break down and create the | | | | surprised if the water gets a bit cloudy while the |
| spikes) it can take over a month to cycle a tank. | | | | tank is cycling; this is normal. You do not need to |
| Do not despair. There are additives for new tanks | | | | buy another chemical treatment to clear up the |
| (one is called "Cycle") that will cut that time in half | | | | water. Leave it alone for a day or two, then do |
| or less. But you will still want your new tank to | | | | another water change if its still a problem. |
| run without fish for about ten days, even with | | | | Please -- go slowly with new tanks. Add fish very |
| the cycle added, all the while "feeding" your | | | | slowly. Test, and re-test, and re-test again. Do |
| empty tank with fish food every day or so to | | | | lots of water changes. In fact, setup a good |
| introduce the organic matter that fuels the | | | | system so doing water changes is no big deal, |
| process. It is a bit of a hassle, but you are | | | | because then you will do them more often, and |
| creating a little independent environment inside | | | | then you will have a much nicer tank. Then this |
| those glass walls, and mother nature has some | | | | will be a fun hobby for you, not just another |
| rules that can not be circumvented without paying | | | | chore you resent doing. |