How do you cycle a new tank?

Cycling a new freshwater tank is pretty simple, but there are a lot of ways to do it. Whether your a novice looking to start another tank or a beginner trying it for the first time, here are a few ways to cycle a new tank.

When I got my first tank I went to the local aquarium store and was directed to buy some bacteria. I used Fritz Zyme #7 Naturally Nitrifying Bacteria for freshwater tanks. You can really buy any type of bacteria, I'm sure. They sell live bacteria at any pet store which has a fish section. The process was very simple and only took 2 weeks:
~Set up the entire aquarium with lights, filters, airpumps, etc. Keep the tank at a comfortable 75ºF.
~Put in the directed amount of bacteria. (This bacteria smelled HORRIBLE when I opened the bottle, but once I put it in the tank the smell was gone.)
~Leave the tank for a week with the filter going. At the end of the week do a 10-15% water change.
~Leave it for another week.
~Do another 10-15% water change and then get the water tested for ammonia and nitrites. (Most pet stores will check the water for a minimal fee. I know Petsmart does it for free!)
~If the water checks out, then get some fish! I would start with some guppies or danios and if after a few weeks everything checks out then I would get some more ornamental fish that require more attention.

New Aquarium users often chose to cycle their tanks using fish. This is a bit more risky, because you're using real fish, but its a bit less involved then other methods.
~First set up your tank with all of the necessary ingredients, such as a filter, a light/heater, an air pump or air stone, etc. Keep these running throughout the process. Keep the tank at a steady temperature that is 75-80ºF
~Fill your tank with new conditioned water. I use AquaSafe Plus water conditioner, because it is specially designed to not kill the new bacteria in the tank.
~Go out and get three hardy schooling fish. I suggest Danios, which are very common and can be found anywhere, and are very hardy and able to withstand the levels of ammonia. They're also tropical fish and so they like higher temperatures.
~Go out and buy some fish flakes. Just regular flakes will do.
~Feed the fish every other day, as much as they will eat in 10 seconds. A lot of extra fish food left over will decay and create ammonia which will hurt your new tank, and your new fish.
~Every third day do a 10%-15% water change. Make sure you're using CONDITIONED WATER. using tap water without conditioning it will completely ruin your tank.
~The entire process takes about 6-8 weeks.
~Go to your local pet store. Petsmart does free water tests. Most pet stores will do it for a minimal fee.


Die-hard aquarium owners often cycle their tanks by adding a few drops of house-hold ammonia a day, which can work well and does not require the usage of fish. If you chose this route, here are a few tips to get you started:
~Use clear, 100% pure household ammonia from the supermarket. A quart costs less than a dollar and will last you a while. (Some pet stores sell ammonia for cycling tanks, but supermarket ammonia works just as well.
~Place it in a container that allows dispensing by drops.
~When cycling the tank keep the temperature around 86 - 95 F
~Get a testing kit! They're only about 6 dollars and they will help you measure the PH and ammonia levels of your tank! I suggest the Ammonia Alert monitor, because you an just put it into your tank and you don't have to keep doing constant tests. Its very worth buying!
~Keep the filter running throughout the process.
~Add extra aeration. Air stones or an air pump in the tank will work well.
The procedure:
~Set up the aquarium with all of the needed features i.e. filters, decorations, gravel
~Chlorinate the water
~Keep the temperature of the water in the high eighties to low nineties. Remember, you're trying to grow the necessary bacteria to keep your tank working!
~Put 3-5 drops of ammonia in the tank. Test the water and make sure the ammonia level is very high. Keep testing it weekly until the ammonia level goes down the safe level.
~Continue to put ammonia in the tank until the tests or "Ammonia Alert" shows that the ammonia level goes to zero within 8-12 hours after the ammonia is put in. Try putting some in the morning before work and checking when you get home. Once the tank shows the ability to lower the ammonia level in this time interval, this means that a large population of bacteria is resident in your filter. This may take 2 weeks or even more (even four weeks).
~While the ammonia level is at "safe", test for nitrites. If it shows zero nitrites, proceed to the next step. If it does not, then repeat the two previous steps until it does.
~Adjust the heater down to a livable temperature for the fish. Do a very large water change (about 90%), and then you are ready to add fish: you can go to the fish store now. (Remember, only add dechlorinated water of about the same temperature to the tank in order not to stress the bacteria with too drastic a change.)

There you go!

Credits:
www.firsttankguide.net
www.csupomona.edu

Welcome!

Welcome to Fishlore - Fish and More!

I'm Sabrina, a very experienced freshwater tank owner. I will be answering questions about freshwater fish and general tank information. Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Subjects I am particularly informed about are:
~ African Dwarf Frogs/ African Clawed Frogs
~Aquatic Snails
~Cycling a tank/tank information
~Bettas
~Guppies and Danios

I also know other information about a wide variety of fish and other ornamental creatures, so ask me anything you want to know!