| When we talk about cycling the tropical aquarium it | | | | tank are healthy, otherwise you might also be |
| may sound quite daunting, but the procedure is | | | | introducing disease. Media from the filter of a healthy |
| actually very straightforward. All that is needed is a | | | | cycled tank will be the quickest way to build up good |
| basic understanding of the nitrogen cycle, and ph, | | | | bacteria in your new aquarium, but if neither the |
| nitrite and nitrate testing kits. If you don't want to go | | | | gravel nor filter media are an option, it is perfectly ok |
| to the expense of buying these kits, don't worry. | | | | to start from scratch - it will just take a little bit |
| Local fish stockists will often test samples of | | | | longer. Beneficial bacteria are everywhere; once you |
| aquarium water for free. Don't be afraid to ask! | | | | have a source of ammonia in your tank, good |
| Animal waste and decaying food create nitrogen, | | | | bacteria will establish a colony in your filter. |
| which turns into ammonia. Ammonia is deadly to fish. | | | | To begin, fill your tank up with water (be sure to add |
| Good bacteria turns ammonia into nitrites, and then | | | | a dechlorinator first) and switch on the equipment, |
| into nitrates. Nitrates can also be harmful to fish, but | | | | including the filter, and any air pump and setting the |
| are absorbed by live plants, completing the cycle. | | | | temperature to 80 degrees. |
| Good bacteria are present in the filter media of an | | | | You now need to start off the ammonia cycle. This |
| established tropical fish tank. When you start out | | | | can be achieved by dropping a few flakes of fish |
| from scratch, the amounts of good bacteria in your | | | | food into the aquarium every twelve hours. |
| tank will be negligible. Fish added at this point will | | | | When the tank is cycling, ammonia levels will rise, |
| produce ammonia and, as there is insufficient | | | | ultimately quite sharply. Once they have 'spiked', they |
| beneficial bacteria to process it, ammonia will build up | | | | will fall again. Then nitrites will begin to rise. Again |
| and your fish's health may suffer. Ultimately, they | | | | these spike, and trail off. Finally, nitrates then begin to |
| may die. | | | | rise. Once these are being produced, you have |
| You can get the good bacteria off to a flying start | | | | established a bed of good bacteria. Your tank has |
| by adding a cupful of gravel from an established tank. | | | | cycled and you're ready for everyone's favourite |
| Take care to make sure that the fish in the source | | | | part - choosing the fish! |