Fishless Cycling - Process

Process

To start the fishless nitrogen cycling process, you need a fish tank, an aquarium filter system, a heater if you plan to get tropical fish, water conditioner, air pump and air stones, a liquid test kit (test strips are generally slightly less accurate),) and a source of ammonia.

Set up the aquarium with all the equipment first. Make sure the filter is running properly. To speed up the process, raise the temperature to approximately 80 °F. Then, add enough ammonia to raise the ammonia concentration to 4~5ppm. Excessive amounts of ammonia will not speed up the cycling process. The source of ammonia can either be from fish food (which will generate ammonia after decaying) or pure ammonia (in the form of either ammonium hydroxide or ammonium chloride). By using pure ammonia, the fishless cycle is faster and more controllable. After a couple of weeks, the first group of bacteria will grow in sufficient quantities to consume the ammonia and convert it to nitrite. Nitrite is more toxic than ammonia. In another couple of weeks, a second group of bacteria will be present in sufficient quantities to convert the nitrite into nitrate, which is much less toxic. During the entire fishless cycle process, It is extremely important to have a constant source of ammonia. Monitor both ammonia and nitrite levels in the aquarium on a daily basis. When both are at 0 ppm, carry out a very large water change (70–90%) to keep nitrate in check. This will remove most of the nitrate buildup from cycling.

The tank is now completely cycled and can be stocked with fish.

Read more about this topic:  Fishless Cycling

Famous quotes containing the word process:

    Consumer wants can have bizarre, frivolous, or even immoral origins, and an admirable case can still be made for a society that seeks to satisfy them. But the case cannot stand if it is the process of satisfying wants that creates the wants.
    John Kenneth Galbraith (b. 1908)

    Because her instinct has told her, or because she has been reliably informed, the faded virgin knows that the supreme joys are not for her; she knows by a process of the intellect; but she can feel her deprivation no more than the young mother can feel the hardship of the virgin’s lot.
    Arnold Bennett (1867–1931)

    It haunts me, the passage of time. I think time is a merciless thing. I think life is a process of burning oneself out and time is the fire that burns you. But I think the spirit of man is a good adversary.
    Tennessee Williams (1914–1983)