Re: New Aquarium
Welcome to the hobby!
Fishless cycling refers to the establishment of an aquarium's nitrogen cycle without using fish to supply the ammonia for the cycle.
The nitrogen cycle is used to define the process where excess fish waste decomposes and generates ammonia which is consumed by nitrosomona bacterium and turned into nitrite, which is then consumed by nitrospira bacterium and turned into nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite are toxic to fish in concentrations higher than 1 part per million, while nitrates can accumulate in the tank up to 80 ppm before problems arise. 25%-50% partial water changes weekly, along with live plants that consume nitrates, are the only ways to remove nitrates from the tank.
The establishment of the above mentioned nitrogen cycle is often called "cycling" a tank.
Without established nitrosomona and nitrospira bacteria colonies in the tank, excess ammonia generated by your fish will end up killing them. Fishless cycling is the process by which an alternative source of ammonia such as a piece of decomposing seafood, decomposing fish flake food, or straight daily doses of ammonia are used to "feed" the cycle, allowing the nitrosomona and nitrospira bacteria to colonize your tank before the addition of fish. This ensures no ammonia or nitrite will be present in the tank when the fish are added.
Simple measures like the addition of dirty filter media, structures, and plants from existing tanks with already-established bacteria colonies (like from the pet store's tanks), and some of the bacteria-in-a-bottle "tank starters" like Tetra SafeStart will help speed up the establishment of the nitrogen cycle by "seeding" your tank with bacteria. However, without a source of ammonia, these bacteria colonies will starve and die. The source of ammonia is key, and it can either be fish themselves, or no fish.
Patience, in this case, is the most important thing. To properly "cycle" a tank, set the tank up exactly as if you were going to add fish. Fill with dechlorinated water (using tap water conditioner), turn on the filter, heater, and light, and let it run. Add your source of ammonia (either decomposing bio-matter or daily doses of ammonia) plus any additions like dirty filter media, etc., and let the tank run for 2-4 weeks.
Water testing is key to indicate the establishment of the cycle. The establishment of the cycle will be denoted by an initial spike in ammonia (above 1 ppm, sometimes up to 5 ppm), then the ammonia will lower in concentration and there will be a nitrite spike (again, 1-5 ppm), then the nitrite will lower and the nitrates will elevate. Depending on the addition of bacteria from existing tanks or tank starters, you may see all three spikes at once. The end product, after a week or two minimum, should be zero ppm ammonia, zero ppm nitrite, and 10-80 ppm nitrate. After this point, do 2 50% partial water changes 24 hours apart to lower your nitrate concentrations to healthy levels, then remove the source of ammonia and you may add some of your fish.
Don't add all your fish at once. Add them 2-3 per week, and watch the newcomers closely. This will allow for much less stress on your new fish. In addition, float the bags the fish come in in your tank for 10-15 minutes to equalize the temperatures and drip-acclimate the fish, as in slowly spoon tank water into their bag to help them adjust to your water conditions. Do not add the water in the bag to your tank! Net your fish out of the bag and into the tank.
One last thing - Watch your fish closely for the next week for signs of stress and/or disease. By closely I mean 20 minutes a day, more or less. If they show signs of disease, post on here with water conditions and photos if possible and we will instruct you on proper handling techniques. Other preemptive measures, like dosing your tank with a weak dose of API Melafix upon introduction of fish (as instructed on the bottle), might nip potential disease in the bud.
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Officially fishless until after the move....tune in later for details!
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Also what are good cycling fish that will be compatible with the others?
