Understanding the Fish Tank Cycling Process: Nitrogen Cycle Basics
The process of cycling the fish tank is a process of converting harmful ammonia to nitrite, and then finally nitrate. In this process the beneficial bacteria colonies develop.
Nitrifying bacteria are all around us and in the water. The cycle process can be speeded up by using bottled ammonia or “seeding” using old filter media. However this isn’t necessary because the bacteria will naturally increase.
Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle
The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle is the method by which the waste of plants and fish are broken down into ammonia and transformed into nitrite and then Nitrate. This process takes place in freshwater aquariums, saltwater aquarium, reef tank, or even an Pond. All fish keepers should be aware of this intricate and vital process.
Ammonia is produced by the waste of fish and uncooked food. Fish are poisonous in concentrations of more than 2 ppm. Ammonia is oxidised by Nitrosomonas bacteria to form nitrite. Nitrites are also toxic to fish when concentrations exceed 1 ppm. Nitrobacter bacteria oxidise nitrates to create nitrates that are less toxic to fish.
The plants absorb the nitrates, and use them to create nutrients. It is a natural process that occurs in all types of aquariums. However, it is an extremely slow and often difficult process. It is common for an aquarium to require one month to stabilize nitrogen, ammonia and the levels of nitrate. It is crucial that the aquarium remains clean so that beneficial bacteria to grow. This process could be hindered by over-cleaning a tank and resulting in spikes of ammonia and nitrite. A high-quality API Master Test Kit is crucial for monitoring the parameters of your aquarium’s waters.
Method of Fishless Cycling
In the past the cycle of the fish tank was initiated by adding a few hardy fish. However, this practice is cruel and inhumane. Although the fish will survive, their gills will be burnt by the rising ammonia and this can affect the quality of their lives. Using a fishless cycle eliminates this issue and provides the ideal environment for bacteria to thrive.
There are two methods to carry out a fish-free cycle 1.) Seeding the tank with bacteria that have already established colonies which will in turn infect the new tank. This approach is similar to traditional cycling however, it’s more fish-friendly and does not cause the same negative effects on water quality. The use of a product like Septo-Bac can help speed up the process. It takes about the exact amount of time the same amount of time as when you cycle traditional.
It is vital to regularly monitor ammonia levels and nitrites throughout the period of inactivity known as the fishless cycle. If the ammonia level spikes it indicates that the bacterium has not been fully established. It is a sign of a complete cycle if the level of ammonia drops to zero, and the nitrites increase. It is also important to perform regular water changes in the thi cong be hai san cycle of fish to ensure that there is enough ammonia in the water for bacteria to flourish.
Aquarium Beneficial Bacteria
It happens biologically when inhabitants of the nitrifying bacterium in an aquarium become large enough to eliminate the bioload (excessively poisonous ammonia, or Nitrite). Therefore, it is important to introduce fish slowly instead of adding huge numbers of fish in one go.
Those nitrifying bacteria can actually be found on any surface of an aquarium, but they prefer to build their colonies where the limiting factors (food and oxygen) are most effectively met. The microorganisms that thrive there are a huge surface area that is provided by the porous media used for filtering. The bacterial colonies in the biomedia can outcompete other bacteria in the aquarium by consuming ammonia and nitrite as fast as they are produced and making them undetectable.
These nitrifying bacilli can be found in both the water column as well as the sediment. The majority of the nitrifying bacterium is found in biofilm. It is challenging to create pure cultures of these bacteria and this could be the reason behind the popular misconception that nitrifying bacteria only exists within the filter. A recent study by LI et al (2018) showed that the ammonia-oxidising bacterium (AOB) as well as the Nitrite-oxidising bacteria (NO3) do indeed live in the water column. The bacteria are able to be introduced into a new aquarium by using products like API Quick Start, Fritzzyme Turbostart or Tim’s Aquatics Live Nitrifying Bacteria and will speed up the process of preparing an aquarium.
How to cycle a fresh fish tank
The first step in setting an aquarium is to infuse it with beneficial bacteria. This can be done using products like Tetra Safe Start or a freshwater master test kit. Once this step has been completed you can move on to putting in the rest of your equipment, and then filling the aquarium with water.
This will begin the cycle which is the process of creating a population of beneficial bacteria that regulates the nitrogen cycle of the aquarium. During the cycling process ammonia will rise and fall, then nitrite and finally the nitrate. When all three are at zero ppm an aquarium can be used for animals.
In the course of cycling, it is crucial to regularly test the water, checking for ammonia, nitrite, and Nitrate. It is recommended that if you notice a nitrate accumulation, add 1 tablespoon of table salt or aquarium salt to each 10 gallons. This will decrease the toxicity of nitrates and will allow beneficial bacteria to develop more quickly.
Another crucial thing to consider is that your aquarium should not be filled to the brim in this procedure. Ammonia levels can quickly rise in the event that you add fish to your aquarium too soon. This is harmful for the fish.