The process of converting harmful ammonia into nitrite and ultimately into nitrate, is known as the cycling of fish tanks process. Through this process, beneficial colonies of bacteria grow.
Nitrifying bacteria can be found all over us and in the water. The process of cycling can be accelerated by using bottled ammonia or “seeding” with old filter media. However, this is not required because the bacteria will naturally grow.
Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle
The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle is the process whereby waste from plants and fish are reduced to ammonia, and transformed into nitrite and eventually to nitrate. This cycle can take place in a saltwater or freshwater aquarium. It may also take place in a aquarium pond. All fish keepers should be aware of this complicated and crucial process.
Ammonia is a byproduct of ingestion of food items or feces from fish. It is harmful to fish when levels exceed 2ppm. Nitrosomonas bacteria oxidise ammonia to produce nitrite. Nitrites may also be harmful to fish in concentrations higher than 1 ppm. Nitrobacter bacteria oxidise nitrates to create nitrates that are less toxic to fish.
Nitrates are then absorbed by plants and used to provide nutrients. This is a totally natural process and it will take place in every kind of aquarium. It is however an extremely slow and difficult process. It is typical for an aquarium to take a full month to stabilize ammonia, nitrogen and Nitrate levels. The aquarium must be kept free of these beneficial bacteria. This process is often impeded by cleaning too much of a tank be hai san cho nha hang and resulting in the production of ammonia and nitrite to increase. Monitoring your aquarium’s parameters is impossible without a good API Master Test Kit.
Fishless Cycling Method
Traditionally, cycling a tank requires adding a couple of tough fish to the aquarium to jump start the process. It is, however, cruel and inhumane. Fish may live, but their gills are charred by the rising ammonia levels which has a negative effect on their overall health. By using a fish-free cycle, you can eliminate this step and provides the best environment for the bacteria to grow.
There are two ways to carry out a cycle with no fish: 1.) seeding the tank with bacteria colonies already established in the previous tank. This is similar to traditional cycling, but it’s much more fish friendly and doesn’t affect the water quality. 2.) Utilizing a product such as Septo-Bac, which can accelerate the process of cycling. It takes the exact amount of time as it would when you cycle traditional.
It is crucial to frequently examine the levels of ammonia and nitrites levels during the cycle of fish that is not affluent. If the ammonia level spikes, it will likely be an indication that the bacteria aren’t completely established. This is a sign that there’s a complete cycle if the level of ammonia drops to zero, while the nitrites increase. It is also essential to make regular changes to the water in the cycle of fish to ensure that there is enough ammonia in the water for bacteria to flourish.
Aquarium Beneficial Bacteria
The process of cycling occurs in the biological sense when resident populations of nitrifying bacterium in the aquarium are large enough to eliminate every bioload (excessively poisonous ammonia, or nitrite). Therefore, it is essential to introduce fish slowly instead of introducing large quantities of fish at once.
These nitrifying microorganisms can live on any surface of an aquarium. But, they tend to concentrate their colonies in zones in which oxygen and food sources are in short supply. They thrive on the huge surface area that is provided by the porous filter media. Biomedia bacteria are superior to other bacteria that live in aquariums. They consume ammonia and nitrogen oxides at the speed they are produced which makes them unnoticeable.
The nitrifying bacteria are present in both the water column and the sediment. The majority of the nitrifying bacteria is found in biofilm. It is difficult to cultivate pure strains of these bacteria, and this likely accounts for the common assumption that nitrifying bacteria lives in the filter. Recent research conducted by LI et al. (2018) found that ammonia-oxidizing and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NO3) are present within the water column. They can be brought to new aquariums by using products such as API Quick Start or Fritzzyme Turbostart. They also can accelerate the process of an aquarium.
How to cycle a new fish tank
The first step to set an aquarium is to start seeding it with beneficial bacteria. It is possible to do this using products like Tetra Safe Start and a freshwater test kit. After this step is completed you can move on to adding the rest of your equipment, and then filling the aquarium with water.
This will begin the cycle that creates an abundance of beneficial bacteria that regulates the nitrogen cycle in the aquarium. In the course of cycling, ammonia levels will fluctuate before transforming into nitrite, and then nitrate. If all three levels are at zero ppm, the aquarium can be used for livestock.
During the process of cycling it is essential to periodically examine the water, looking for ammonia, nitrite and Nitrate. If you observe a buildup of nitrate up, it is suggested to add 1 tablespoon of table salt or aquarium salt for every 10 gallons of water. This will allow beneficial bacteria to grow quicker and decrease the toxicity of nitrates.
Another important factor to remember is that your aquarium should not be filled to the brim during this process. If you add fish too soon, the ammonia levels are likely to increase quickly and this is toxic to the fish.
