Basics Of Cycling Your New Tank
By David Price (Daspricey)

When starting a new tank you must cycle a tank to balance the tank for fish to inhabit, after all, this is their home for life.

A cycle is where you make the friendly bacteria colonize so it can convert ammonia to nitrite and then to almost harmless nitrate. All of those above are toxic and dangerous to fish, the nitrate is not so toxic but 50pmm is the most.

Starting the cycle and what do you need?

First you need to get yourself a mini master test kit. This will test your water for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph.
You will also need some ammonia to get the bacteria colony going, this comes in the form of…
Prawns (Fishless Cycle)
Bottled ammonia (Fishless Cycle)
Fish (cycle obviously using fish)
There are two options for the cycle, a fishless cycle or a cycle using fish. I may also strongly suggest the fishless cycle.
Once the cycle has started, ammonia will spike first, soon after the nitrite will spike. After both has spiked and there is NO ammonia or/and nitrite, then it is safe for fish.

Fishless cycle.

This is the fastest and least stressful (on fish and keeper) way but will mean an empty tank for about 3 weeks – 4 weeks. First things first you need to add the source of ammonia to the tank; the ammonia must be constantly fed through out the cycle until there is fish. You will not need to do a water change at all until the cycle has finished. When the levels are safe you must do a 65%-75% water change, stop feeding ammonia and add fish, all this needs to be done in one day. When you do add the fish they must be hardy fish like zebra danios, mollies and platys. Then add SLOWLY to the tank.

Fish cycle.

This uses fish in the building of bacteria; this is very hard and stressful on fish and keeper. Water changes need to be done every 2-3 days, told you it’s stressful. This way also takes much longer to do, make sure the fish you use are VERY hardy like danios, mollies and platys.

Other bits and bobs.

Never change the sponges throughout the cycle. Never take ammonia source out unless you have bought fish. Plants can go in but slows the cycle down. Test every 2 days.

That’s just about it for cycling but there is one other way of this, if you have a mature tank, it cuts the time in half. All you need to do is get the sponges from the filter from the old mature tank and squeeze over the new sponges. Good bacteria is squeezed of the old sponge onto the new sponge. Keep an ammonia source going and test every day and 2 weeks later you should be ready to make the huge water change and add fish.

Hope this helps you understand the basics of cycling, if you don’t fully understand, don’t hesitate to come onto the forum and get some advice.