Fishless Cycling
Supplies needed:
- Test kits for Ammonia, NitrIte and NitrAte. You could purchase an All In
One with the three tests or separate test kits. - Ammonia. Good source of ammonia are:
- Flake fish food
- Frozen fish food
- Raw seafood. i.e.: A piece of raw shrimp, squid or raw fish. In a filter bag.
- Etc.
To start a fishless cycling you need to make sure to keep ammonia from being depleted from your aquarium. This is because the nitrosonomas eat it and without it the cycle cannot be possible, therefore you need to test your ammonia levels everyday and to make sure that the ammonia doesn’t get depleted You need to test your aquarium for NitrItes so see how your cycling is doing. Eventually you will notice that it will get harder to get the ammonia levels constant without getting depleted, then is when you start testing your water for Ammonia, NitrItes and NitrAtes. Everyday until your tank is cycled.
You will know that your tank is cycled when the test readings are:
- AMMONIA : 0 ppm.
- NITRITE : 0 ppm.
- NITRATE : Going UP.
NitrAtes are not that toxic to your fish, and they can be eliminated through:
- Partial water changes during your aquarium maintenance.
- The use of NitrAte reducer filters such as Nitrate Reducer 1000 (Nitratreductor), Aqua Medic .
- NitrAte reducer additives such as Acquamarine Freshwater Nitrate Reducer 16 oz .
Learn about Hardy Fish Cycling here
