How do you cycle a fish tank?

Question

i am just starting to cycle today and just a few minutes ago i did a 40% water change. I got the fish 3 days ago and the tank is a 10 gallon. I dont have a test kit for ammonia and nitrates and i cant get one until tom. or maybe the day after that. I live in the country so i have well water and have to add treatment stuff so do i have to add treatment stuff everytime i do a water change? And how many times a day should i change the water? also is there anything else i can do to help the fish?Oh yeah, what are some tips for cycling? Pretty much just tell me all you know. Thanks.

Answer 1

There are a couple of ways of doing this, but since you have fish in the tank already, that eliminates the "fishless" methods.

Basically, you're growing bacteria. The bacteria are needed because they're what convert the toxic cheminals from the fish's metabolism (ammonia and nitrite) into less toxic nitrate.

If you have well water, do you add chlorine so it's safe to drink? This is what the water treatments is used to "treat". If you don't have chlorine, the only reason to add the conditioner is if you have a high metal content. If the treatment is necessary (or you just want to be careful), you do need to add it with each water change.

How often you need to do water changes will depend largely on the size and number of fish, and how much you're feeding them. If you've got 2-3 2" fish (like platies, guppies, swordtails, tetras) and only feed once a day, you may only need to to 10-15% changes twice a week. If you've got more or larger fish, or feed more, you might need to increase the number of changes or the volume to 20%.

Since you just did a large water change today that should be enough, unless in an hour's time you still see the fish gasping at the top of the water like they're having a hard time getting enough air. And since you are getting a test kit in the near future, you can use it to see if you need to do another right away. I would try not to let the ammonia and nitrite levels get too far above 0.5, though.

Basic tips are to turn the temperature up just a little (bacteria will multiply faster when warmer), don't ovefeed, clean your filter media in a container with water from your tank and reuse it (there are bacteria growing on it too, so don't kill them by rinsing them in water that has chlorine!). And if you see the tank getting cloudy (which is a result of fast bacterial reperoduction) DON'T try to tear down the tank and clean it out. Once the bacteria have reproduced to the point where there are enough to process all the ammonia and nitrite in the tank, the reproduction will slow down and the cloudiness will go away on it's own. And when doing water changes, use a siphon to clean the wastes out of the gravel - these will just decompose to create more ammonia and byproducts. Since the bottom of the tank is larger than you'll be able to clean and only siphon out 25% of the water, divide it into manageable areas and alternate between them.

Answer 2

When the tank is brand new, like yours, change the water once a week. After a couple of months, you can go ahead and start changing it once a month. Re-condition the water each time you change it with a good bacterial supplement and a good water conditioner. Each week, use a good bacterial supplement (my favorite is Stress Zyme from API) and add it to the water, and rinse the filter out weekly as well. I'd recommend using a filter with a bacterial sponge in it that lets bacteria grow on it and filter the water as it cycles. Don't worry about those test kits, if you do it right you'll never end up needing or using them. If you want to help the fish, just feed them twice a day and wave your fingers in front of the glass occasionally. This helps them become comfortable with you, and they'll know you once they learn you're the one who feeds them, and it also calms them down when they're stressed. I also recommend putting Stress Coat from API in the water with each water change. This helps enhance their natural slime coating and protect them from cuts and injuries. Good luck!

Answer 3

First I dont know if you have a saltwater or a freshwater fish tank. if it is freshwater you need to change the water very day about 10 percent until the ammonia and nitrates go down to a good level. the cycling process takes about 1 to 2 days in freshwater and about a month in saltwater in this period your tank is developing all the bacteria that it needs to operate. If you need any more help let me know.

Answer 4

Get EASY BALANCE and thats all you will need you add it to your tank once a week add water as needed and your good for 6 months.Change 50% of the water after 6 months up.Change filters as needed (once a month if you don't over feed).Also use tap water conditioner to be safe when adding water.Add STRESS COAT when adding new fish.Theres alot more but they have books on it at any pet store.Also buy cheap fish at first you will lose some it takes time to build a cycle.DON'T OVER CROWD!!!

Answer 5

As I am a vet I am telling you to change
the water every day but if that is not helping do you have
The Fish eve spray that you spray on the tank when
you clean it?

Answer 6

Heres a site that tells you how #:http://www.worldcichlids.com/faqs/cycling.html

Answer 7

http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php