Nitrogen Cycle?

Question

I have no idea what it is and how to complete it. I'm doing it for a fish tank and it Petco Care Sheets and i have no idea what they are talking about. Sites that people recommended me didnt help. what are the stages in completing it? What do you need to buy for it? How long does it take with special equipment? How long will it take for a two gallon tank? What are the specific steps to do it and make sure it is complete and ready to add fish? What do you need to get to get the readings they say that should be read? do you take it into the pet store and they do a water test on it? will it take 6-7 weeks for a little two gallon tank? what do you need to buy to get rid of ammonia? please help!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

There are two ways to cycle an aquarium, with or without fish. Here's links to two sites that spell out the steps very well

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

without fish:
http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/startover/fishless.shtml

Hope that helps

MM

Answer 2

what you do is rinse your gravel so there's no dust in it put it in the tank and add water.
put the filter with pad on the tank and add a little bit of fish food to the tank let the tank run for about 3 weeks adding a little food every other day.
after the 3 weeks are up you can start adding the fish into the tank.
the nitrogen cycle is just a way to help break down the fish poop into somthing that won't kill them. the poo gives off ammonia and that can kill fish, letting it cycle build up bacteria that will turn the ammonia into a bunch of other chemicals and then nitrogen gas, which ecsapes the tank through the surface of the water.
hope this helps.

Answer 3

In short, the cycle involves creating the bacteria colonies that convert toxic ammonia into nitrite and then finally non-toxic nitrate. Ammonia and nitrite are both very toxic and unhealthy for your fish. Nitrate is also toxic but only at high concentration levels and this should be taken care of by your partial water changes.
There's a lot to be said about it, please see the link below

Answer 4

In a nut shell it's establishing something that will take the toxins produced by waste and convert them into less toxic substances then into a non toxic substance.

I am going to refer you to another website, but hopefully this one will make more sense. It explains multiple ways to go about it.

http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

Answer 5

http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html
http://www.firsttankguide.net/cycle.php
http://www.fishlore.com/NitrogenCycle.htm

All questions answered here.