Is the cycle from ammonia to nitrite to nitrate in a fish tank any different than what happens in a bowl?

Question

Just wondering if the pattern of a spike in ammonia then in nitrite and finally to nitrate happens in a bowl as well as a tank or is there something different about a tank that makes it more dangerous than a bowl?

if it is very different how can i ensure that my fish is safe without a water test kit. He was a rescue fish and it was all i could do to afford the tank, my mom insists that all the water testing isnt that necessary that usually goldfish do just fine and just watch him but i dont know.

Answer 1

If the bowl is large enough, and you only do partial water changes, you should see the same pattern. Unfortunately, most bowls don't have a large water volume or a filter, so you need to do frequent 100% water changes. They also don't have much area for gravel, and since the gravel and filter media are where the bacteria live, you usually never get a full cycle before the tank needs to be cleaned again, so except for right after a water change, there's almost always ammonia and/or nitrite present. So it's actually the tank that's safer, since there's more area for gravel, and you should only need to do partial water changes.

ADDITION: One way you can use to tell if the ammonia or nitrite is getting too high is to watch the behavior of your fish. They may begin by gasping for air at the surface of the water, even though you provide a filter or aeration in the tank (they'll do this all the time, not just when you're near the tank and show the same behavior by begging for food!). They may also sit at the bottom, become lethargic, and lose their appetite. If you see these signs, a water change may be in order.

See these links for assitional signs of ammonia and nitrite poisoning: http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/ammoniapoison.htm
http://freshaquarium.about.com/cs/disease/p/nitritepoison.htm

Answer 2

If you have a decent sized tank with a filter, and a small goldfish, then you don't really need to worry to much - do weekly water changes and he'll be ok.

The larger the fish compared to the size of the tank, the more you need to be concerned. Now matter how you look at it though, if you get some gravel from a mature tank (the fish store will help you out) and put this in your tank, (or even better, the filter) then you can skip this whole cycling nonsense altogether by introducing bacteria directly to the tank (make sure you bring it home in water in a bag to keep it alive).

The cycling process is the same in any container. That's why most people kill fish in bowls and goldfish have a reputation for 'living a week or two'.

Answer 3

Water is water is water. It all reacts the same when a fish that produces waste is put into the environment. And goldfish are the worst. Because of their internal organ structure, they produce more waste, and consequently, more ammonia than any other aquarium fish. I hate to say that your mom is wrong and doesn't know what she's talking about, but your mom is wrong and she doesn't know what she's talking about. And a further fact is that the smaller the water environment, the quicker and more toxic the water becomes. It is much easier to maintain a larger tank than a smaller one, which is why all fish enthusiasts will tell you a bowl is so bad and should be outlawed like they have done in Europe. You need, at the very least, a 10 gallon tank, and preferably a 20 gallon for goldfish, with a really good filter and you definitely need to test the water or this fish will die far sooner than the 15-40 years it should live. If you change the water in your bowl 1-2 times daily, you might, might, maybe get by with it. Maybe if you let your mom read information from people who successfully keep goldies, she might understand the whole process a little better. Good luck!

Answer 4

Nitrifying bacteria needs a flow of oxygen, ammonia, and water for it to thrive. There really isn't much happening in a fish bowl, which is why they get so dirty. There is very little nitrifying bacteria in a bowl.
You shouldn't have to test as long as your are using a siphon to clean the crud from the gravel. Change a large portion of the water once every 3 or 4 days, and you will prevent a build up of ammonia. Feeding very small portions of food will also slow the ammonia down.