what does cycling mean? and how is it done?

Question

what is cycling?

Answer 1

The easiest way for you to understand the Nitrogen Cycle and how to Cycle your tank is to read the information found here:

The Nitrogen Cycle and New Tank Syndrome: http://fins.actwin.com/mirror/begin-cycling.html

How to cycle a tank:

With Fish: http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/using_fish_to_cycle_your_tank.html

Without Fish:
http://www.fishlesscycling.com/articles/how_to_do_a_fishless_cycle.html

Answer 2

Cycling a tank means getting the nitrogen cycle started and once it is going, keeping it in balance. The sequence of events is that waste products from the fish are first converted to ammonia. This is very toxic to the fish. The ammonia is then converted to nitrite compounds by Nitrosomonas bacteria.These compounds are also not good. Then the nitrites are broken down to relatively harmless nitrates. This is done by Nitrobacter bacteria.The nitrates become harmful only in high concentrations, usually abve 150ppm.

There are several methods to start an aquarium and you can find these described in this forum and well as different web sites. The way I prefer is taking a cupful of gravel from an established tank and adding it to the new aquarium and then let the tank run for a week or or so with no fish. Then I add my fish very slowly, that is only a few at a time.

Answer 3

Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle that tanks have to go through. Read this article and it will explain.

http://www.tropicalfishcentre.co.uk/Cycle.htm

Answer 4

Cycling is growing two separate colonies of bacteria for your tank and then keeping them alive by providing the proper conditions for them to thrive.