Cycling A Salt Water Aquarium

By Author: Donny Jenkins
Total Articles: 202
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Starting a saltwater aquarium is very different from starting a fresh water aquarium where you can set up the tank, include dechlorinator and immediately add fish, a deep sea aquarium has to be cycled before you can add seafood. Cycling a deep sea aquarium is a process in which the water goes through several biological modifications that results in this being chemically well balanced to sustain life. It's a tedious process that usually takes about a month complete. But, it's necessary process to keep your marine life wholesome and alive.

There are several different methods that you can use to cycle a new saltwater aquarium. However, no matter how you cycle your tank it's going to take some time to patience. Because all of the methods work, the main one you should choose is really a matter of personal choice.

What is a Cycling?

Ammonia is needed for the cycling process to succeed. It can be manufactured in several ways, but usually it comes from dead rotting matter or seafood waste. During the process germs converts the ammonia in to nitrite and at various levels of the process these two chemical substances ...
... reach toxic levels. If you have fish in the water during this time the levels are very harmful or deadly to fish. Because of this do not use live fish to cycle your aquarium. This good bacteria need to be established within sufficient numbers before your aquarium can without danger handle fish.

Period An Aquarium Using Reside Rock

In my opinion the easiest method to cycle any brand new saltwater aquarium is by using live rock and some sort of ammonia supply. I prefer to use an uncooked shrimp out of your local supermarket to supply that ammonia. Start by clogging your gutters aquarium with salt water, add sand in the event that desired, then your dried out or live rock and roll. Dry rock is nice since it is cheaper than live rock and roll but live rock and roll will usually cycle your own aquarium faster. If you are starting with dry rock do include a item or two of live rock because this will help to seed your dried out rock with the germs you need.

Once you have everything in place then I prefer to throw in a uncooked deli shrimp to feed the cycle. This piece of shrimp will decay and feed the bacteria. To start, the ammonia level will rise rapidly because you do not have the adequate power of the right types of germs. This is the first stage and the bacteria is beginning to be established.

After a number of days to a couple of weeks, ammonia levels will continue to increase and reach it's peak and begin to say no. Ammonia levels should decline rapidly as the very first stage progresses as well as bacteria will then begin to convert it in to the equally toxic nitrite. Your Nitrite amounts with continue to climb as the bacteria convert this particular ammonia.

After a week to a few weeks your nitrite levels should start to decrease and your nitrate levels will start to climb. This means the bacteria in your rocks are doing their work and establishing themselves.

Your bacteria are actually established at this point from the cycle. It can take care of the ammonia from your decaying shrimp, making it nitrite and then quickly transforming it into nitrate.

Biking An Aquarium With Fish Food

To cycle your tank utilizing fish food a person basically add food on a daily basis just as if you are feeding fish. This creates a constant rotting process that produces ammonia. Although this method does work it will take 6 weeks or more to accomplish the cycling procedure. And, it has a number of disadvantages. It can be difficult to produce a large bacterial colony, you may get spikes within the levels of nitrites and ammonia as well as decaying food can establish other chemicals for example phosphates.

Cycling An Aquarium Utilizing Ammonia

Using ammonia to period a tank can take from three to 6 weeks. You'll literally be adding pure ammonia to the drinking water. Make sure that you purchase unscented ammonia that doesn't contain any additives. Using a dropper, add from 3 to 5 drops of ammonia for every 10 gallons of water on a daily basis. The aim is to maintain a level of 5 ppm. Within the initial phase there won't be any nitrites within the water. Continue adding the ammonia and testing the water until it exhibits a nitrite reading.

Following there is nitrites in the water reduce the daily dosages associated with ammonia to 2 to 3 drops for each 10 gallons water. You will need to continue this particular regimen until both the nitrite and ammonia tests reach 0 ppm. Once you have the correct reading start reducing the temperature. You will also need to perform a major water change of around 90% and add some activated carbon to help eliminate any unwanted chemicals that may have been in the ammonia.

Cycle An Aquarium Along with Commercial Products

These days, there are various commercial items on the market that state they can accelerate the cycling process. A few of these products can say they've your tank ready to use in as little as 24 hours. Some contain a large quantity of bacteria while others contain enzymes that can assist in assisting bacteria to grow much faster. These concentrated types of beneficial bacteria may be used to cycle a brand new deep sea aquarium and strengthen a tank after drinking water changes but make sure you test your water when using these products. I have yet to personally see anything cycle a tank in 24 hours.

Your Tank is actually Cycled, what to do right now?

Once your ammonia and nitrite levels reach 0 what this means is your cycle should be complete. You should then preform a water change to bring your nitrates lower (this is the only way to bring nitrates down). You are also likely getting an algae bloom in your new tank and this is time to add a clean up crew to your container. These are snails and or hermit crabs and will work to help keep your tank clean. Once they are added and your and your tank remains stable then you can add a seafood. With a marine aquarium you want to add things slowly so your bacteria can keep up with your brand-new inhabitants. Adding things too rapidly can cause another mini cycle and you don’t want to do that to your new fish.

Congratulations on your new marine aquarium tank and we hope you enjoy the benefits of having a small piece of the ocean in your own home.

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