This is the process that establishes a bacteria bed in your tank and is important as this bacteria is what filters out the ammonia produced by fish waste and decaying food that would otherwise make the tank water toxic to your fish.

We are eliminating the fish waste and adding ammonia

Most people just buy a tank and add fish, but this is dangerous for the fish and often causes loss. This is both sad and a waste of money. Instead, fishless cycling will build the beede bacteria in the aquarium in less time without endangering fish

Difficulty: Easy
Instructions

Things You’ll Need:

  • tank
  • filter
  • gravel
  • pure ammonia (with not cleaning agents)
  • water conditioner
  • heater (optional)
  1. Step 1

    Set-up your tank. Add the gravel then fill with water, add conditioner, plug in the filter. Turn on the heater if you have one about 85F.

  2. Step 2

    Add the ammonia. You’ll need to add enough drops to make the ammonia test read 5ppm. Remember how many drops you added and add this number every day after testing the water. this gives the bacteria that feeds on ammonia something to eat.

  3. Step 3

    After a few days, start testing for nitrite too. the bacteria that breaks down the ammonia turns it into nitrite. Once the nitrite spikes, cut the number of drops you’ve been adding in half. Add that number every day until the nitrate spikes. the bacteria that breaks down the nitrite produces nitrate.

  4. Step 4

    Once the nitrite spikes, your cycle has completed. You should now do a 50% water change (preferably with a gravel vacuum, since you’ll need this for 25% weekly water changes anyway)and add your fish. Be sure to lower the heater temperature to an appropriate temperature.

Tips & Warnings
  • The number of drops needed will depend on the strength of the ammonia being used.
  • The tank will cycle faster if you add gravel or filter media from an established tank, this is called seeding.
  • Never use ammonia that contains cleaning agents, only pure ammonia.
  • Never add fish until the cycle has completed.
  • Don’t preform water changes while cycling, it will prolong the process. since there are no fish in the tank, there is no need to keep the ammonia and nitrite levels low.