Cycling

[MarineMan1234]

How do I know when my tank has finished cycling?????? I haven't really been testing it each week

[MikeS]

The cycle is the process of the breakdown of organic material by bacteria in your tank. The first byproduct of this is ammonia. The ammonia will be further broken down into nitrite, then finally nitrate.

The typicall pattern you will see is a rise in ammonia. The ammonia will eventually level off, around then you will see the nitrite will rise. The ammonia will begin to drop off. The nitrite will level off and then begin to drop as well. Nitrate will begin to steadily rise. When your ammonia and nitrite levels are zero and your nitrate levels are slowly rising, your tank is considered "cycled". You can begin to add new livestock at this time.

When adding new livestock, it is important to do this slowly, giving your tank time to adjust to the increased bioload. Adding too much livestock too soon or too quickly will send your tank back into a cycle mode, and you risk killing the new livestock with elevated ammonia and nitrite levels.

Mike

[miztahphong2]

wow no one can explain it better mikejs. yeah and make sure to do your water changes too! this will help you lower your nitrates and such if they get too high.

[MarineMan1234]

What is a really good testing kit to buy because the one I bought I don't feel is accurate and is kind of a whole procedure.

[miztahphong2]

i have the master test kit from petsmart. its cheap ($20 dollars) and it is very easy to read and test.