Invertebrates such as hermit crabs, snails, and shrimp that you are planning to add to the aquarium will consume food and produce ammonia.
If you don't want to use media from another tank or don't have access to a natural seeding source, you can also start the cycling process by adding drops of pure ammonia to your tank. To make sure there are no detergents in your ammonia, shake the bottle before using.
If bubbles start to foam after shaking, it means detergents are present and you'll want to find an alternative ammonia source that's pure. Once you have secured an unadulterated bottle, add five drops a day for every 10 gallons of water to your empty tank to start the cycling process.
When your test kit starts to detect nitrite, cut back to only three drops a day. Do NOT add any fish or invertebrates to the aquarium if you are using ammonia to start your bacteria cycling. After you stop adding ammonia, wait a day and retest your water before you add your fish. Both ammonia and nitrite can kill fish, so you want to be sure they are completely removed from the water before you add the first few fish to that tank. Testing the aquarium water for ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate on an almost daily basis will help you to determine how well the bacteria population is increasing in a new aquarium.
If the ammonia level is rising and approaching the danger zone, you can quickly reduce the level with a dose of an ammonia neutralizing product such as Amquel to keep the level in the safe zone. The goal is for the bacteria to quickly break down all of the ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate, so that the water tests are nearly zero for ammonia and nitrite.
The nitrate will gradually accumulate in the aquarium water, so water changes need to be made to remove the nitrate. Actively scan device characteristics for identification. Use precise geolocation data. Select personalised content. Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance.
Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. There are 2 different ways to cycle the tank. You can do it without fish by adding ammonia to the water manually, which is the preferred method since it reduces stress and potential harm to your fish. You can also do it using a few hardy species of fish who will produce ammonia for you. Cycling your saltwater tank ensures that the water is safe for your fish.
Check the ammonia and nitrate levels every day for 2 to 6 weeks using testing kits. If the ammonia levels go above 2 ppm, use a neutralizing agent or change part of the water. Once a week, replace 10 percent of the water with new water mixed with a salt mix. For more tips, including how to test the pH of your tank water, read on!
Did this summary help you? Yes No. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Explore this Article methods. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Set up the tank before buying fish. Start setting up your saltwater tank about 6 weeks before you purchase any fish. This will give you plenty of time to cycle the tank.
If you add fish to the tank before cycling the water, you could expose them to stress and a potentially fatal environment. This includes installing the filter and skimmer, mixing the water with salt mix, and adding decorations. If you have already added fish, you must move them to an established tank that has already been cycled. If you do not have an established tank, you will need to follow the method for cycling with fish.
Do not increase the temperature or add ammonia, as these steps will kill the fish. Cycling the tank is not an exact process. It can take anywhere from between 2 to 6 weeks or occasionally longer.
This is because bacteria need to grow in the tank for it to work, and this process happens naturally on its own. It will take longer to cycle a saltwater tank than a freshwater tank. Increase the temperature of your tank to produce bacteria. This will encourage the growth of good bacteria and speed up the cycling process. You must remember to decrease the water temperature before you add fish. Add ammonia to the tank to start the process.
You will need a source of ammonia in the tank. Over time, ammonia will convert into nitrites and nitrates. There are a few different ways to add ammonia. You only need to do one. Be sure to purchase ammonia that doesn't contain perfumes or surfactants detergents. You can test the ammonia by shaking the bottle—if it foams, it contains surfactants.
Once your test kits start detecting nitrites, reduce this to 3 drops a day. If a friend has a saltwater tank that has already been cycled, you can take some gravel or filter rock from their tank and place it in yours. Live rock taken from a coral may also work. However, do this with caution as moving media or rocks from could potentially introduce pests to your tank.
Test the water every day for ammonia. You will need an aquarium test kit that can detect the presence of ammonia, nitrites, and nitrates. Test the water every day for between 2 and 6 weeks. Keep testing until the ammonia levels suddenly drop down to 0 ppm.
You will add a special solution to the tube. When the water changes color, compare it to a special chart, which will tell you how much ammonia is in the water. You can also use Ammonia Alert. This strip attaches to the inside of your aquarium. The meter on the strip will darken to show how much ammonia is present. If ammonia levels rise above 2 ppm, stop adding it for a few days to let the cycle catch up.
A partial water change can also help. Start testing for nitrites after ammonia levels drop. Test for both ammonia and nitrites each day, and continue to add ammonia to the tank during this process. Just like the ammonia, nitrite levels should rise steadily until they suddenly plummet. Test for nitrates to see if the tank is ready. Once nitrite levels start dropping, it is time to start testing for nitrates. This is the last step in the process. Bottled nitrifying bacteria cycle is the fastest way to cycle an aquarium.
Some of the most popular products include Fritz Turbostart, Dr. These products work quickly and can have your tank ready in little time.
Timeline: In as little as 24 hours, although it generally takes a little longer. Drawbacks: Bacteria levels may not be stable, resulting in increases in both ammonia and nitrite. It is generally safe to add a small amount of fish right. However, we recommended waiting to add coral for at least several weeks until bacteria levels stabilize.
We recommend adding no more than new fish per week after your new tank has cycled. When adding more fish, each addition will add more to the bioload and needs to be taken into consideration to prevent any sudden deaths to new or existing fish.
Keeping the lights off for the first few weeks will also help prevent algae growth since algae feed on nitrates and light. Regular water changes and the addition of tank cleaners such as snails, crabs, shrimp, and fish that eat algae will help limit algae growth. Starting an aquarium is an exciting time, and the excitement can make it hard to keep your patience.
Correctly completing the cycle will help prevent issues down the road and help you maintain a successful saltwater aquarium in the long run. For more information about saltwater aquariums, visit the Simplicity homepage here.
How to Cycle a Saltwater Aquarium. What is the Nitrogen Cycle? Option 1: With Fish Cycling a tank using a fish is probably the most common method of cycling an aquarium. Timeline: At least 3 weeks and likely up to 6 weeks Benefits: Inexpensive Drawbacks: Takes time Option 3: Bacteria Starter Bottled nitrifying bacteria cycle is the fastest way to cycle an aquarium.
Benefits: Fast Drawbacks: Bacteria levels may not be stable, resulting in increases in both ammonia and nitrite. Once ammonia levels start to drop, begin testing for nitrites while continuing to test for ammonia.
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