Cycle

[infinsable]

What happens during the cycling of a tank, is every tank different. Is it just every thing blending in together.Are there bad cycles if so whats the signs. Thanks

 

[thewolfman777]

all cycles are the same but can go at different rates provided what you are cycling with. first you need to introduce something to create ammonia, i.e.: and raw piece of shrimp, hardy fish, l/r, etc. the cycling process goes like this: first ammonia builds up, then nitrites build which convert ammonia, then nitrates build to convert nitrites. this is a very basic explanation of the cycle, but all tanks must go through this. indicators that you know your tank is cycling is that first ammonia will go up then eventually go down. a safe number for ammonia is 0. ammonia goes down because nitrites build up. then your nitrites will shoot up and go down to eventually 0 due to the nitrates building. once your ammo. and trites are at 0 your cycle should be done. your trates may never see 0 but i would say a safe level is at 20-40 for most fish and inverts, this is what most books say. a way to reduse trates is water changes. a lot of people will say and optimal level of trates is 0 which it is but most sometimes will never see 0, unless you want to start adding certain equipment. i would test the water everyday throughout your cycle until your ammo. and trites are at 0 and every week after that. this is the only way to track the progree of the cycle.