Cycling a New Tank
Before adding fish, a new aquarium needs beneficial bacteria capable of converting toxic ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate. A fishless cycle establishes this biological filter before livestock enters the aquarium.
Add Ammonia
Start the cycle by adding Fritz Fishless Fuel. This provides the ammonia that beneficial bacteria need to establish themselves.
Dose Fishless Fuel according to the bottle directions to reach approximately 2 ppm ammonia.
Do not add fish during a fishless cycle.
Add Nitrifying Bacteria
Add live nitrifying bacteria. These bacteria establish on your filter media, substrate, rock and other surfaces and begin processing the ammonia.
Test & Watch the Cycle
Use the API Freshwater Master Test Kit to watch the nitrogen cycle progress. Your exact readings may vary, but this is a simple example of what a normal fishless cycle looks like.
Your Tank Is Cycled!
The biological filter is established when the ammonia you added has been processed completely through the nitrogen cycle.
If nitrate is elevated, perform an appropriate water change. Once ammonia and nitrite remain at zero, you are ready to begin adding fish.
Cycling time varies depending on temperature, water chemistry, filtration and the bacteria product used. TurboStart can establish biological filtration considerably faster than a traditional cycle, but always verify the aquarium with testing before adding livestock. When fish are added, begin with a reasonable stocking level rather than fully stocking the aquarium at once.