Jumpstart Your New Aquarium's Cycle!

07/05/2010

Jumpstart Your New Aquarium's Cycle!

So you've bought your first freshwater aquarium, installed the filter, got your decorations, and now you want to add fish...but you have to wait 4 to 6 weeks. That's no fun! Want to shorten the wait? Here are three things you can do to your aquarium to jump start the cycling process in your new aquarium, and get you closer to those adorable goldfish you have your eye on!

1. Add Bacteria
Many products are in LFS and online that have beneficial bacteria in a bottle. One of these products, once added to an aquarium can, help establish the beneficial nitrifying bacteria that break down fish waste into less harmful substances - getting you closer to buying fish. I recommend Seachem's Stability.

2. Borrow from a friend
If you have a friend who has a cycled aquarium, ask them if you can add a sponge filter to their tank for a week or so, or borrow some biological media from their established filter. Sponge filters are great for using as a home for beneficial bacteria to attach and grow on. In a few days you can remove the sponge filter from your friend's aquarium and add it to yours. Now you have established bacteria in your aquarium!

3. Get some new (old!) substrate
Substrate from a cycled aquarium will help jump start your new aquarium easily. Just borrow from a friend or fellow aquarist, and you're closer to completing your new tank's cycle!

Each of these tips will help reduce the amount of time it takes to 'cycle' your new aquarium. Remember to test for Ammonia, Nitrites, and Nitrates to ensure the health of your fish, and if you see levels of Ammonia and Nitrite in an aquarium with fish, add Seachem's Prime or Kordon's Amquel+, as well as a bacteria additive. Also, remember to always quarantine new fish!

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