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s Ru fu Adding StressZyme or Cycle will add beneficial bacteria to your aquarium. Stage three: General In this final stage of the cycle, Nitrobacter bacteria convert the nitrites into nitrates. Your tank is fully cycled once nitrates are being produced Nitrates are not highly toxic to fish in low to moderate levels. Routine partial water changes will keep the nitrate levels within the safe range. You are now free to gradually add more fish and plants in safe levels (and ammonia and nitrite levels are zero). to create a beautiful and rewarding aquarium. The table below represents a typical tank cycling process: Live aquatic plants in established tanks will also aid in keeping your nitrate levels within a safe range. The buildup of toxins in the cycle Testing and monitoring your tank and fish health at this critical stage will make the start of your fish keeping journey a manageable one. • Don’t be tempted to add more fish until the cycle is completed of your tank water into Animates in a clean, soap-free • Don’t change the biological filter media – the Make sure that the temperature on your tank is • Don’t overfeed the fish – when in doubt underfeed your fish. Remember that anything going into the tank will produce wastes one way or another • Don’t try to alter the pH – the beneficial bacteria can be affected by changes in pH. Unless there is a serious problem with the pH, leave it alone during Stage two: During this stage Nitrosomonas bacteria will develop and oxidise the ammonia, thus eliminating it. However, the by-product of ammonia oxidation is nitrite, which is also highly toxic to fish. the start up cycle process. Ammonia (NH3) 50 Nitrite (NO2) 40 Nitrate (NO3) 30 20 NO2 10 Test kit with ammonia, pH, nitrite & nitrate test strips Hardy fish • Begin testing one week after adding the fish Tank set up • Continue testing every second or third day, seemingly gasping for air take immediate action. If levels are elevated or fish seem distressed, perform 40 Substrate Filtration as rapid breathing or hanging near the surface 30 Beneficial bacteria such as Cycle or StressZyme Test for nitrites: If at any time fish show signs of distress, such Days Gravel syphon • 20 50 Recommended supplies: Stage two – what to do: until it reaches zero Water NO3 Change NH3 0 Nitrite usually begins rising by the end of the first or second cycling week. 60 10 beneficial bacteria are growing there. Don’t disturb them until they have become well established vessel and we will test it for you. holding at 25ºC in your tropical tank. Mg/Litre What not to do It is best to have a test kit at home or bring a sample The Nitrogen Cycle Fish food Ammo Lock or Prime (optional) AquaPlus or StressCoat. Using a test kit at home is the easiest way to monitor your aquarium’s health, and keep your fish happy. an immediate 25-50% water change and test daily until levels drop. www.animates.co.nz Ru fu 6763 ANI Nitrogen Cycle FA.indd 1 s 4/5/09 9:12:19 AM Fish respiration The nitrogen cycle is a necessary process that every new tank must go through. It’s a chain of biological reactions that produce chemical results and it all starts with fish / plant waste. The Nitrogen Cycle Stages of the nitrogen cycle There are three stages of the nitrogen cycle Nitrosomonas bacteria removes ammonia to produce AMMONIA NITRITE NITRITE Excess food Fish excrement & urine Plant remnants Nitrobacter bacteria removes nitrite to produce NITRATE NITRATE Stage one: The cycle begins when a bacterial food source (ammonia) is introduced to the aquarium. Faeces, urine and/or decaying food are quickly broken Toxic gases PLANT FERTILIZER ANAEROBIC BACTERIA down into either ionised or unionised ammonia. The ionised form, Ammonium (NH4), is present if the pH is below 7, and is not toxic to fish. The unionised form, Ammonia (NH3), is present if the Introduction There are a number of different names for the process that is the nitrogen cycle: Not allowing your new tank to go through this cycling pH is 7 or above, and is highly toxic to fish. process is the biggest contributor to fish loss. Any amount of unionised Ammonia (NH3) is dangerous. Understanding the process and how to deal with it will Ammonia usually begins rising by the third day after greatly increase success and enjoyment in your fish introducing fish. • Start up cycle • Breaking in cycle • Biological cycle • Nitrification cycle • Cycling There are a few ways to kick off the nitrogen • New tank cycling. cycling on your tank: Testing for Ammonia: This is a necessary process that every new tank Firstly set up your new tank (read “Setting up your • must go through. It is a chain of biological reactions New Aquarium” care sheet). that produce chemical results and it all starts with fish / plant waste. All living creatures produce waste products, these keeping journey. How to kick off the cycling process Stage one – what to do The key for success at this stage is testing the water for ammonia and taking action quickly when problems occur. Start testing on third day after adding your fish and continue daily until your ammonia levels begin to drop Then introduce the following: • • Continue every second day until your ammonia level reaches zero Introduce 2 – 3 fish – there are some species that are hardier than others and can tolerate the process nitrogenous products naturally break down into • Watch your fish closely during this time, if at a little better. Zebra Danios, Catfish or Barbs (for any stage you notice signs of distress such as tropical tanks) or Comets (for coldwater tanks). But rapid breathing or gilling, clamped fins, erratic In nature, the volume of water per fish is very high make sure that you are treating your issues vigilantly swimming or gasping at the surface for air, take but in your household aquarium it is not, so the water as you don’t want your fish to be overly stressed at immediate steps to eliminate the problem. chemistry must be controlled in order for your fish to any time – remember your water may look clear and live healthy lives. clean but to a fish it can be a toxic wasteland ammonia. Ammonia even in low levels is toxic to fish. Cycling the tank refers to the process of establishing A product such as Ammo Lock or Prime will immediately detoxify your ammonia levels or do a Filtration and the addition of beneficial bacteria 25% water change to dilute the ammonia levels. beneficial bacterial colonies in the tank that convert found in products such as Cycle or StressZyme Add AquaPlus or StressCoat to the water. harmful ammonia to nitrite and then nitrate. This will aid in the breakdown of toxins. Follow the process can take 5 to 7 weeks (in tropical tanks and instructions on the label. even a little longer in cold water tanks) to sustain a full biological load, so patience and vigilance are required. 6763 ANI Nitrogen Cycle FA.indd 2 NITRATE BUILDUP • AquaPlus or StressCoat – these products both protect fish by replacing their natural protective mucus coating Armed with an understanding of how the nitrogen cycle and contribute to a positive sedating effect against stress works and knowing the proper steps to take, you can related to transportation, handling and introduction. sail through the break-in cycle with very few problems. Follow the instructions on the label. 4/5/09 9:12:21 AM