CYCLING
"THE CYCLE" refers to the establishment of good bacteria in the filter that takes
care of wastes. Cycling describes the time it takes for good bacteria (the
"biobugs") to get established in the filter. Biobugs convert the ammonia fish
produce into nitrates. Ammonia and nitrites are very toxic to fish, nitrates are not
as toxic to fish.
"THE CYCLE"
ammonia --------------------------> nitrite
---------------------->nitrates------------------------->N2
bugs = nitrosomonas nitrobacter plants, algae,
water changes
anaerobic bacteria
When a tank is cycled, the ammonia and nitrite will be zero, the nitrates should be
kept lower than 20 ppm.
STAGES OF CYCLING A TANK
1. Start by checking the pH and hardness to make sure your water is within the
parameters for goldfish. Also check for ammonia, nitrites or nitrates. New tanks
must be "aged" with a brine (salt) solution in a tank overnight. Brine means enough
salt is added that no more will dissolve. An old tank can be bleached (1:10
dilution), followed by extensive rinsing, filled and left overnight with aeration
and some dechlor. Do not set up the tank in south windows or east or west windows
without drapes. Direct sunlight can really overheat the water.
2. The tank is filled with dechlored water, filters are rinsed, the heater (set to
75oF) and airstones are put in the tank, everything plugged into a power strip. 1
teaspoon of salt per 5 gallons of water is added. The water is aged for 24 hours.
3. Get the 2 fish. Follow directions for floating the bag and salt dipping the fish
(brief 30 second to 1 minute). Add 1 tablespoon of clean dirt (dirt where pesticides
havent been used) to a cup of the tank water, cap and shake it and pour this thru a
filter back into the tank. This will inoculate the filter with the good bacteria.
This can be repeated every couple of days. Feed the fish about 1/2 of normal during
the cycling period.
4. Every 24 hours after putting the fish in, test the water for ammonia and
nitrites. If either are greater than the first indication shown on the kit, change
as much water as necessary until there is only a hint of either showing. You do not
want your fish exposed to much ammonia or nitrites. This will further stress an
already stressed fish.
If there is no place to put an aging vat, then add the correct amount of dechlor to
the water and run the water in. Then check the water to make sure there is no
chlorine in the tank. When the nitrites show up, the cycle is 1/2 way there. Within
a day or two, the ammonia should drop to zero.
On the second and third days, add another 1 teaspoon of salt per 5 gallons. Test for
salt using the test kit. Replace salt as water changes are done. Testing for salt
prevents "salt creep". Salt lessens the toxicity of ammonia and nitrites.
5. After a week, start checking for nitrates and the appearance of algae. These
signal that the cycle is nearly complete. Water changes must be done to make sure
there are no nitrites. At this point, you can gradually increase feeding the fish to
normal levels.
The cycle is sensitive to medications, so it is better if only one fish is sick and
needs treatment to move the fish to a bucket and treat them there. See bucket to
bucket.
6. As nitrates increase and the feeding is normal, water should be tested to find out
how quickly after a partial water change it rises to 20 ppm. The water will then
need to have a partial water change.
Its only a dam goldfish not some irreplaceable item for gods sake.
Treating it and the price of water is worth more than the dumb fish,
so just flush it already and get on with your pityfull wastefull
life. Only fools would pay attention to a FAQ in these groups
anyhow. Yet more reasons why these so called idiots are idiots since
they like to dictate everything.
Ya really think so TYNK? You must be pulling that new dick of y ours
as well as any other dick you can find and going blind.You deleted
nothing. Fucking moron
Roy Hauer is even a failure at being troll.
One huge failure!
But you still rate as the number #1 cocksucker in
BLoomington..........YOur momma taught you well. Is your old hubby
still sliding it up your sons backside and keeping with "Family
Tradition"? Bunch of perverts for sure.
Oh your so fucking owned TYNK..........
>
> Oh your so fucking owned TYNK..........
LOL....
Ok Roy.
What ever you want to tell yourself to get through your sad, pathetic
little life.
Oh, you forgot the "meltdown" comment too.
Do you have a list of re-run comments that you go down when doing your
trolling habits?
You've done all the same routines, and made the exact same comments
for years now. Even with different target people too.
So I had to wonder, do you have a list that you go down...Oh lets
see....I'll with the "I own you" comments today. Tomorrow I'll do the
"meltdown" comments...etc.
Just pathetic Roy.
Do you even read what you write?
It's all the exact same comments year after year.
It's the same forgeries, year after year.
Absolutely pathetic.
Do you have a list of re-run comments that you go down when doing your
trolling habits?
You've done all the same routines, and made the exact same comments
for years now. Even with different target people too.
So I had to wonder, do you have a list that you go down...Oh lets
see....I'll with the "I own you" comments today. Tomorrow I'll do the
"meltdown" comments...etc.
Just pathetic Roy.
And now starts the lazy reprinting of old posts...........
Yeah, that's on the list of routines too isn't it Roy.
Same old lame crap.
Pathetic.
How's your goldfish doing now?
(pay no attention to troll who impersonates my screen name)
FUCK a GOD DAM GOLDFISH
I won't quote what the impostor wrote.
That's what a troll does. Says mean things in order to make you mad.
Stupid, and pathetic.
Obviously Roy Hauer doesn't know anything about Goldfish.
These fish become quite tame, and can live up to 20 years.
How's the Goldfish doing?
Roy,\Do you even know anything about Goldies?
No but I know about your deviant habits TYNK.............your a
fucking pervertewd old tranny, no get along and go suck those little
boys pee pees likek you always talk abloiut doing, you pedo shemale
faggot
Right Roy. You know nothing about Goldfish. So you have no real reason
to post anything here.
So go play with this tranny Mama of yours that lives in Bloomington,
IL.