Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle For Dummies

I am starting my first tank a ten gallon freshwater peaceful community tank and i don t really understand how the nitrogen cycle works and what i should be doing to start the cycle.

Aquarium nitrogen cycle for dummies. The nitrogen cycle is a process of establishing colonies of beneficial bacteria which will dissolve toxic compounds into less toxic or completely harmless ones. The natural nitrogen cycle is a full cycle where nitrogen goes from air to plant to animal to bacteria and back to air. The nitrogen cycle refers to the process that takes place in the tank to convert fish waste from toxic to non toxic.

In your aquarium ammonia builds slowly but decreases as it s converted to nitrite. Once established beneficial bacteria will begin converting ammonia into less harmful nitrites. Nitrogen is an important element to all life on earth.

As the waste begins to break down and decay it releases ammonia. In general the nitrogen cycle lasts between 4 and 8 weeks sometimes longer. Your fish eat the food and poop more waste.

I am going to show you how to cycle your aquarium the right way with fishless cycling it s much easier than it looks. Aquarium nitrogen cycle for dummies. Different nitrogen states for nitrogen to be used by different life forms on earth it must change into different states.

Could someone please explain it to me. I ve read a lot about it but am having difficulty. Completing the steps successfully will likely result in early cycle completion.

At one week after setting the tank necessary time for plants to make roots and water to remove dissolved gases first fish can be put in the tank preferably resistant species corry is a good example to start the nitrogen cycle. A healthy aquarium depends greatly on the nitrogen cycle to reduce toxic ammonia into less toxic nitrogen compounds. Such a system needs no human intervention.