Mar 27, 2023
Nitrogen cycle in aquariums
When an aquarium is cycled, there are colonies of beneficial bacteria established that help to filter waste and toxic compounds.
Ammonia and nitrite are very harmful, but they will naturally occur when a fish is present (through fish food and waste). This is why it's important that there are enough bacteria established that can quickly consume and convert ammonia and nitrite.
In a cycled aquarium, ammonia and nitrite levels should be 0 and nitrate levels should be low. Regular water changes are still necessary for removing excess nitrates and maintaining water quality.
The process of cycling an aquarium can take several weeks before it is safe to add fish.