How to CYCLE your AQUARIUM: Nitrogen Cycle EXPLAINED 

I have looked everywhere for a simple/straight to the point video on the nitrogen cycle and the chemicals of a fish tank (im a fish tank virgin) and this was exactly what I needed. Thanks for the video.

Super helpful. Being a beginner there is so much to learn. Your videos are helping me out big time.

brilliant. Makes miles more sense. Dumping in a swimming pool is what I cant understand better lol

Ya nitrite does not break down ammonia. and nitrate does not break down nitrite. Bacteria coverts the chemicals.

Hi thanks so much for the video! When you say “get some media from an established tank” what exactly would the media be? Like a used filter from the established tank? Thanks

Out of all the videos I watched... You are the only person who I understand lmao thank you 😂💩🦟

Thank you brother for the simplified version. No trash talks. understood the process completely with many options to proceed with.

Lol the visual of 25 people shitting in a pool then going for a swim. Ahhhh! ;)

Great info bro planted tank looks amazing awesome video

I really like your videos more specifically your style of videos; informative, ego-free, and very empathetic. I just subscribed and hope to see more of good stuff. Thanks for the amazing uploads!

just got a job at a petstore, the person coaching me on animal care told me when i asked about what i should dig into to prepare myself, he said "learn about the nitrogen cycle", thank you for breaking this down for me, i will use this information at my new job absolutely you have helped me alot.

Your videos are the best. Of the hours of research I've done I've pretty much followed yours to set up my first low tech. Probably because your from Mass #patsforthewin

I’ve been in the hobby over 20 years yet here I sit and watch this video. Good straight to the point explanation

nice quick and to the point. seeding the tank is the way to go. using fish can be pretty harmless if using seachem prime or safe it detoxifies ammonia and nitrite for 24 hrs. adding daily would prevent the harsh conditions of a cycling tank.

So I'm trying to get a tank ready for an axolotl and I have a black moor goldfish if I put him in there that should help establish it?

Love the shirt. I've had good luck with seachem stability to kick start a cycle, though like you I'm now at a point where I have no shortage of used media. Multiple tank syndrome in full effect.

I am getting someone in the hobby. Thank you for still having this up.

What exactly do you mean by media? Like a scoop of water from someone else’s tank? If I have a 20 gallon tank, how much media will I need to start it?

So I’m new to this and have a mixture of 7 shrimp 2 zebra loaches, and a butterfly loache with live plants. They all get along perfectly fine. I just had a Nitrite spike. I did a half tank change. It’s been 4 days short of a month, does that mean it’s cycled ?

Wow! Love the straight forward explanation of swimming in waste! Good video. Thanks 👍

Hi :) Great video! When doing the fish food method of starting up the ammonia, do I wait until I see an ammonia spike before adding the beneficial bacteria starter, so to feed and not starve the beneficial bacteria?Approximately how much fish food do I need to add daily in order to start up the ammonia? Also, when cycling the tank, do I wait to do a water change until I see a nitrate spike? How much water do I remove from a 10 gallon tank, so not to disturb the new cycle? While cycling my new tank, can I run my filter with carbon floss with filter floss? Thank you so much.

I just want to say that I’m almost done cycling my aquarium WITHOUT fish and it took me TWO WHOLE months. Both my ammonia and nitrites are at 0 now and I just have to make sure they stay that way for a few more days before I’m ready to add fish :)

Hopefully you can help me on my question. Could you use a cold fish tank's media and then place that in to a tropical fresh water tank to begin the cycle?

Your video is awesome! But I have a question , how do you know the cycle started, and some api quick start product said we can add the fish immediately after we use it, it is reliable ?

These are the fish I want for my 50 gallon. Cherry barb school Gold barb school Swordtail school Zebra danios school Red tail shark or Peter Elephant nose as my centerpiece. What are your thoughts? I know its probably too many fish for tank size

Thanks Mike! I am glad that I am not the only impatient one that can't stand an empty tank. I load up extra bio media so there is an overabundance in my tanks just waiting.

Okay so I had a tank with only an African Dwarf frog I was planning to get some more frogs and maybe a snail but sadly the frog died (I think it was from old age I did the best I could as a beginner and he was 4 or more years old when I got him from a friend when I got him he died 3 months in they live an average of 5 years) he didn’t have any obvious signs of disease but I cleaned everything anyway but kept my live plants. I’m thinking of getting guppies will the live plants carry any disease? Can guppies even get diseases from African dwarf frogs?So I’ve put water in the tank my old plants and some frozen brine shrimp how long should I wait? Will this work for cycling my tank?

I’m a beginner bought a fish tank 2 days ago.. I’m using seachem stability to start a cycle I was told to keep using it for two weeks before adding fish ?

Great topic and great video. This is something all aquarist should know.

Great video, man. You provided all the information that I needed in a clear and concise manner. Subscribed!

Hi Mike, I'm setting up a new tank and had a few questions for you....I have an Aquaclear 50 running sponge on the bottom, then polyfilter pad, then chemipure, followed lastly by biomax. How does this setup sound? Also, can I still cycle my tank with the polyfilter in place since it removes ammonia?!? Thanks!

Dude I just got so much knowledge from this video, very simple and straight forward. Love your content man keep em coming.

Doing a fish in cycle adding microbe lift special blend and microbe lift nite ii should I do daily water changes. Most people say I should whilst others say it delays the cycle. In the past I always used filter media from established tank but no longer have that option

I've been thinking of making basically the same video! I've still got 2 tanks left in the fishroom that have been cycling for weeeeks and its just not going anywhere. One of them showed an ammonia drop and a rise in nitrites but then the cycle crashed for some reason and I'm back to square one!

so if i set up a new planted tank. and add some cheap goldfish. is that ok . while i concentrate one growing and feeding my plants

What kind of gravel did you use in the tank in the background ??

So....what do you recommend as "media" from an existing tank? Existing tank we inherited is 10 gallon. Bought a new 29 gallon starter kit. Put water in, put water conditioner in to clear chlorine, put fish in after a few hours.....they started dropping like flies. What do you recommend media wise and quantity from old tank to new tank to kick start stuff and how long should I wait before introducing fish again? Maybe a day and then a couple hardies to fish cycle? Thanks!

I have a 10gallon planted tank but with only gravel no substrate, with heater, with submersible air pump filter started with fish in cycling with 2 guppies both of them died after 4 days. I then decided to do fishless cycling then I realised ammonia source required so i again brought 2 x black spot barb fishes but they didnt' look great so i put them in a water tub and decided to do fishless cycling with tank since 1 week. I put 2 x raw uncooked prawn to get ammonia spike the seachem alert reads ammonia 0.5 ppm it reach here gradually day by day in last 7 days. I am also putting seachem stability as per dosage required since 7 days still no trace of nitrite. I didnt do any water changes since 1 week but before that for almost 1 week i did 2 times water changes almost 50%. What would i be doing wrong? I kept temperature 79F initially first week now in 2nd week i kept temp at 86F. Can you help ? My Gh0, Kh 180,

This was a great explanation from the first second with the shitting in a swimming pool and going for a swim 🤣 def speaking in my language.

I’m from Massachusetts and I understood everything you said man, thanks for the info!!

How soon should I see nitrites when using a nitrifying bacteria and ammonia (dr Tim’s) on day 8 and still 0ppm?

Just bought an aquarium today. Nice video for beginners. Subscribed.

So helpful I had a rough understanding but this helped a lot was think about using a canister of the bacteria and use ammonia in a bottle is this ok to do and is there any thing I should know before using this method

So I'm buying a used 20 gallon tank that already has like 2 small plants some driftwood gravel a sponge filter and a HOB filter I want to replace the gravel with sand but I can wait until it's cycled out if that'd be better, anyways my question is would all these things with benefitial bacteria be good for cycling out the tank? I'm completely new to keeping fish and I want to make sure I do everything to the best of my ability so my fish don't suffer from it when I finally get some fish

I have a new 11 gal tank, can i just place in a new filter, heater, gravel plants and decholrinated water and let it sit for a 2 weeks to a month to get it cycled?

Good video. How about adding api quick start additive they hsve beneficial good bacteria ready to go, what are your thoughts on using g an api type product? Thanks

Mass, I got an fx4 on a 18x18x18 cube 25 gallon planted tank w co2 paintball tank and air stones, 10 fish (4 are guppies, 4 are glow fish, 2 Dalmatian mollies) I’m on week 3 and still no nitrate. Ammonia is fairly low but definitely present. Nitrite either. Doing 30% water changes once a week, feeding fish lightly twice a day. Do you think this fx4 is messing with the cycle since it’s so powerful for a 25 gallon? I also added carbon media bags and extra biological media into the canister filter.

Loving your videos! Thanks for sharing and giving great info that's applicable across the board from beginner to advanced!

Hello my question is i put a shrimp on my tank to cycle 3 days later this are the result Ammonia 2.0ppm Nitrite 0.50 ppm Nitrate 10 ppm Is good or bad?

I wanna set up my old 55 gallon again. I currently have my betta in a 10 gallon with a sponge filter. If I squeeze the sponge into the 55 gallon the next water change I do, Will it still be as hard on the fish if I do a fish cycle? Maybe add a little bit of Stress Zyme as well.

I just got 6 black moors in my 55 gal tank and I got it on 2/20/16 and it sat for like about 2 months until I had money left over to get fish as of 4/23/16 I got the fish and I vaccumed it out before I put the moors in and then tested it my readings were pH: 7.2, ammonia: 0, nitrate: 5, nitrite: 0.1. I called the store called Rick's Fish & Pet Supply told the person my reading and she said that was fine and I could put them in the tank but your levels are low because you have no good bacteria in tank so she said once you have the fish in there for four months without me doing anything except feeding them you levels should go up and then you can do a water change. What are your guys opinion about this???

Ok mate. I’m setting up a 162 uk gallon tank in a couple of weeks time. Already have a fx6 running on my other tank. If I put that on the new tank would I be able to put fish in straight away till the sump gets beneficial bacteria built up

I have just started cycling a juwel 400 tank with an FX6 pump which has media in from a previously established tank plus the tank has bogwood in from said previous established tank.The fish are currently in a smaller tank until ready to move over,so would you suggest rinsing out the dirty sponges from the smaller tank into the new tank aswell? And adding seachem prime and stability? Any advice appreciated

Once I set up my tank, can I throw in frozen blood worms? Will that spark the Nitrogen Cycle?

Good day, I am a complete beginner in aquariums and want to start this hobby. When i buy a brand new tank and accessories, can i get some water from the fish store, spill into the aquarium, fill the aquarium with dechorinated water, let it cycle for 2 days and then add fishes. Is this a good way to cycle a tank ? Please advise as i am confused about the nitrogen cycle and dont know how to start an aquarium with cycled water. Thank You Saeed

Is it okay to add ammonia to your tank with live plants while your cycling a tank? I’m only asking because I’ve heard it’s fatal to fish but what about plants??

I just started a 75 g 6 days ago, I have an aqueous 75 and a fluval 406 running, ph @ 7.6, temp @ 79.2. I put a little fish food in day 2 and nothing happened with ammonia, yesterday I threw a 1" by 2" piece of salmon in tank and today I'm reading a .50 ppm ammonia. Do I need to add anymore once the nitrites begin, or just leave it alone? And by the way, very good video!

Is there anything wrong with using plants to cycle? I have a ten gallon that will be moderately planted. I only plan on getting 8-10 neon tetras and later a few cherry shrimp. I've read some posts that say the plants will hinder completion of the nitrogen cycle...but if the plants are dealing with the ammonia load, are there any cons to this method? Will bacteria grow off any excess nitrogen?

I currently have a 10 gallon tank with plants (Not a planted tank) and 5 gouramis. I am currently working on a 40 gallon planted tank. Can I use the filter medium from my 10 gallon whisper filter to help start the cycle of the 40? Its a mechanical filter with a carbon medium.

I am probably going to get a lot of hate for this but what if you have a betta and you didn’t know about how long the nitrogen cycle takes what can I do to save my betta I’ve had him for two weeks and he’s still looking healthy today I bought a testing kit and hopefully all goes well but if my water tests badly what should I do to save my betta I only have one tank.

I don't understand what is media???? plus if I only add some ammonia in the tank how much days will it take to cycle and after how many days I should add the fish

Love the video. I hope you still answer questions. How long will the water stay cloudy? I started a new 29 gallon tank, was unaware of the bacteria requirements, and fish died almost immediately. Now I'm waiting a week. Just curious about the cloudiness.

Hey i just for my 240 liter juwel aquarium. how do u think i will stsrt my cycle? and how long shoud i wait befor start adding fishes?

Can I use pond water to cycle my tank? I have a pond that had about 9 koi in it during summer and fall, but now it is winter and I am putting the same fish in a large tank in my basement. As they will freeze, I do not have time to wait. Can I take water from my pond and just pour it into my tank to cycle it?

In order to cycle the aquarium, do the substrate and decorations need to be there or can they be added later? And how much ammonia should be dropped to start the cycle? Thank you :)

When doing the shrimp thing, how much water should i change when im taking them out? all of it? i have a 5 gallon tank

About how much "media" should I borrow from another friends tank, I have a 20 gallon tank I'm planning on setting up this weekend. Thanks!

How much of a water change would I do with the shrimp trick?

I'm planning on doing a combination of cycling methods and hope it works - I set up my new tank and put in fish food, hot dog pieces and beef pieces in a bag and stuck it in my tank (I didn't have access to raw prawns or other fish lol). My ammonia spiked to 1ppm. I have since taken out the food out cause it was getting stinky and replaced it with cooked chicken. My ammonia today was at 2ppm! Tomorrow I will go buy a raw prawn (or shrimp, as you americans call them), and use that instead of the chicken. I'm also planning to insert sponges from another cycled tank that I put in there for this exact purpose approx. 2-3 weeks ago that will have bacteria colonised on them, and take some gravel from the same tank. I'm also adding bottled bacteria once to twice a day. I hope this combination works. To have ammonia go from 0 to 2ppm in 4 days without any fish I think is a good thing. Just waiting for nitrates to show up now. My tank is so cloudy from the bacterial bloom I can't even see the decorations inside it!

I just set up my first planted tank in a 20 long. Just have 1 plant in right now. If i pull my filter out of my 10 gallon and put it in my 20 long how long before i can add fish? Week should be good? Thanks i love your vids

I'm a complete beginner to the fish hobby, so sorry if this is a stupid question 😅 I got myself a 50 liter aquarium (like a 13 gallons if I'm not wrong) and I decided I'm gonna do a fishless cycle to get everything going, using added ammonia. I also plan to have living plants in it. However, I keep looking at videos but the ones that visually show you how to do it (not many) they add the plants when the tank is finnished cycling. Do I have to wait with the plants or can I cycle my tank with them in place? Does it matter? I mean, I can wait a bit before adding fish but I would like to get started with the plants right away 😳

So I have this new topfin 10 gallon saltwater tank with dry rock, live sand, and reef crystals (sea salt). If I add topfin bacteria starter how long do you suggest to wait before I add a fish or corals?

I a question first week of fishless cycle with a shrimp My reading are Annmonia 0.50 ppm Nitritre 5.0ppm Nitrates 80 ppm Is good or bad

Hi! Thank you for an informative video. I am a newbie when it comes to this hobby. Bought an aquarium already and planning to have it aquascape with live plants. My newbie question is:During the fishless nitrogen cycle process, should we clean the tank and change water?

Ok sounds good. Thanks for the response. Can I cycle my tank with the polyfilter pad in, or should I remove it til the cycle is complete?

Quick question I have a 65 gallon fish tank fake plants and on the tips of the leaves I keep getting this brown stuff on there what is it

I just got a new 10 gal tank. I have everything in it (heater, filter, rocks, hood lights, decorations). I put some API Stress Coat+ (for slime and dechlorination), and ReadiStart Nitrifying Bacteria. There are no fish in this right now. I tested the ammonia is 0.15 - 0.25 ppm and the Nitrite is 0 and the Nitrate is

Thank you for your channel it has been really helpful! I just want to make sure that I'm doing everything right, I am totally new to the fish world..... I have a 30 gallon tank with a filter and a heater that has been running for 3 weeks with nothing in it. I did add a bacteria supplement 15 minutes after I conditioned the water. I added driftwood and tested the water today. The PH is between 7.6 and 8.0, the Ammonia is at 0.25ppm, Nitrite and Nitrate are both at 0. I ordered live plants, moss, marimo balls, shrimp, and snails which should be arriving next week. Do you think I should add fish before the shrimp and snails arrive? Did I order the shrimp and snails too soon? I added Prime to neutralize the Ammonia. Was that the right thing to do? Thanks in advance!

This is such a late comment but I need an answer. I've had my tank for three months and completely forgot about the whole cycling part. If I do a fish cycle will it kill some of my not so hardy fish?

This is really helpful to me. But my tank has been cloudy for a few days with molly fish and I'm not sure what the cause is. My pH, and nitrate levels seem to be okay. I'm new to this 😦

Hey Mike, I'm doing a fish cycle and currently my ammonia is good, but nitrites and nitrates are high. Does this mean its finished cycling? What do i do to finish it off? Should i just do some big water changes to lower the levels and wrap it up?

How to know if nitrogen cycle is completed? Should setup the tank with All the equipments and do the cycle? With just ammonia , can we cycle? Im confused and how long it takes to cycle

Yeah. So I messed up and set up a planted tank without knowing this information. Needless to say, my tetras are dying by the day. So, in regards to the dead tetras should I leave them in the tank while it cycles or should I take them out?

while most people will say that aquarium is crowded - i like the look and peaceful activity

thanks for you quick replies. I was able to get a rock and Birchwood from another tank. how long will it take to cycle 38 gallon tank?

Hey all! I'm looking into getting my first fish tank. Still am kinda confused as to why it takes so long to cycle. I don't have access to any media and am unsure how long it would take to cycle using ammonia. What are your thoughts on the bacteria boosters you can purchase? Also, any thoughts on how I could expedite the process with no media?

what do you think of quick start additives? can they really cut down on cycling time?

You are my new favorite, you explain things so well and easy to understand! TY, Hey for my first tank can I put plants in at least to wait for cycle?

Do media last forever? Or do I have to change my media like I would change a filter or a sponge after it's been used for a while?

I know this video have been here for years but I have a question(first timer) ..let the water sit for weeks or days then add the fish, right? Should I change the water or not?

Hi Mike I'm setting up a 240L new tank after my old one cracked (nightmare), anyway, , My old tank was running with an established canister filter, which is still running looking after my fish in a make shift set up while I got the new tank My plan is to set up my new tank with plants and all, no fish, cycle it overnight with the filter that comes with the tank (juwel). Water will be added through a two pod water purifier with 125ml of aqua safe added to the tank, just to be sure water is good The following day, set up my canister filter on my new tank, and then add the fish after mixing the water slowly over 2hrs as you Would do with new fish I'm thinking because the canister is established, and the new water is good, then everything should work well Do you think this is ok, or am I missing something? The canister is running bioholme mini ultra with foam pre filtering. (I will be adding bioholme mini ultra to my juwel filter later also, so I can add plenty of fish later). Royston

I have a 40 gallon tank that I'm upgrading to a 90 gallon. I have three filters running on that 40 gallon witch I'm transfering over. I also bought an extra filter for the 90 gallon. I've already put some of the new media from the new filter in my 40 gallon to start building bacteria. What else can I do before setting up the 90 gallon and how soon can I transfer my fish? One more thing before I move my fish I do plan on taking one of the 3 filters in my 40 gallon and the media from the new filter that I have started in the 40 gallon to start the new 90 gallon. Once I move everything over I will also move the 2 other filters along with the fish. How long should I run the new tank before transfering the fish and the other 2 filters?

My friends do not have fish, what should I do? Should I add Aquarium bacteria? Or ammonia is aquarium bacteria?

With the old media(since I have a tank that i want to upgrade) or the shrimp version, how long after do you put your fish in, and how many times do you have to change the water?

What do you mean by 'media' exactly? That sounds like the best method for me as I have lots of stores near me, but I'm not sure what I'd be asking for. Thanks!

I uses drift wood to cycle my tank that I put into an already cycled tank the drift wood has holes in it to act as a benificial bacteria colony surface and let it sit for months with more drift wood I did the same to instead of cycled tank fillter media

Just a question, Will I have to add fish food everyday or at what intervals should I be adding the fish food?

Good video. Could have covered how to check if fish tank is cycled and also water change precautions after the tank is cycled

just a few drops of ammonia, 1 day before you add your fish is all you truly need, i tend to add a mix of chlorela and isocrysis 3/1, 12ml per litre. Thats all you really need maybe a lamp could help as well, keep those plants healthy, thats all

What fish is the the ones you used to make amonia. What’s the name of the fish you used to do fish cycle???