The basics of New Tank Syndrome

[AmberC]

What is New Tank Syndrome?
New tank syndrome is the situation where you have an aquarium with fish, an excess of fish waste, and not enough bacteria to breakdown the waste. When we first set-up our aquarium, it is virtually biologically sterile. When we add fish, we get fish waste. The most important fish waste we have to worry about is ammonia (NH3). Ammonia is poisonous to fish and other aquatic life. Therefore, we must not allow the ammonia to build up to a concentration that is high enough to kill fish. In nature, the ammonia is consumed by bacteria (Nitrosomas). We will use the same bacteria in our tanks to control the ammonia. When the ammonia is consumed, it becomes nitrite (NO2--). The nitrite is still poisonous to the fish. We will need a second bacteria (Nitrobacter) to convert the nitrite to harmless nitrate. The time needed for both bacteria to grow and rid the tank of toxic waste is about 4 to 6 weeks. When the bacteria have grown, the tank is cycled.

What to do about New Tank Syndrome?
The only cure for new tank syndrome is to introduce bacteria to the tank. There are many ways to accomplish this. Adding the bacteria from a bottled source is the easiest way. There are various bottled bacteria on the market that will seed your tank with the needed bacteria (Nitrosomas) so that your tank will cycle faster. Another way is to add used gravel from an already cycled and established tank into your new tank. The more used gravel you add to your tank, the faster it will cycle. A third way to cycle your tank, is to use a dirty filter pad or sponge in your filter. This will serve as a seed bed for the bacteria to spread to the rest of your tank.
Adding bacteria to your tank when there is no fish or ammonia will not cycle your tank. You must remember that the bacteria uses the ammonia as a "food" source; thus, if there is no "food" for the bacteria, they can't grow. Add the bacteria only if there is fish and ammonia in the tank first.
Another helpful hint is to heavily aerate your tank while it is going through its cycle. The bacteria must have enough oxygen to convert the ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate. When there is a lack of oxygen, the time required to cycle your tank goes up. Adding an air pump or another aerating device will help shorten the time needed to cycle your tank.
The bacteria can only grow if the pH of your tank is 5.5 or higher. Below a pH of 5.5, the bacteria are incapable of growing, and thus, your tank will not cycle.
The temperature of the tank's water can also play a role in the time needed to cycle your tank. The optimal temperature for bacterial growth is between 75°F and 84°F. So be sure to have the temperature in the optimal range.