Cultivating beneficial bacteria in your aquarium

by Scott Bloomquist

Warnings:
Water and electricity do not mix. Never plug in aquarium equipment unless they are appropriately submerged in water according to their design specifications. Aquariums are extremely heavy when filled with water. Test kits are poisonous if ingested by humans as well as household animals.

Introduction
Cultivating beneficial bacteria in your aquarium is a cornerstone to creating a healthy environment for fish and plants to live. The bacteria help filter the aquariums water. For this function it is also called the biofilter. Cultivating biofilter bacteria must be done before any plants or animals are introduced to the aquarium. A complete aquarium assembly is required to start the bacteria growth and includes the following: Watertight enclosure Gravel Filtration pump Water heater Lights Timer for lights Thermometer

Additionally, two basic test kits (for detecting ammonia and Ph) are needed to measure the water quality as the bacteria grow.

Once these items are assembled, only time and attention to maintenance are required. It will take four to six weeks for the bacteria to grow and establish itself, and its up to you to give it every advantage towards health and maturity. The biofilter and the bacteria that make it are microscopic. For this reason their development must be monitored with the use of the test kits. Also because the biofilter bacteria is not visible to the naked eye, you must follow the procedure diligently, or developmental issues will arise.

Pictured above are kits for testing ammonia and Ph levels. They are just one of many different designs available. Photo courtesy Scott Bloomquist

Warning: test kits contain toxic chemicals. This process is not intended for unsupervised children under the age of 12.

What is cycling?
Cycling describes the normal operation of an aquarium assembly during its daily function. An aquarium is a system that replicates the natural conditions of an underwater ecosystem with the help of artificial filtration, heating, and lighting. The most important of these conditions are the amount of light and heat the environment receives. Too much light and heat are bad. The light cycle can be set using a common household lamp timer. This will create a night and day cycle for the aquariums environment to help nourish the fledgling bacteria and eventually larger inhabitants. The heater that you may have selected for your aquarium might be temperature adjustable. If so, set it to about 25-27C (77-81F) for best results during the initial cycling.

Procedure
Cultivating beneficial bacteria in your aquarium is divided into three stages. The primary step to developing your biofilter bacteria is properly setting up your aquarium assembly, testing the water condition regularly and performing regular maintenance thereafter.

Stage 1, Water Cycling

Developing free-floating bacteria in the water 1. Do not put gravel into the aquarium yet. 2. Allow water to be cycle through the filtration pump, warmed by the heater and shinned on by the light. 3. The cycle of the lighting must exceed six or seven hours. 4. It will take two weeks for free-floating bacteria to develop in the water. 5. Use the Ammonia test kit and the Ph test kit to check the waters condition regularly during this period. Note: Only once the ammonia and Ph levels have dropped below their initial levels is it possible to proceed to the next stage. Remember: the bacteria are microscopic and their presence is only verifiable by using the ammonia and nitrite test kits.

Pictured above is an aquarium during the water cycling stage. It has been filled with water and allowed to run without any gravel, rocks, plant or animal life; giving the bacteria a clean environment to develop and establish itself unhampered. Picture Courtesy Aqua-blog@Flcikr.com

Do not plug in the filter pump, heater or lights before the aquarium is filled with water. Doing so will destroy those components and cause a fire hazard.
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Stage 2, Gravel Cycling

Developing sedimentary bacteria in the gravel Thoroughly rinse gravel before putting it in the cycled water. Do not pour gravel into the aquarium from the surface of the water. Introduce the gravel by taking handfuls to the bottom and spreading it from there; doing so gently and evenly introduces the free-floating bacteria to the gravel. Increase the dose of light to seven or eight hours a day to help the bacteria become established in the gravel. Allow three to six weeks for this stage to develop until introducing anything else. Test the ammonia and Ph levels regularly during this period. When the ammonia and Ph levels are nominal the gravel cycling stage is complete.

Pictured above is an aquarium during its gravel cycling stage. The gravel has been gently spread on its floor and left to cycle with the rest of the equipment. Picture Courtesy Aqua-blog@Flcikr.com

Warning: Adding gravel to an aquarium increases its weight. Make sure the stand or other placement of your aquarium is strong enough to support it.

Stage 3, Maturity
Putting your newly born biofilter bacteria to work Finalize all placements non-living features (rocks, driftwood, etc) before deciding where to put your plants. Introduce plants first and then fish. After making the first plant and fish introductions, allow the aquarium to cycle for three weeks before starting regular maintenance. Feed the fish minimally. Test ammonia and Ph levels regularly during this period.

Pictured below is an aquarium with a newly cultivated biofilter. The plants are vibrant and the water is clear

Picture courtesy Scott Bloomquist

If all the requirements of these stages are diligently fulfilled you should arrive at an aquarium with clear water, brightly colored plants and vigorous fish.

Note: Signs of common water problems include, but are not limited to, milky water, yellow or brown, tea-like water and/or rapid algae growth. If any occur consult your local aquarist society immediately.
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