Guides
Short, plain-language answers to the questions that come up while cycling a first tank.
Is my tank cycled? How to tell for sure
A tank is cycled when its bacteria turn a full dose of ammonia into nitrate within a day. Here is how to check that with an ordinary test kit, and which signs can fool you.
3 min read
How long does it take to cycle a fish tank?
Usually 4 to 8 weeks. The exact time depends on temperature, pH and how you feed the bacteria — and you only know it’s done when the tests say so.
3 min read
Ammonia dosing calculator
How much ammonia to add to reach about 2 ppm. Works with liquid ammonia of known strength, and with powder or bottles of unknown strength through one quick test.
3 min read