Fish in Cycling
If you already have your fish, you will need to complete a fish in cycle. The preferred way is to perform daily water changes and dose with a product which will convert ammonia, nitrite and nitrate into a less toxic form, whilst still feeding the nitrifying bacteria and protecting your fish. Seachem Prime will do this and is very economical, Amquel plus is another option. This lasts 24 hours, do testing and redosing is necessary.
Most dechlorinators won't convert ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. In this case, perform 50% daily water changes until your cycle is complete. You can't allow the levels to rise as by the following instructions. These must only be followed if you have a neutralising product.
What you will need:
☆ Seachem Prime / Amquel plus, or any conditioner which neutralises ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
☆ Liquid test kit. I recommend the API Freshwater Master test kit, but any liquid kit will work well. Avoid the strips as they're highly inaccurate (and much more expensive in the long run).
Most dechlorinators won't convert ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. In this case, perform 50% daily water changes until your cycle is complete. You can't allow the levels to rise as by the following instructions. These must only be followed if you have a neutralising product.
What you will need:
☆ Seachem Prime / Amquel plus, or any conditioner which neutralises ammonia, nitrite and nitrate.
☆ Liquid test kit. I recommend the API Freshwater Master test kit, but any liquid kit will work well. Avoid the strips as they're highly inaccurate (and much more expensive in the long run).
Step by step Guide
☆ 1. Test your water daily for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate and dose Prime every 24 hours. As we have fish in the tank, all levels should be monitored closely throughout. When you see your ammonia reading (usually within a day with Goldfish!), your cycle is under way.
☆ 2. Allow your ammonia to rise. Once it hits 0.5ppm, start double dosing Prime every 24hours.
☆ 3. When your ammonia levels hit 1ppm, perform a 50% water change (which will lower the ammonia to 0.5ppm), dose with Prime and monitor daily and perform a 50% water change whenever you hit 1ppm ammonia. You will soon see your nitrites begin to rise.
☆ 4. As your nitrites rise, continue double dosing Prime. In the same way as the ammonia, allow the nitrites to rise to 1ppm and perform a 50% water change and repeat. Neither Ammonia or nitrite should be allowed to rise above 1ppm throughout the cycle.
☆ 5. Continue monitoring your levels and performing water changes as necessary. You will soon see your ammonia drop to 0ppm, your nitrites starting to decrease and your nitrates beginning to rise. If your nitrates reach 30ppm, perform a 50% water change.
☆ 6. Your cycle is complete when you have 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites and a reading of nitrates.
Continue to monitor closely for the first few weeks as your cycle establishes.
☆ 2. Allow your ammonia to rise. Once it hits 0.5ppm, start double dosing Prime every 24hours.
☆ 3. When your ammonia levels hit 1ppm, perform a 50% water change (which will lower the ammonia to 0.5ppm), dose with Prime and monitor daily and perform a 50% water change whenever you hit 1ppm ammonia. You will soon see your nitrites begin to rise.
☆ 4. As your nitrites rise, continue double dosing Prime. In the same way as the ammonia, allow the nitrites to rise to 1ppm and perform a 50% water change and repeat. Neither Ammonia or nitrite should be allowed to rise above 1ppm throughout the cycle.
☆ 5. Continue monitoring your levels and performing water changes as necessary. You will soon see your ammonia drop to 0ppm, your nitrites starting to decrease and your nitrates beginning to rise. If your nitrates reach 30ppm, perform a 50% water change.
☆ 6. Your cycle is complete when you have 0ppm ammonia, 0ppm nitrites and a reading of nitrates.
Continue to monitor closely for the first few weeks as your cycle establishes.
Bottled Bacteria
The other option is using a chemical cycling product. This is NOT RECOMMENDED. It is stressful for the fish and can result in sickness and potential fatality. I recommend a fish less cycle (or fish in with Prime if you already have fish). The bottled bacteria method is really not suitable for Goldfish. It puts them at risk and is very stressful. Whilst bottled can be successful, Goldfish produce too much waste for this to be a suitable option.