Most people know that new fish tanks go through a "cycle", and during that cycle fish sometimes die; however, that is as far as most peoples knowledge goes. They don't know why a new fish tank can cause harm to a fish.
When you start a new fish tank it has to go through the nitrogen cycle. There are bacteria that need to grow to make you aquarium a safe place for you fish to live. These bacteria convert ammonia and nitrites which are harmful to fish into nitrates, which are much less harmful. When you introduce a fish into an aquarium without these bacteria the fish has to live with high levels of ammonia and nitrites until the bacteria have multiplied enough to take care of the problem. With a fishless cycle, you can get these beneficial bacteria to multiply before you add in fish.
To start a fishless cycle setup your aquarium just like you would if you were about to add fish. Then, rather then adding fish, add frozen cocktail shrimp (the kind meant for human consumption). You will need to add one shrimp per 10 gallons of aquarium water.
Now you need to test your water daily, or at least every two days. At first you will see ammonia levels climbing. Then ammonia will start to drop and nitrites will go up. Then finally nitrites will start to drop. On the first day your test kits show no ammonia and no nitrites you should do a partial water change and add your fish. These fish will not have to live through a cycling aquarium, because the tank is fully cycled before you add them.
[http://www.yourfirstaquarium.com]
[http://yourfirstaquarium.com/fishless_cycle.html]
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