The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle for beginners

The Aquarium Nitrogen Cycle

Great article explaining how to get an aquarium up & running based on ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and ph levels:

"Test your aquarium water every other day and write down your readings. You will first see ammonia levels rising. A few weeks or so later you should see the nitrite levels rising and the ammonia levels dropping. Finally, after a few more weeks you should see the nitrate levels rising and the nitrite levels dropping. When you no longer detect ammonia or nitrites but you can detect nitrates you can assume that it is safe to add your tropical fish."

You can start the Nitrogen Cycle without fish:

Either
a) feed the tank by dropping fish food flakes in every 12 hours
b) drop 2x1 inch chunk of raw fish or shrimp in the tank
c) use 100% pure ammonia (5 drops per 10 gallons of water)
d) use gravel from an established tank
e) Colonize by Dr. Foster & Smith or Biospira by Marineland or SeaChem's Stability

Add one-two fish at a time & wait a few weeks before adding more.