The Aquarists Guide
To Starting A Home
Marine Mixed
Reef Aquarium
This guide was created
for potential aquarists
who are hoping to
keep their very own
saltwater mixed
reef aquarium.
E-BOOK as low as $37.00

The Aquarists Guide
To Starting A Home
Marine Fish
Only Aquarium
This guide is for
aquarists who are
interested in keeping
a fish only aquarium.
E-BOOK as low as $37.00

New Tank Syndrome

New tank syndrome is the stage in which amonia and nitrite levels rise rapidly because you do not have the adequate concentration of the right types of bacteria.

It will then later on be converted into relatively harmless nitrate.

"New tank syndrome occurs when the water contains high levels of ammonia and nitrite and there are no beneficial bacteria to process it, resulting in fish loss."
- - DrsFosterandSmith.com

"A tank need not be new to go through this break-in process.

That thirty year old metal frame tank you drag out of the attic will cycle just like the sparkling new acrylic one you just bought this afternoon.

Even well established aquariums can become new again in terms of the break-in cycle.

Removing large quantities of bacteria, by changing the aquarium gravel for instance, will cause an old tank to go through another cycle.

Poisoning the bacteria with medicines or shocking them with chlorinated water or sudden temperature changes will also set the cycling process back to day one."
- - - excerp from BestFish.com

You can add some hardy saltwater fish such as damsels popular fish if you are cycling your aquarium. Feed them regularly.

You can also use live rock if you want. Dying matter in the live rock produces the ammonia source that you need.

From start to finish, this cycle usually takes two week to around 30 to 45 days to complete.

If you don't want to wait this long, there's now an option. You can use bacterial additives to take care of the cycling process which will quickly establish a functioning biological filter in your aquarium and will allow you to immediately add fish.

Dr Tim's "One and Only Nitrifying Bacteria"
is one of the product I would greatly recommend for new tank syndrome solution.

It is a bacterial additive developed by Dr. Timothy A. Hovanec, the renowned expert on nitrifying bacteria. Unlike many other bacterial additives, fish can be added immediately after using this product.

It contains species of ammonia- and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria that prefer to live in the aquarium environment.

It will also maintain ammonia and nitrite below toxic concentrations and establish a fully functioning biological filter in much less time than a similar but non-dosed aquarium.

Directions for use:
Shake well before using. Best to use the entire contents at one time. Minimum dose 10 ml (2 capfuls) per 10 gallons. Cannot be overdosed.

Warning:
Do not freeze. Keep out of reach of children.

Dr. Timothy A. Hovanec, creator of Dr. Tim's One and Only, was the Chief Science Officer at Marineland. Dr. Hovanec earned his Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology and holds U.S. and foreign patents for his work with previously unknown nitrifying bacteria and the role they play in tropical fish aquariums.

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