procédure-de-cyclage-rapide

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Cycling: what is it?

Cycling consists of preparing the water before the fish arrive in the fish tanks. The goal is to promote the development and establishment of the bacteria needed to break down your fish’s future waste. This creates a virtuous cycle for aquaponics growing.

Note: In bioponics, these same bacteria will break down organic fertilizers into nutrients for your plants.

Cycling is a process that must be followed regularly and requires vigilance. We recommend applying our recommendations to make it easier for you to get started with the greenhouse and production.

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For fast cycling

• Follow the recommendations for filling your fish tanks with water and have a good KH
• Monitor cycling weekly using a test strip
• Stabilize the pH between 6.5 and 6.8

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MANDATORY IN AQUAPONICS AND BIOPONICS

Cycling is essential in aquaponics and bioponics! It is a process that takes 5 to 8 weeks from the moment it is started.

1. Description of the cycling process

At the start of cycling, fish waste is absent and is simulated by adding ammonium sulfate. A bottle of beneficial bacteria is introduced to create the initial bacterial population.

a) Ammonium sulfate
This compound is the initial nitrogen source. It simulates fish waste.
Ammonium sulfate is transformed by bacteria into nitrites and then nitrates so that the plants can absorb it for their growth.

b) Nitrifying bacteria
Two types of bacteria are present: Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter.
Nitrosomonas bacteria transform ammonium sulfate into nitrites.
Nitrobacter bacteria transform nitrites into nitrates.
These two bacteria complement each other in the cycling process.

Nitrites NO2- are an intermediate and temporary compound in the aquatic environment because they are directly transformed into nitrates. The presence of nitrites (> 0.5 mg/L) is toxic to fish.
Nitrates NO3- are the final compound in their final form that can be absorbed by plants. They provide their nitrogen nutrition.

The end of cycling is marked by the disappearance of nitrites from the water. However, nitrates remain present and are necessary for the growth of your plants.

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Importance of the type of water used to fill the fish tanks

When filling your fish tanks with water, it is mandatory to use at least 1/3 tap water (relative to the total volume) to allow cycling to start.

Tap water contains minerals that are essential for bacterial development. These minerals are absent from rainwater and reverse osmosis water.

c) Iron chelate
Red in colour, it clouds the water and prevents algae from forming in the water. When algae are present, they directly compete with the plants and prevent the proper development of the bacteria that are useful for cycling.

2. Adding the cycling components

On day 1, after filling the fish tanks, start cycling by adding the three components:

• Ammonium sulfate
• Nitrifying bacteria
• Iron chelate

Two weeks later, add ammonium sulfate again according to the recommendations above.

Depending on the volume of your fish tanks, here are the quantities to add:

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Method for adding the components

Dissolve each component in a container with lukewarm water, then pour it into the water in the fish tanks.

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IMPORTANT

Remember to add the iron properly to limit the appearance of algae in the water at the expense of the bacteria. Algae use the nitrogen available in the water as long as the nitrifying bacteria population is not large enough.

3. Monitoring and development of cycling

To monitor the progress of cycling in the environment and the nitrite and nitrate levels, a test strip is used. The first pad on the test indicates the quantity of nitrates, while the second pad represents the quantity of nitrites.

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Outdoor temperature affects cycling

• The average cycling time is 4 to 6 weeks when the air temperature is above 15°C.
• The cycling time is 6 to 8 weeks when the air temperature is between 8 and 15°C.
• The cycling time is at least 8 weeks when the temperature is below 8°C.

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Tip

Check the progress of cycling regularly (once a week) using test strips for optimal monitoring.

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Additional information

• The water added to the fish tanks may contain nitrates before cycling starts. However, beneficial bacteria are not present in the water. It is essential to start the cycling procedure for them to develop.
• When adding the cycling components, it is recommended to add iron to the fish tank water and keep the UV lamp on continuously to prevent algae from appearing.
• After 2 weeks, the nitrites may have disappeared. However, to strengthen the bacterial population, it is essential to make the 2nd addition of ammonium sulfate. A second nitrite peak may then occur.
• After 6 weeks, if the nitrite level does not decrease, it is recommended to dilute half of the fish tanks by topping up with rainwater, reverse osmosis water or mains water depending on the water parameters (KH hardness and pH). Perform another test strip 2 days after dilution to check the progress of cycling.

4. BIOPONICS: Planting

Cycling does not really end. In fact, the GROW and Bloom fertilizers used in bioponics already contain nitrites and nitrates. When you use the test strip, the first 2 pads will very often be coloured pink.

You can introduce plants into your vertical growing towers as soon as cycling starts, i.e. about 2 to 3 weeks after filling your fish tanks with water.

See our page dedicated to planting your greenhouse.

5. AQUAPONICS: End of cycling, planting and introduction of fish

When your cycling is complete, this is what your test strip should look like:

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Nitrate and nitrite saturation

1. Add plants to the vertical growing towers.
2. Renew half of the water in the fish tanks.

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Absence of nitrates and nitrites

Three interpretations are possible depending on how long ago cycling was started.

If you have other questions about cycling, contact us directly at [email protected].