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just the question asked in the topic name... what is it

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-Vincent

Here is our FAQ about the cycle. It's a process that all aquariums must undergo, but it can be completed in the absence of fish or shortened drastically. Products such as Bio-Spira and Stability (I've used the latter with success) cut the cycle to only a few days. This makes it much safer for fish.

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And when he gets to Heaven, to Saint Peter he will tell: "One more Marine reporting, Sir! I've served my time in Hell."

Basically, the cycle, as it is referred to, is the process by which harmful waste converts to less harmful nitrates. Here's how it works in a nutshell. First you get waste (fish poo, uneaten food, any decaying organic matter) and that decays which produces ammonia (harmful to fish). Then Bacteria grows and colonizes and consumes this ammonia but leaving nitrites (less harmful than ammonia but still harmful to fish). Then different bacteria grows and colonizes and consumes the nitrites, leaving nitrates (less harmful yet, but still bad for fish). This describes the "cycle". The only way to get the nitrates is by partial water changes, while the gravel vaccumming eliminates the debris thet creates the ammonia. There is always ammonia being produced but the bacteria constantly consumes it, same for the nitrites.