1. Cycling Your tanks!!!

2. Cycling Your Tank w/ Good Bacteria!!
"Cycling the tank" means that you are establishing a bacteria bed in your biological filter to remove the toxins that the fish's waste products.
 The improper cycling of your aquarium can lead to massive fish deaths of all living things in your aquarium.
After setting up your aquarium you will put approximately 1-3 fish in your aquarium to help contribute waste products into the water
Over a period of 6-8 weeks, “good” bacteria grow inside your aquarium and start to break down the waste products and turn the ammonia into less harmful nitrites.
Every 2-3 days, a 10% water change is recommended to help keep ammonia levels low and safe for your fish.

3. Statistically, as much as 60% of the fish sold for a new aquarium will die within the first 30 days.
Known as "New Tank Syndrome" these fish are poisoned by high levels of ammonia (NH3) that is produced by waste products in the water.
These effects include: extensive damage to tissues, especially the gills and kidney; physiological imbalances; impaired growth; decreased resistance to disease, and; death.

4. Wastes in the Water Fish wastes (overpopulation)
Uneaten food (overfeeding)
Nitrates
Ammonia
Filters slow down the rate of pollution, but do not completely remove pollutants.

5. How to keep Nitrates low…
Keep the tank clean –
Waste ultimately produces nitrates. Cleaner tanks produce fewer nitrates in the first place.
Don’t overfeed the fish –
Overfeeding is a significant contributor to excess nitrates and other undesirable wastes, such as phosphates.
Water changes –
Performing regular water changes with water that has little or no nitrates will lower the overall nitrate level in the tank.
Keep live plants –
Live plants utilize nitrates, and will help keep nitrates in check.
Use nitrogen removing filter media –
Instead of an expensive denitrator or special filter, use special media in the filter you have.
Although they will not lower nitrates dramatically, if used together with other methods the net result will be beneficial.