Article 01
Tank Cycling
How the nitrogen cycle establishes beneficial bacteria, and how to run a fishless cycle before adding livestock.
Read the cycling guide
Freshwater
Canada
Beginner
Set up a freshwater aquarium that actually stays stable.
A plain-language reference for first-time keepers in Canada: how to cycle a new tank, which water parameters to track, and how to choose a filter and heater that match your tank volume.
Three things to get right first
The fundamentals, in the order they matter
New tanks rarely fail because of the fish. They fail because the biological filter is not ready, the water chemistry is unmonitored, or the equipment is sized for a different tank. These three articles cover each in detail.
Article 02
Water Parameters
Temperature, pH, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate: what each reading means and how often to test.
Read the parameters guide
Article 03
Equipment Selection
Choosing a filter, heater and lighting that suit your tank volume and the room it sits in.
Read the equipment guideThe nitrogen cycle, stage by stage
What happens in the water before fish arrive
Waste breaks down through a predictable sequence. Each stage below corresponds to a measurable change in your test readings.
Waste & ammonia
Nitrosomonas
Nitrite
Nitrobacter
Nitrate & stable
Ammonia from waste is converted to nitrite, then nitrite to nitrate. A tank is considered cycled when ammonia and nitrite return to zero and nitrate is the only reading that climbs between water changes.
Reference reading
Typical target ranges
The figures below are general reference ranges for common community fish. Always confirm the specific needs of the species you intend to keep, since requirements vary widely.
Important
Ammonia and nitrite are toxic. In an established tank both should read zero. A reading above zero in a stocked tank calls for an immediate water change.
| Reading | General reference |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Tropical community: roughly 24–26 °C |
| pH | Stable value suited to species; avoid sudden swings |
| Ammonia | 0 in an established tank |
| Nitrite | 0 in an established tank |
| Nitrate | Kept low via regular water changes |
Feedback
Send a question or correction
If something here is unclear, or you spotted an error, use the form. This is an editorial reference site, so messages are read by the editorial contact rather than a support desk.
Editorial contact: editor@softandfield.org
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Disclaimer: The content on this site is general information for hobbyist reference only. It is not veterinary advice. Verify water parameters with a reliable test kit and consult an aquatic veterinarian for animal health concerns.
Build the tank once, properly.
The cycling, parameters and equipment guides walk through the full setup so a first tank starts on solid footing.
Open the cycling guide