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The Nitrogen Cycle

The Nitrogen Cycle. The N Cycle in words. When we start our tanks, and get all the chemical levels balances (salinity, temperature and density), the next step is to add fish.

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The Nitrogen Cycle

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  1. The Nitrogen Cycle

  2. The N Cycle in words • When we start our tanks, and get all the chemical levels balances (salinity, temperature and density), the next step is to add fish. • You will remember that we added a bit of “dirty gravel” to our tanks. The reason we added the gravel is because it contained bacteria. There are 2 types!

  3. Nitrosomonas • The first is called Nitrosomonas, and this bacterium has a taste for Ammonia (NH3). Where does the ammonia come from? It’s a waste product from the fish – or fish pee. It’s also toxic to fish. The Nitrosomonas eats the ammonia and then produces Nitrite (NO2).

  4. Nitrobacter • Nitrite is also toxic to fish, but luckily there is another bacterium, Nitrobacter, that eats the Nitrite, and produces another chemical Nitrate (NO3). This chemical is less toxic to fish and when the levels of Nitrite are low enough and the levels of Nitrate are high enough the tank is cycled and ready for more fish.

  5. What to do with the Nitrate? • But this is only part of the cycle. If we were looking at the actual ocean, Nitrate is taken up by seaweeds (it’s like a fertilizer to them) and then the seaweeds are eaten by the fish and the cycle is completed.

  6. What to do with the Nitrate? • We have no plants in our tanks, so in order for the Nitrate levels to not get too high (they can become toxic as well), we need to do a water change once a month and remove the toxins in the tank.

  7. How do I know this is happening in my tank? • We can test for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate in our tanks, and we will test for all except ammonia. • So if I test for nitrite, and it is present, then that must mean I have Nitrosomonas in my tank. If I test for Nitrate and it is present, I must have Nitrobacter in my tank.

  8. Nitrite Test (<.01 ppm) • Get a pink tester. • Using a plastic dropper, measure .5 ml of tank water and place in tester. • Fill the rest of the tester with fresh water. • Add the contents of a nitrite foil packet to your sampler, put lid on, shake. Wait 10 minutes! • To read the color, place the tester against something white and match the color in the tester to colors on the side. • Read the bottom number and record this on your tank log.

  9. Nitrite Test Part 2 • If no color develops with only .5 ml of tank water, fill the entire tester with tank water, add the contents of the foil packet, wait 10 minutes and then record the top number in your tank log. • Once this test registers <.01 ppm, your tank is ready for additional fish!!

  10. Nitrate Test (20-40 ppm) • Get a yellow tester. • Fill it completely with tank water. • Add the contents of a Nitrate foil packet, put the lid on and shake. • Wait approximately 3 minutes, or until color develops. • Record this number on your tank log.

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