| INTRODUCTION: | | | | rock (in Marine Aquariums) are excellent sources of |
| Nitrogen is an element vital to all life processes on | | | | bio filtration in larger aquaria. Bio-Wheels are very |
| Earth. Nitrogen is very important in our biosphere, | | | | popular, but in my tests in my maintenance business |
| where nitrogen comprises 78% of the atmosphere, | | | | they are VASTLY overrated. They tend to |
| and is part of every living tissue. It is a component of | | | | accumulate hard water deposits and stop and even |
| amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids. With the | | | | when they are working my tests have shown little |
| exception of carbon, nitrogen is the most universal | | | | difference in aquariums when they are removed as |
| element of life. Life could not exist without nitrogen. | | | | compared to sponge filters or wet/dry filters. |
| Nitrogen is essential for organic development; | | | | Canister filters are also good sources for nitrification |
| nitrogenous compounds are also required by some | | | | as long as the proper media is used (such as ceramic |
| organisms for metabolic functions and respiration. | | | | rings) and the media is not packed too tight and is |
| All living organisms, from fish to plants, have great | | | | rinsed regularly. |
| quantities of assimilated nitrogen in their tissues. | | | | DENITRIFICATION: |
| Nitrogen is a fundamental ingredient for the formation | | | | Is the process of converting Nitrates (NO3) in to |
| of proteins and nucleic acids. Every organism you | | | | Nitrogen (N2), which is dispersed into the atmosphere. |
| place in your aquarium adds nitrogen; from fish to | | | | This process can take place in an environment |
| coral, to live rock, to plants. | | | | without oxygen by anaerobic bacteria. This process is |
| The introduction of food also adds nitrogen. Dead or | | | | more common in Marine aquaria and takes place in |
| alive, they are organic masses, and possess the | | | | fine #00 sand, , live rock, or "aquarium mud". In |
| same nitrogenous attributes as the fish, plants, | | | | freshwater aquariums this process often produces |
| invertebrates you added to your aquarium. | | | | deadly Hydrogen Sulfide, but by maintaining an |
| Inorganic nitrogen is added two ways: the | | | | oxygen level above 1 ppm, this can be avoided. |
| atmosphere and new water. Atmospheric nitrogen | | | | Plants roots are great for maintaining this balance of |
| (N2) is incorporated into our aquarium water by way | | | | oxygen in the gravel for proper Nitrate removal |
| of nitrogen fixing bacteria and by cyanobacteria as | | | | A thicker layer of coarse gravel utilizing a "void |
| ammonia (NH3). Inorganic nitrogenous compounds | | | | space" called a plenum is often used for Nitrate |
| from our tap or well water also enter our aquarium, | | | | removal in Saltwater and even freshwater aquariums. |
| often as Nitrates or Nitrates. Reverse Osmosis can | | | | These are not to be confused with under gravel |
| remove much of this. | | | | filters. |
| NITRIFICATION: | | | | SUMMARY OF LEVELS; |
| When an organism dies, nitrogen is moved from plant | | | | In healthy aquarium ammonia and nitrites should be at |
| or animal into the inorganic chemical ammonia by the | | | | 0 ppm |
| process of bacterial decay. Ammonia is also produced | | | | In a healthy freshwater aquarium Nitrates should be |
| by bacteria in the breakdown of protein. This process | | | | 15-50 ppm (below 15 ppm is not healthy for planted |
| is called Mineralization and is the end result of the | | | | freshwater aquariums). |
| metabolism of food. However, ammonia is produced | | | | In a healthy Saltwater fish aquarium nitrates should |
| from both metabolism and mineralization. The | | | | be below 40 ppm. |
| decomposition (mineralization) process produces large | | | | In a healthy Marine Reef aquarium nitrates should be |
| quantities of ammonia (NH3) through the process of | | | | below 20 ppm (or even less). |
| ammoniafication. Heterotrophic microbes utilize the | | | | AQUARIUM CYCLING: |
| organic compounds of decomposing matter as their | | | | These major additional benefits result from the |
| carbon source. Ammonia (NH3) is the byproduct of | | | | constant removal of Nitrate by bacterial action in the |
| this consumption. Ammonia, in its neutral state, exists | | | | plenum. My preferred cycling method (it was not in |
| as ammonium (NH4+). | | | | one of the links) is to transfer filter media (sponges |
| Ammonia (NH4) is assimilated in more than one way. | | | | work best) from an established aquarium along with |
| Plants (such as Hornwort) and algae can assimilate | | | | some gravel, then introduce the fish SLOWLY |
| ammonia and ammonium directly for the biosynthesis. | | | | starting in a day or two. The method of adding |
| The remaining bulk of decomposed byproducts are | | | | "aged" media is much faster (you still have to take it |
| utilized by bacteria in a process called nitrification. | | | | slow), and provides all the necessary bacteria, the |
| Ammonia does not last long in a healthy aquarium | | | | only negative is adding disease pathogens to your |
| environment, fortunately. Nitrifying bacteria such as | | | | aquarium, but I have rarely encountered this problem. |
| Nitrosomonas quickly break down ammonia into less | | | | To prevent this transfer of disease pathogens and |
| toxic Nitrite (NO2). During this process, specific | | | | parasites, only use a media source where no new |
| species of nitrifying bacteria strip the ammonium of | | | | fish have been added in 30 days, ALL water |
| its hydrogen molecules as an energy source. Oxygen | | | | parameters are good, and if possible has UV |
| molecules are then affixed to the stripped nitrogen, | | | | Sterilization (although not necessary). |
| forming the oxide nitrite (NO2). | | | | Also keep in mind that many pathogens such as |
| Another group of bacteria (Nitrobacter ) utilize the | | | | pseudomonas are usually present in a healthy |
| enzyme nitrite oxidase that is then responsible for | | | | aquarium, but when fish are stressed, the fish are in |
| converting nitrite into nitrate (NO3). This nitrate can | | | | poor health due to poor feeding and lack of proper |
| either be used by plants as a nutrient source, or can | | | | minerals, and/or water conditions are less than |
| be further broken down into nitrogen gas (N2) | | | | desirable- these pathogens will be opportunistic and |
| through the activity of anaerobic bacteria such as | | | | cause a disease in the fish. |
| Pseudomonas . | | | | We used this method for our Aquarium Maintenance |
| It should be noted, that without oxygen (nitrification | | | | route for years and never lost a fish to Ammonia or |
| is an oxidative process), none of this process can | | | | nitrite poisoning, and disease transfer was minimal. |
| take place. | | | | There are many products for cycling available too, |
| It should also be noted that in recent studies the | | | | but most in my opinion do not work well (although |
| Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter responsible Freshwater | | | | properly cared for BioSpira is effective). |
| nitrification are NOT the same in saltwater. | | | | Another method is fishless cycling where un-scented |
| BIOFILTRATION: | | | | pure ammonia is poured into the aquarium (3-5 drops |
| Nature can pack a lot of bacteria into small places, | | | | per gallon pure ammonia) so as to bring your |
| which is to the advantage of the aquarist. For | | | | ammonia level to 4-5 ppm. Then it takes about 3-8 |
| bacterial growth, all that is required is ammonia and | | | | weeks for the aquarium to cycle. Although this |
| oxygenated water. This is the beginning of the | | | | method is growing in popularity, I do not recommend |
| nitrogen process and the growth of bacterial colonies. | | | | it, not because it does not work (it does), but |
| Remember you need oxygen and a lot of surface | | | | because human nature is to want to add fish sooner |
| area for bacterial colonies. Wet/dry filters, sponge | | | | than the 3-8 weeks it takes for this method. |
| filters, ceramic media, and loosely packed upper | | | | Another method is the gradual addition of fish food |
| layers of gravel are all sources for bacterial | | | | to an otherwise empty aquarium (no fish). This can |
| accumulation. If there is not adequate surface area in | | | | be a very effective means of cycling that is |
| oxygen areas of the filter media or gravel, nitrification | | | | preferred by many experienced aquarists. |
| will be poor. Water will follow the path of least | | | | The method of adding "aged" media is much faster |
| resistance, so if your filter or gravel has a build-up of | | | | (you still have to take it slow), and provides all the |
| non-nitrifying bacterial slime or is packed to tightly, | | | | necessary bacteria, the only negative is adding |
| nitrification will not be achieved. Sponge Filters or | | | | disease pathogens to your aquarium, but I have |
| Pre-Filters are an inexpensive filter medium for | | | | rarely encountered this problem. |
| colonies of nitrifying bacteria. Wet/dry filters and live | | | | |