Nitrogen Cycle- the process

June 18, 2008 · Filed Under Nitrogen Cycle 

Nitrogen Cycle Diagram When you have completed setting up your saltwater aquarium, you can begin to add some hardy saltwater fish such as damselfish – popular fish if you are nitrogen cycle your aquarium and feed them regularly as this will begin the process.

Another alternative is live rock because dying matter in the live rock produces the ammonia source that you require. Ammonia level will rise rapidly because you do not have the adequate concentration of the right types of bacteria. Then the fish will become stressed and discomforted such as rapid breathing.

The first stage of bacteria are now beginning to start and after a couple days the ammonia levels will peak then begin to drop. Now the ammonia levels will reach zero as the first stage bacteria will convert to Nitrite.

Now nitrite levels will begin to rise and if your fish are not strong they wont last past this stage.

A few more weeks or so later, nitrite level will reach its peak. Your saltwater fish again will show signs of stress. Small water changes of up to one fifth will help protect the saltwater fish against toxic chemicals in the water during nitrogen cycle.

Second stage bacteria are established and will multiply. Nitrite level will then drop and nitrate becomes detectable.

First and second stage bacteria are now established at this point of the cycle and will be able to keep up with the ammonia created from the fish, turning it into nitrate and then quickly converting it into nitrate.

The saltwater aquarium tank should now be fully cycled. You can now slowly start adding more livestock in your aquarium and allow the bacteria to work.

Text and Photo Source: Saltwater Aquarium Online Guide

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  • Nitrites in the Aquarium
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  • Live Rocks
    • Live Rock is a rock taken from the ocean thats going to introduced into your saltwater aquarium. A liverock is
  • Biological Filter Media
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    7 Responses to “Nitrogen Cycle- the process”

    1. Buying Saltwater fish | Saltwater Aquarium Guide on August 5th, 2008 11:19 am

      [...] While you are in the process of setting up your saltwater aquarium we have a few weeks to look while the aqaurum goes though the nitrogen cycle. [...]

    2. three spotted Domino Damselfish | Aquarium Fish Guide on August 19th, 2008 11:34 am

      [...] conditions that could easily kill other fish, hence the reason many people use these fish to “Nitrogen cycle” new tanks and great for a beginning hobbyist’s [...]

    3. three spotted Domino Damselfish | Saltwater Aquarium Guide on August 24th, 2008 12:42 pm

      [...] conditions that could easily kill other fish, hence the reason many people use these fish to “Nitrogen cycle” new tanks and therefore great for a [...]

    4. Damselfish | Aquarium Fish Guide on August 29th, 2008 8:15 am

      [...] to be hardy marine fish and, therefore, suitable as first fish for a newly set-up marine tank (nitrogen cycle) or for the novice marine aquarist. This may be so, but their hardiness is no excuse for poor tank [...]

    5. What are Nitrates? | Saltwater Aquarium Guide on September 16th, 2008 7:45 am

      [...] is the waste by-product of nitrifying bacteria (nitrobacters), which develops as part of the nitrogen cycle and occur as the final stage and stages are ammonia, nitrite and nitrate. Nitrates are a key [...]

    6. What is Water Quality? | Saltwater Aquarium Guide on September 16th, 2008 9:20 am

      [...] Nitrogen Cycle [...]

    7. Ammonia in Marine Aquariums | Saltwater Aquarium Guide on September 21st, 2008 12:54 am

      [...] is the biggest killer of fish in aquariums. Typically ammonia levels build up when you Nitrogen Cycle a new saltwater aquarium, but ammonia can build up when the fishes are to many for  the size of [...]

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