Nitrates in Sal****er Aquariums

[Guayni SAHS]

Nitrates in Sal****er Aquariums
By Jaime Rivera-Sierra, www.guayni.com





Belief it or not, Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) are limiting
nutrients in the oceans. This means that producers such as diatoms and
other algae can't produce more because of limited amounts of these two
elements. This is the way that the oceans had evolved over millions of
years. When there is an excess of N and P, the algae bloom causing red or
green tides. This phenomenon instead of being helpful to the ocean's
inhabitants results detrimental by disrupting the entire food chain and the
ocean's equilibrium. In open waters this should be avoided at all costs.



On this paper I will discuss the effects of excess nitrogen in
sal****er aquariums in various forms.



Nitrogen in a sal****er aquarium is present in four different
forms. I have to emphasize that it enters your aquarium in the form of
food.



The most stable form of nitrogen in an aquarium is in the form of living
tissue. Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every cell
for many reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is excreted
back to the water in the form of ammonia.



The ammonia enters the water column in the form of urine, feces or gills'
secretions. A high level of ammonia in an aquarium is toxic to fish and
disrupts the other life cycles of your aquarium's residents. Ammonia is the
most toxic and unstable of the four nitrogen forms.



Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
ammonia gas (NH4+) or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task is
performed by nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites (NO2).
In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in breathing and
affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish. Although not as
unstable as ammonia, nitrites will deteriorate your aquarium and can kill
your fish if levels exceed a tolerable margin. High levels of nitrites must
be avoided.



The nitrifying bacteria continue to process nitrogen-containing
compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3). At this point nitrogen is at
its lowest unstable condition becoming accessible to plants. In the nitrate
form, algae and other plants reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue. In
open waters, these plants are eaten by consumers restarting the cycle again.
On the other hand, in a closed system as your aquarium, nitrates accumulate
to detrimental levels.



An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your system as
it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying bacteria and
has to be removed from the tank. There are different methods to achieve
this task. The most common procedure is known as a "water change". Using
this technique, aquarists remove water from the tank and replace it with
waters with low nitrates levels, thus diluting the water column. This
method is costly and tedious requiring periodical water changes that may
range from twice a year to twice a week and from 10% to 20% of the water
column. Another good method of extracting nitrates from the water is by
harvesting plants that incorporated nitrates to its tissue. Since under
this conditions N is not a limiting nutrient, plants will bloom and algae
will cover your tank making it easy to remove. The more plants you harvest,
the less need for periodical water changes. Each plant you extract contains
nitrogen built into its living tissue from the most available source, NO3.



In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your system
enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and the excess
is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia. Nitrifying
bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once the nitrogen
is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical. An aquarist has
to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the water by means of
water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized nitrates as nutrient.



References;



Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium



Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.



Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico






--
Visit www.guayni.com

[Wayne Sallee]

Is this the book report that you are giving to your first
grade teacher?

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets



Guayni; SAHS wrote on 12/22/2006 8:14 PM:
> Nitrates in Sal****er Aquariums
> By Jaime Rivera-Sierra, www.guayni.com
>
>
>
>
>
> Belief it or not, Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) are limiting
> nutrients in the oceans. This means that producers such as diatoms and
> other algae can't produce more because of limited amounts of these two
> elements. This is the way that the oceans had evolved over millions of
> years. When there is an excess of N and P, the algae bloom causing red or
> green tides. This phenomenon instead of being helpful to the ocean's
> inhabitants results detrimental by disrupting the entire food chain and the
> ocean's equilibrium. In open waters this should be avoided at all costs.
>
>
>
> On this paper I will discuss the effects of excess nitrogen in
> sal****er aquariums in various forms.
>
>
>
> Nitrogen in a sal****er aquarium is present in four different
> forms. I have to emphasize that it enters your aquarium in the form of
> food.
>
>
>
> The most stable form of nitrogen in an aquarium is in the form of living
> tissue. Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every cell
> for many reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is excreted
> back to the water in the form of ammonia.
>
>
>
> The ammonia enters the water column in the form of urine, feces or gills'
> secretions. A high level of ammonia in an aquarium is toxic to fish and
> disrupts the other life cycles of your aquarium's residents. Ammonia is the
> most toxic and unstable of the four nitrogen forms.
>
>
>
> Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
> ammonia gas (NH4+) or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task is
> performed by nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites (NO2).
> In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in breathing and
> affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish. Although not as
> unstable as ammonia, nitrites will deteriorate your aquarium and can kill
> your fish if levels exceed a tolerable margin. High levels of nitrites must
> be avoided.
>
>
>
> The nitrifying bacteria continue to process nitrogen-containing
> compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3). At this point nitrogen is at
> its lowest unstable condition becoming accessible to plants. In the nitrate
> form, algae and other plants reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue. In
> open waters, these plants are eaten by consumers restarting the cycle again.
> On the other hand, in a closed system as your aquarium, nitrates accumulate
> to detrimental levels.
>
>
>
> An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your system as
> it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying bacteria and
> has to be removed from the tank. There are different methods to achieve
> this task. The most common procedure is known as a "water change". Using
> this technique, aquarists remove water from the tank and replace it with
> waters with low nitrates levels, thus diluting the water column. This
> method is costly and tedious requiring periodical water changes that may
> range from twice a year to twice a week and from 10% to 20% of the water
> column. Another good method of extracting nitrates from the water is by
> harvesting plants that incorporated nitrates to its tissue. Since under
> this conditions N is not a limiting nutrient, plants will bloom and algae
> will cover your tank making it easy to remove. The more plants you harvest,
> the less need for periodical water changes. Each plant you extract contains
> nitrogen built into its living tissue from the most available source, NO3.
>
>
>
> In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
> system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your system
> enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and the excess
> is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia. Nitrifying
> bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once the nitrogen
> is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical. An aquarist has
> to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the water by means of
> water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized nitrates as nutrient.
>
>
>
> References;
>
>
>
> Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
>
>
>
> Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.
>
>
>
> Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
> Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico
>
>
>
>
>
>

[booger]

>Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every cell for many
>reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is excreted back to
>the water in the form of ammonia.

Nitrogen needed for flesh? By this do you mean nitrogen that is needed to
biosynthesize amino acids for protein synthesis?

> Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
> ammonia gas (NH4+)

Ammonia gas is not NH4+ it is NH3. Ammonia gas does not evaporate because
it is already a gas. Only liquids evaporate.

>or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task is performed by
>nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites (NO2).

NO2- not NO2

> In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in breathing and
> affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish.

What do you mean by "unstable" here?

> The nitrifying bacteria continue to process nitrogen-containing
> compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3).

NO3- not NO3

>At this point nitrogen is at its lowest unstable condition becoming
>accessible to plants. In the nitrate form, algae and other plants
>reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue.

By this you mean they use it to biosynthesize amino acids and proteins,
right?

> An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your system
> as it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying bacteria
> and has to be removed from the tank.

Reduced again? What do you mean by this? Nitrate is the highest oxidative
state of nitrogen.

>There are different methods to achieve this task. The most common
>procedure is known as a "water change". Using this technique, aquarists
>remove water from the tank and replace it with waters with low nitrates
>levels, thus diluting the water column. This method is costly and tedious
>requiring periodical water changes that may range from twice a year to
>twice a week and from 10% to 20% of the water column. Another good method
>of extracting nitrates from the water is by harvesting plants that
>incorporated nitrates to its tissue. Since under this conditions N is not
>a limiting nutrient, plants will bloom and algae will cover your tank
>making it easy to remove. The more plants you harvest, the less need for
>periodical water changes. Each plant you extract contains nitrogen built
>into its living tissue from the most available source, NO3.

Are there not anaerobic bacteria that metabolize nitrate into N2 and H2O?
Why did you leave this out?

>
> In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
> system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your
> system enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and the
> excess is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia.
> Nitrifying bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once
> the nitrogen is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical.
> An aquarist has to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the
> water by means of water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized
> nitrates as nutrient.
>
>
>
> References;
>
>
>
> Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
>
>
>
> Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.
>
>
>
> Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
> Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico
>
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> Visit www.guayni.com
>

[Peter Pan]

LMAO.. Funny
"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> Is this the book report that you are giving to your first
> grade teacher?
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
>
> Guayni; SAHS wrote on 12/22/2006 8:14 PM:
> > Nitrates in Sal****er Aquariums
> > By Jaime Rivera-Sierra, www.guayni.com
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Belief it or not, Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) are
limiting
> > nutrients in the oceans. This means that producers such as diatoms and
> > other algae can't produce more because of limited amounts of these two
> > elements. This is the way that the oceans had evolved over millions of
> > years. When there is an excess of N and P, the algae bloom causing red
or
> > green tides. This phenomenon instead of being helpful to the ocean's
> > inhabitants results detrimental by disrupting the entire food chain and
the
> > ocean's equilibrium. In open waters this should be avoided at all
costs.
> >
> >
> >
> > On this paper I will discuss the effects of excess nitrogen
in
> > sal****er aquariums in various forms.
> >
> >
> >
> > Nitrogen in a sal****er aquarium is present in four
different
> > forms. I have to emphasize that it enters your aquarium in the form of
> > food.
> >
> >
> >
> > The most stable form of nitrogen in an aquarium is in the form of living
> > tissue. Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every
cell
> > for many reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is
excreted
> > back to the water in the form of ammonia.
> >
> >
> >
> > The ammonia enters the water column in the form of urine, feces or
gills'
> > secretions. A high level of ammonia in an aquarium is toxic to fish and
> > disrupts the other life cycles of your aquarium's residents. Ammonia is
the
> > most toxic and unstable of the four nitrogen forms.
> >
> >
> >
> > Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
> > ammonia gas (NH4+) or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task is
> > performed by nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites
(NO2).
> > In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in breathing and
> > affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish. Although not as
> > unstable as ammonia, nitrites will deteriorate your aquarium and can
kill
> > your fish if levels exceed a tolerable margin. High levels of nitrites
must
> > be avoided.
> >
> >
> >
> > The nitrifying bacteria continue to process
nitrogen-containing
> > compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3). At this point nitrogen is
at
> > its lowest unstable condition becoming accessible to plants. In the
nitrate
> > form, algae and other plants reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue. In
> > open waters, these plants are eaten by consumers restarting the cycle
again.
> > On the other hand, in a closed system as your aquarium, nitrates
accumulate
> > to detrimental levels.
> >
> >
> >
> > An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your
system as
> > it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying bacteria
and
> > has to be removed from the tank. There are different methods to achieve
> > this task. The most common procedure is known as a "water change".
Using
> > this technique, aquarists remove water from the tank and replace it with
> > waters with low nitrates levels, thus diluting the water column. This
> > method is costly and tedious requiring periodical water changes that may
> > range from twice a year to twice a week and from 10% to 20% of the water
> > column. Another good method of extracting nitrates from the water is by
> > harvesting plants that incorporated nitrates to its tissue. Since under
> > this conditions N is not a limiting nutrient, plants will bloom and
algae
> > will cover your tank making it easy to remove. The more plants you
harvest,
> > the less need for periodical water changes. Each plant you extract
contains
> > nitrogen built into its living tissue from the most available source,
NO3.
> >
> >
> >
> > In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
> > system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your
system
> > enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and the
excess
> > is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia. Nitrifying
> > bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once the
nitrogen
> > is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical. An aquarist
has
> > to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the water by means
of
> > water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized nitrates as
nutrient.
> >
> >
> >
> > References;
> >
> >
> >
> > Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
> >
> >
> >
> > Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.
> >
> >
> >
> > Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
> > Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >

[Pszemol]

"Guayni; SAHS" > wrote in message ...
[..]
> In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled
> in your system.

Not only one... and this one is pretty easy...
Write next article about phosphorus in phosphates - that is worse!

> The nitrogen cycle works only one way.

Sorry Jaime, but this is bunch of BS...

All guys here with deep sand beds in their reef tanks
or ones having incorporated "plenum" experience very,
very low nitrates in their tanks at almost limiting
levels due to the magic actions of anaerobic bacteria
living in the anoxic layers deep in the sand or plenum.

Ongoing problem in deep sand beds is reported by many
reeftank owners high levels of phosphates. These are
not very easy to remove by harvesting algae, especially when
nitrogen already became the limiting nutrient component...

> Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium

Nick Dakin did not mention anaerobic part of the nitrogen cycle ?
Are you sure ? Look again... or switch to a better reference.

[Guayni SAHS]

Thanks for your comments on my draft, they are very helpful!
At least I did manage to keep the language understandable for everyone.

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
ink.net...
> Is this the book report that you are giving to your first grade teacher?
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
>
> Guayni; SAHS wrote on 12/22/2006 8:14 PM:
>> Nitrates in Sal****er Aquariums
>> By Jaime Rivera-Sierra, www.guayni.com
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Belief it or not, Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) are
>> limiting nutrients in the oceans. This means that producers such as
>> diatoms and other algae can't produce more because of limited amounts of
>> these two elements. This is the way that the oceans had evolved over
>> millions of years. When there is an excess of N and P, the algae bloom
>> causing red or green tides. This phenomenon instead of being helpful to
>> the ocean's inhabitants results detrimental by disrupting the entire food
>> chain and the ocean's equilibrium. In open waters this should be avoided
>> at all costs.
>>
>>
>>
>> On this paper I will discuss the effects of excess nitrogen
>> in sal****er aquariums in various forms.
>>
>>
>>
>> Nitrogen in a sal****er aquarium is present in four different
>> forms. I have to emphasize that it enters your aquarium in the form of
>> food.
>>
>>
>>
>> The most stable form of nitrogen in an aquarium is in the form of living
>> tissue. Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every
>> cell for many reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is
>> excreted back to the water in the form of ammonia.
>>
>>
>>
>> The ammonia enters the water column in the form of urine, feces or gills'
>> secretions. A high level of ammonia in an aquarium is toxic to fish and
>> disrupts the other life cycles of your aquarium's residents. Ammonia is
>> the most toxic and unstable of the four nitrogen forms.
>>
>>
>>
>> Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
>> ammonia gas (NH4+) or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task is
>> performed by nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites
>> (NO2). In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in
>> breathing and affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish.
>> Although not as unstable as ammonia, nitrites will deteriorate your
>> aquarium and can kill your fish if levels exceed a tolerable margin.
>> High levels of nitrites must be avoided.
>>
>>
>>
>> The nitrifying bacteria continue to process
>> nitrogen-containing compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3). At
>> this point nitrogen is at its lowest unstable condition becoming
>> accessible to plants. In the nitrate form, algae and other plants
>> reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue. In open waters, these plants are
>> eaten by consumers restarting the cycle again. On the other hand, in a
>> closed system as your aquarium, nitrates accumulate to detrimental
>> levels.
>>
>>
>>
>> An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your system
>> as it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying
>> bacteria and has to be removed from the tank. There are different
>> methods to achieve this task. The most common procedure is known as a
>> "water change". Using this technique, aquarists remove water from the
>> tank and replace it with waters with low nitrates levels, thus diluting
>> the water column. This method is costly and tedious requiring periodical
>> water changes that may range from twice a year to twice a week and from
>> 10% to 20% of the water column. Another good method of extracting
>> nitrates from the water is by harvesting plants that incorporated
>> nitrates to its tissue. Since under this conditions N is not a limiting
>> nutrient, plants will bloom and algae will cover your tank making it easy
>> to remove. The more plants you harvest, the less need for periodical
>> water changes. Each plant you extract contains nitrogen built into its
>> living tissue from the most available source, NO3.
>>
>>
>>
>> In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
>> system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your
>> system enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and
>> the excess is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia.
>> Nitrifying bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once
>> the nitrogen is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical.
>> An aquarist has to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the
>> water by means of water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized
>> nitrates as nutrient.
>>
>>
>>
>> References;
>>
>>
>>
>> Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
>>
>>
>>
>> Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
>> Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>

[Guayni SAHS]

Thanks for your comments on my draft, they are very helpful!
"Peter Pan" > wrote in message
...
> LMAO.. Funny
> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
> ink.net...
>> Is this the book report that you are giving to your first
>> grade teacher?
>>
>> Wayne Sallee
>> Wayne's Pets
>>
>>
>>
>> Guayni; SAHS wrote on 12/22/2006 8:14 PM:
>> > Nitrates in Sal****er Aquariums
>> > By Jaime Rivera-Sierra, www.guayni.com
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Belief it or not, Nitrogen (N) and Phosphorous (P) are
> limiting
>> > nutrients in the oceans. This means that producers such as diatoms and
>> > other algae can't produce more because of limited amounts of these two
>> > elements. This is the way that the oceans had evolved over millions of
>> > years. When there is an excess of N and P, the algae bloom causing red
> or
>> > green tides. This phenomenon instead of being helpful to the ocean's
>> > inhabitants results detrimental by disrupting the entire food chain and
> the
>> > ocean's equilibrium. In open waters this should be avoided at all
> costs.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > On this paper I will discuss the effects of excess nitrogen
> in
>> > sal****er aquariums in various forms.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Nitrogen in a sal****er aquarium is present in four
> different
>> > forms. I have to emphasize that it enters your aquarium in the form of
>> > food.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The most stable form of nitrogen in an aquarium is in the form of
>> > living
>> > tissue. Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every
> cell
>> > for many reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is
> excreted
>> > back to the water in the form of ammonia.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The ammonia enters the water column in the form of urine, feces or
> gills'
>> > secretions. A high level of ammonia in an aquarium is toxic to fish
>> > and
>> > disrupts the other life cycles of your aquarium's residents. Ammonia
>> > is
> the
>> > most toxic and unstable of the four nitrogen forms.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
>> > ammonia gas (NH4+) or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task
>> > is
>> > performed by nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites
> (NO2).
>> > In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in breathing and
>> > affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish. Although not as
>> > unstable as ammonia, nitrites will deteriorate your aquarium and can
> kill
>> > your fish if levels exceed a tolerable margin. High levels of nitrites
> must
>> > be avoided.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > The nitrifying bacteria continue to process
> nitrogen-containing
>> > compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3). At this point nitrogen
>> > is
> at
>> > its lowest unstable condition becoming accessible to plants. In the
> nitrate
>> > form, algae and other plants reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue.
>> > In
>> > open waters, these plants are eaten by consumers restarting the cycle
> again.
>> > On the other hand, in a closed system as your aquarium, nitrates
> accumulate
>> > to detrimental levels.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your
> system as
>> > it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying bacteria
> and
>> > has to be removed from the tank. There are different methods to
>> > achieve
>> > this task. The most common procedure is known as a "water change".
> Using
>> > this technique, aquarists remove water from the tank and replace it
>> > with
>> > waters with low nitrates levels, thus diluting the water column. This
>> > method is costly and tedious requiring periodical water changes that
>> > may
>> > range from twice a year to twice a week and from 10% to 20% of the
>> > water
>> > column. Another good method of extracting nitrates from the water is
>> > by
>> > harvesting plants that incorporated nitrates to its tissue. Since
>> > under
>> > this conditions N is not a limiting nutrient, plants will bloom and
> algae
>> > will cover your tank making it easy to remove. The more plants you
> harvest,
>> > the less need for periodical water changes. Each plant you extract
> contains
>> > nitrogen built into its living tissue from the most available source,
> NO3.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
>> > system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your
> system
>> > enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and the
> excess
>> > is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia. Nitrifying
>> > bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once the
> nitrogen
>> > is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical. An aquarist
> has
>> > to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the water by means
> of
>> > water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized nitrates as
> nutrient.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > References;
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
>> > Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
>

[Guayni SAHS]

Thanks for your comments on my draft, they are very helpful!
The language had to be kept at a very low level, using proper biochemistry
nomenclature would had been confusing for many. I haven't seen a NO3 test
kit using NO3- or NO2 used as NO2-.

Also, thanks for mentioning the N2, I did miss that one, thanks again.

"Booger" <.@.> wrote in message
...
> >Every living organism incorporates nitrogen to each and every cell for
> >many reasons. The amount of nitrogen not needed for flesh is excreted
> >back to the water in the form of ammonia.
>
> Nitrogen needed for flesh? By this do you mean nitrogen that is needed to
> biosynthesize amino acids for protein synthesis?
>
>> Once Ammonia enters the water column either evaporates as
>> ammonia gas (NH4+)
>
> Ammonia gas is not NH4+ it is NH3. Ammonia gas does not evaporate because
> it is already a gas. Only liquids evaporate.
>
>>or gets recycled in the nitrogen cycle. This task is performed by
>>nitrifying bacteria that turns ammonia (NH3) to nitrites (NO2).
>
> NO2- not NO2
>
>> In the nitrite form, N stays unstable replacing oxygen in breathing and
>> affecting in many ways the metabolism of your fish.
>
> What do you mean by "unstable" here?
>
>> The nitrifying bacteria continue to process
>> nitrogen-containing compounds turning nitrites to nitrates (NO3).
>
> NO3- not NO3
>
>>At this point nitrogen is at its lowest unstable condition becoming
>>accessible to plants. In the nitrate form, algae and other plants
>>reincorporate nitrogen into its tissue.
>
> By this you mean they use it to biosynthesize amino acids and proteins,
> right?
>
>> An excess accumulation of nitrates may cause some problems to your system
>> as it remains unstable. NO3 can't be reduced again by nitrifying
>> bacteria and has to be removed from the tank.
>
> Reduced again? What do you mean by this? Nitrate is the highest
> oxidative state of nitrogen.
>
>>There are different methods to achieve this task. The most common
>>procedure is known as a "water change". Using this technique, aquarists
>>remove water from the tank and replace it with waters with low nitrates
>>levels, thus diluting the water column. This method is costly and tedious
>>requiring periodical water changes that may range from twice a year to
>>twice a week and from 10% to 20% of the water column. Another good method
>>of extracting nitrates from the water is by harvesting plants that
>>incorporated nitrates to its tissue. Since under this conditions N is not
>>a limiting nutrient, plants will bloom and algae will cover your tank
>>making it easy to remove. The more plants you harvest, the less need for
>>periodical water changes. Each plant you extract contains nitrogen built
>>into its living tissue from the most available source, NO3.
>
> Are there not anaerobic bacteria that metabolize nitrate into N2 and H2O?
> Why did you leave this out?
>
>>
>> In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled in your
>> system. The nitrogen cycle works only one way. The nitrogen in your
>> system enters in the form of food, this food is taken by your fish and
>> the excess is redirected to the water column in the form of ammonia.
>> Nitrifying bacteria turns ammonia to nitrites and then to nitrates. Once
>> the nitrogen is in the form of nitrates the only way out is mechanical.
>> An aquarist has to make a decision to extract nitrates directly from the
>> water by means of water changes or by harvesting plants that utilized
>> nitrates as nutrient.
>>
>>
>>
>> References;
>>
>>
>>
>> Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
>>
>>
>>
>> Mitsch, W.J. and J.G. Gosselink. 2000. Wetlands 3rd Ed.
>>
>>
>>
>> Rivera-Sierra, J. 1992. Impacto Ambiental Acumulativo Del Desarrollo
>> Costanero En El Sector Playita De Salinas, Puerto Rico
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Visit www.guayni.com
>>
>
>

[Guayni SAHS]

Thanks for your comments on my draft, they are very helpful!
I had in mind the PO4 as my next paper but, as you may see, the NO3 paper
needs lots of work. As soon as I debug the NO3, I will definitely cover
PO4.
Thanks again!

"Pszemol" > wrote in message
...
> "Guayni; SAHS" > wrote in message
> ...
> [..]
>> In summary, nitrogen is an element that needs to be controlled
>> in your system.
>
> Not only one... and this one is pretty easy...
> Write next article about phosphorus in phosphates - that is worse!
>
>> The nitrogen cycle works only one way.
>
> Sorry Jaime, but this is bunch of BS...
>
> All guys here with deep sand beds in their reef tanks
> or ones having incorporated "plenum" experience very,
> very low nitrates in their tanks at almost limiting
> levels due to the magic actions of anaerobic bacteria
> living in the anoxic layers deep in the sand or plenum.
>
> Ongoing problem in deep sand beds is reported by many
> reeftank owners high levels of phosphates. These are
> not very easy to remove by harvesting algae, especially when
> nitrogen already became the limiting nutrient component...
>
>> Dakin, N. 2003. Complete Encyclopedia of the Sal****er Aquarium
>
> Nick Dakin did not mention anaerobic part of the nitrogen cycle ?
> Are you sure ? Look again... or switch to a better reference.