Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

"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.

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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

Nitrates in Saltwater Aquariums
 

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.