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Old November 17th 08, 05:41 PM posted to rec.aquaria.freshwater.misc
John Smith[_2_]
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Default Fishless tank cycling

Andy Pastuszak wrote:

...
**** actually is not a good source of ammonia. Urine has diluted UREA
in it, not ammonia. The nitrogenous waste byproduct by animal groups
that I know of a
...
Andy


Absolutely correct. However, often you will hear the "experts/gurus"
start the nitrogen cycle with ammonia, [ammonia - nitrites - nitrates.]

However, it is actually, [urea - ammonia - nitrites - nitrates.]
And, urea is actually 90-95% percent of the solids in urine. So, it
gets a much more "natural" nitrogen cycle going in your tanks if you
begin with urea; as, micro-organisms/phytoplankton/algaes/etc. break the
molecular bonds of urea to ammonia in the first place; you need these
organisms also ...

Regards,
JS