Aquariums Articles Why it's Important to Know what Nitrogen Cycle is in Aquarium Keeping Aquarium Save on Products in Any Category. Simply Fast Savings. Any living organism on the face of the planet needs the process called the nitrogen cycle (yes, that would include you!). Although this is so, not too many people actually know what nitrogen cycle is and why it is highly important in keeping many biological progressions. By definition, nitrogen cycle is the process of nitrogen and nitrogen-inclusive compound transformations. The earth's atmosphere comprises 79% of nitrogen. Although nitrogen is a major part of the planet, most living organisms can't use it in its crude form. Plants are only able to use it once it is in its fixed form (examples are nitrate ions, urea and ammonia). Once the animals feed on plants that have these forms of nitrogen, then they, too, can have the nitrogen in their bodies. When it comes to keeping an aquarium, nitrogen cycle means there are bacteria in your fish tank that convert the ammonia into nitrites and, eventually, into nitrates. Since this is so, it is necessary for you to learn to cycle your tank. It takes weeks to cycle your tank and it would be safest to say that you have finally established a safe environment for your fish when the nitrates are finally present and the nitrites and ammonia are at level zero. Currentsea Wavemakers and Powerheads Wavemaker for 47.95 , Maxi Jet 900=$15.50 and 1200 =$16.99. There are four major processes that contribute to the nitrogen cycle: nitrogen fixation, decay, nitrification, and denitrification. Nitrogen fixation involves three other processes to break apart the inert nitrogen molecule (lightning or the so-called atmospheric fixation, biological fixation or industrial fixation). There are certain bacteria that are responsible for the nitrogen fixation: they are the symbiotic bacteria, anaerobic bacteria (free living) and the cyanobacteria (also known as the blue-green algae). Aquarium For Less Looking for aquarium? Find exactly what you want today. Decay, simply put, means nitrogen is produced in the form of ammonia through the excretions of plants (yes, plants also poop) and animals. In the case of fish, the more fish that you have in a small tank, the higher the chances of getting toxic levels of ammonia in their environment. With nitrification, the plants can actually take ammonia in but the decay-produced ammonia is transformed into nitrates. There are two steps in nitrification and they are when: NH3 is oxidized by Nitrosomonas to become nitrites and when nitrites are oxidized by microbacters to become nitrates. These two types of bacteria that were mentioned are the so-called nitrifying bacteria. These bacteria make it possible for the plants' roots to use up nitrogen. In some cases, there are soils that contain archaeal microbes that turn ammonia to nitrites. There are also a lot of legumes that undergo nitrification. Free 3D Fish Screensaver Turn your desktop into a virtual fish aquarium with your free 3D marine aquarium screensaver. Beautiful colors, life-like animations. Denitrification is the process that replenishes the atmosphere of the nitrogen gas. In this case it is, again, the bacteria that do the work. Anaerobic bacteria use up nitrates in their respiration, which finalizes the nitrogen cycle. Aquarium Quickly search merchant prices. 100,000 Stores. Deals. Reviews. Now that you know why nitrogen cycle is important, it's high time for you to know that it is also the ‘main ingredient' in making amino acids, nucleic acids and proteins—all are essential to human existence. And as if these aren't enough, perhaps you would appreciate the nitrogen cycle more if you knew that it is also an essential part of RNA, DNA and chlorophyll. Now that we have that established, it's high time we go back to keeping the aquarium safe from having toxic levels of ammonia. It's as simple as this—fish naturally live in an environment where the ratio of water to fish is astronomical. But when you start out with your fish tank, this ratio is diminished and so are the chances of keeping the water safe for your pet fish. Aquarium Screensaver 3D: Download $19.95 Aquarium Screensaver 3D. Turn your computer screen into a breathtaking 3D tropical Aquarium with realistic sounds and real-time animation. Download now. Only $19.95. To avoid toxicity in your aquarium, be sure to test it. You should be alarmed when the test kit is able to measure any amount of ammonia in your fish tank. A safe level should be when the test kit can't gauge the ammonia. It will take time for you to get a handle on being a real aquarium owner. It takes patience and love of the new hobby to establish a new home for the fish. When this is achieved, processes such as the nitrogen cycle in your fish tank will be as easy as A-B-C! The Pet Stop Source for marine fish and invertebrates, aquariums, and supplies. Find monthly aquarium specials. Ainuddin Mohamad is the Webmaster of the Online Reading Center at http://onlinereadingcenter.com which features online reading resources.