The Nitrogen Cycle - Fully Explained!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We have an entire library of videos that will help you better understand water parameters. Check out these helpful videos! What is Water Hardness? kzbin.info/www/bejne/roO8laesltCZrJI How Does pH Impact Fish Health? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mmqxXn2intamgMk How to Lower Ammonia: kzbin.info/www/bejne/a52QgYKfeMhjmqs How to Lower Nitrites: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aaWbqqRjrsmCl6c How to Lower Nitrates: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qIXHm52Qh6d8erc What Does Water Quality Really Mean? kzbin.info/www/bejne/ipyzqIR9fJZ_g7M

[@michael-ev5fk]

Thank you sir. I'll be watching them all.

[@MrRagusawitz]

Is it a good idea to add a couple of air-stones underneath ceramic media for extra oxygen?

[@ghos282]

Incomplete Information - An apparent misunderstanding of the difference between the 'Anoxic' and the 'Anaerobic' zones - (and and this from many people that still put their substrate directly on the bottom of their aquariums (Which creates Anaerobic Zones) - Demonstrating an apparent lack of understanding of complete microbial processes, and the SLOW flow rate Dwell Time, which is Critical to these Biological (as opposed to high flow rate Mechanical) Filtration processes.) In the water conditions of The 'Anoxic' (NOT 'anaerobic') Zones. Defined as the area where no free oxygen exists, but Nitrites, Nitrates, and Phosphates do exist: these Anoxic Zone Bacteria get the Oxygen that they need to thrive by Breaking down Nitrites, Nitrates, and Phosphates to 1. Get the Oxygen they need, and 2. Release Nitrogen Gas as a product of these processes. By comparison, in Water Filtration: 'Anaerobic' Zones are to be avoided at all costs. As they basically undo all of the work which both the Aerobic and the Anoxic microbes have accomplished, as well as creating other nasty compounds such as Hydrogen Sulfides. You can reference, Jaubert Plenum (The 'Monaco System') - (as applied to Fresh Water systems,) as a starting point.

[@Bucephalandra]

@@ghos282 'Anaerobic' zones issue may make a confusion especially for beginners. So he might have avoided it.

[@yoinkaim1499]

10:48 Can you please explain why to keep nitrate At 20ppm? I did fully watch the video and saw you explaining "Denitrification",so in that sense what you actually want is 0 ppm of nitrate in your tank (if you could that is) or should there always be some amount (like 20ppm)?

[@AshvirBains]

As a microbiologist who is starting to get into the aquarium hobby, I absolutely love this video! Would love even more detail about the Nitrobacter genus actually, since that's the step I always seem to have trouble with during my cycles. Low ammonia and nirates, but high nitrites :( Would love to learn more about how to better establish an effective colony of nitrobacter bacteria to reduce all of my nitrites to nitrates

[@phyrehaven6397]

I just started a part time job at a pet store, and the owner got mad at me for not being able to grasp the Fish-in tank cycling process. After watching your presentation on the brass tacks of the Nitrogen cycle, I think I will be able to understand the Cycling process much easier, and I can relay the info to them to prove I understand the process. This was super informative and you broke it down so succinctly. Kudos, and thanks for making this video. I am subscribing now.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@anonymousdude1994]

One of the only aquarist with a science degree... very informative- great video

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching!

[@bebetaylor3547]

AND... very impressive ! I’m so glad I found his channel, my little Betta, Tilly, and I, thank you very much!

[@TheDowntown02]

Yes! Amen!!

[@PULAG]

@@bebetaylor3547 Tilly stilly alive?

[@bebetaylor3547]

@@PULAG Thanks for asking about Tilly. Sadly, Tilly died about a year ago.

[@Gomezforsure]

It’s 2024 and I barely got into the fish hobby and this made me subscribe to your channel. All respect and admiration 🤝

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you for being here!

[@zakiyasin3163]

God Bless you sir you are doing a very good job to help us keep these beautiful creatures of Almighty God

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@slimpickens6852]

You got a thumbs up in the beginning just for the fact that you explained that this video is not to solve problems. DOPE!!!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@monozuki]

Hi Jason, I'm a chemist just starting with planted aquariums and I've really enjoyed your video, great presentation! Glad to be able to see someone talking more in-depth about the topic and I think you've managed to achieve the happy medium between scientific detail and yet still being perfectly accessible to a lay person. You've quickly bumped into being my second source of science-based information regarding the hobby (after Diana Walstad of course, haha)

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you for being here! Always nice to have more science nerds like me watching. :-)

[@ryanchapman4]

Hi! As an engineer I loved the technical detail you go into in your videos. It is much better than other peoples videos. Please keep these coming! Great job!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Will do! Thanks for watching!

[@Snow-uz5yw]

As a medical student I can assure you this video explained the nitrogen cycle perfectly and used all the right terms. Perfect video.

[@ThePinkbunny007]

I wish I had you as a professor, you seem like an awesome teacher!!

[@TigerUNC52]

Great video! You did an excellent job explaining the FULL nitrogen cycle. As an Engineer I appreciate the details even if I don't fully understand the organic chemistry going on. You mentioned creating an anaerobic section to foster the growth of Denitrifying bacteria. Can you do a video on how to create such a system? With your expertise with water chemistry, I would like to hear your suggestions. Thanks. Keep up the in depth videos!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

I will add it to the list. : -)

[@anthonycoates1604]

This was a terrific video Jason!!! I enjoy the videos covering the "scientific" side of the hobby.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks - I enjoy this side of the hobby as well. : -)

[@_lucid_one]

As an RN, I appreciated the explanation with the terminology included. I was unaware of the reduction portion of the cycle! I'm not quite there yet, so I'll keep changing my water and growing my plants:) Thanks for the info.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@jaysonwild4899]

This video just blew my mind. I came for the fish, but learned so much more. A concise, well explained knowledge drop. I would love to see a series of general bio/chem topics.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@imtheboss3389]

you totally helped me alot.. i really have a hard time with my small tank and i bought a big tank to fix my issue and do mainatenance .. i also made a diy filter and at the same time airpump hahaha.. Philippines here

[@ahappyimago]

Great content. Exactly what I was looking for.

[@DeformedDevices]

I'm a geologist with a lot of chemistry background. GO FURTHER!!!! Love the science. Really helps me understand things and help me build my tanks.

[@gtoyos]

Excellent explanation. Flashback to my years teaching bio and biochemistry...and applying all that to maintaining my tank...not easy!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

But it’s fun 😀

[@carolebraswell982]

As a nurse and a new fish hobbyist I thoroughly enjoyed this educational video! Thank you so much!!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@vdglife]

Excellent! Very simple explanation to a complex system. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Hi Victor - thanks for watching!

[@sekwow6]

New fish owner here. Educating myself before having more than 1 fish Loving your channel. So informative. Well presented.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Glad it's helping. : -)

[@SClarkeOhlendorf]

Helpful. Thank you. I especially appreciate addressing the portion after nitrates, which is regularly excluded.

[@RicknWRX]

Great information. The pet store I go to advised me that I could cycle the tank with a few fish in it. Watching this makes me nervous. I can tell you know your stuff. 2 weeks in and no nitrites or nitrates. Minute ammonia. Hoping it can cycle slowly and all will be well. Keep up the informative videos!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Cycling a tank with fish works, but the problem is the fish usually go through pretty bad conditions until the nitrification process is complete. Often the fish are more susceptible to disease and a much bigger problem occurs as a result.

[@RicknWRX]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics thanks for the reply. We will see, hope the fish make it through safely. 2 weeks in so far and no ammonia nitrites or nitrates. Hope it holds! Maybe my plants are cleaning things up.

[@RicknWRX]

Next tank however I am 100% cycling before fish.

[@littlebirdy8939]

I'm doing my very best to follow along! I work at petsmart and they didn't train me AT ALL in water chemistry. I purchased my own 45 gallon tank to hopefully learn from my own experience but I've had so much trouble. Thank you so much for breaking it down I'm going to have to watch this a few times to really get it down because I don't want to be uneducated while selling animals!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That is so awesome you are taking the time (on your own time) to learn water chemistry! We have lots of videos on the subject. : -)

[@vistarsecurity9569]

Here is a question for you. Does the water flow rate (volume) in a filter affect the colonisation rate of beneficial bacteria? For instance , will a 1800L/H filter nitrify 5x the amount of ammonia than a 300L/H filter? Or will the flow impede the bacteria at all?

[@beingL]

Thanks for this. I believe I understand now why people say do not feed new fish for a couple of days.

[@justanotherhunter6634]

Im taking aquarium science in college and im having a lot of trouble understanding so i started looking for videos to fix that, and by god sir vids like these are exactly what i need, keep up the awesome work

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Good to hear - good luck!

[@elainecunico7701]

Love this video please do more detailed level 👍

[@njseashorechas2698]

Fascinating, Thank you!

[@codyholthouse6952]

Excellent video

[@djcmission]

You reminded me of all sorts of stuff. Good video. Those high energy phosphate bonds (ATP) are the true power.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you :-)

[@ktrimberger]

Excellent presentation. I'm considering all this as i new up my chart aquarium. Thank you

[@LuxxVee]

You. Are. So. Cool. 🥰thank you for doing this for all of us!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you for watching!

[@hayleeandari1]

This was awesome and so helpful. Thanks!!

[@usmc72409]

I did it all wrong. Fish bought and went into water same day. So happy I’ve learned so much from this channel. I bought the api master test kit. I feel like a scientist! Thankfully I caught the ammonia early. Waiting on the nitrate and nitrates still. I’ve been doing the water changes. I am doing every step to ensure these fish make it thru the cycle. I already want to upgrade the tank size so I think I will buy a bigger tank and cycle it correctly before adding the fish. I will do all I can to keep these poor fish as happy as possible while their current tank finishes cycling. I feel terrible that I started the whole thing wrong. I love watching them and their little personalities. I already know who the alpha is. Who the beta is and and each of their territories. I absolutely love animal behavior. It fascinates me. Never realized how aggressive fish are! And mine are not aggressive breeds but still. The dominance hierarchies are so interesting. If I could go back and do it right I would. Hopefully they all make it thru the cycle! I will be monitoring closely and doing water changes as much as they need until my tank is cycled correctly.

[@cbrunk5370]

I am a long term aquarium owner and I loved the detailed explanation on that. I pride myself in doing as little with my tanks as possible. I believe the more you mess with your tank the more likely something can go wrong. I have gotten some of the bigger tanks down to one water change once every two years. Being that I have Cichlid tanks that can be a difficult task since they do not take too kind to live plants. However I am very protective over my large algae colonies, The only part of the tanks free of algae is the front. I also have added freshwater clams , other invertebrates, and microbes and to the mix. I test my water religiously and I very rarely have any spikes in ammonia, nitrites or nitrates. When I say rarely 1 crash over 10 years, nitrates and nitrites spiked 3 months after a tank move. I believe it was due to the fact that we eliminated all of the beneficial bacteria and algae. While I do not have a very in depth understanding as to how this works. I have to believe my success stems from this. I am not saying I think that the clams filter out nitro's ( cause they do not) but I do think they add to the overall balance of the tank witch controls my microbes and algae. I would like to know your thoughts since you clearly have a more advanced understanding.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The clams are certainly filtering out organic materials and converting that to energy and using materials for biosynthesis, so in that respect there aren't as many nutrients in the tank for other organisms. The algae is helping limit the nitrates in the tank.

[@cbrunk5370]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank you for your response. My goals are to recreate natural biodiversity or get at least as close to that as I can. Do you have any videos regarding natural balance

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Check out the tour I did of LR Bretz fish room!

[@romankrhounek5974]

Jason is amazing

[@NiX_aKi]

Cool man! I like your honesty at the beginning. I didn't know that NO3 can be eliminated in a different manner. All along I thought the cycle ended at NO3 being consumed by plants or disposed off thru water changes. Thanks man I appreciate your effort in making this educational video 👍

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Glad you liked it.

[@Ect4health]

Got it! Great explanation.

[@JamesElmquist]

Haha I’m here just to learn love this guy

[@cyjardenil555]

Right after hearing your Credentials, I immediately click subscribe

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Glad you are here!

[@bwicked3059]

Thanks bud 🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@POSminiracer]

6 tears and I'm still sharing this video as my go to for sharing with new hobbyists

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@goranthoren5522]

Great information, really appreciate it! As a newbie, I apologize for what might be a stupid question but I wonder where those nitrosomonas and nitrobacter come from, do they live in all kinds of water everywhere or is it some kind of chemical process that makes them "magically" appear? Once again, sorry if I sound stupid but I'm too curious not to ask.

[@aquariumsmaintainedbyandy8408]

Bravo!! fantastic information. As usual great video!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@jmacd98]

Very well explained, thanks👍

[@alekkoomanoff7281]

Great explanation of entire cycle. Thought you might be a teacher. Have you checked out Dr. Kevin Novak's videos? He has a filter system that breaks down nitrate. Rants a bit, but interesting. Would be good for v. large tanks w/ big cichlids.

[@lasheydavis]

This was great learning

[@Kiezzerpdc]

Well Explained!👏

[@ZiggyBoyz]

I hate science, infact I failed all the 3 subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) during my schooling years.. but you made this nitrogen cycle subject so intriguing to me that I watched till the end and felt like, oh come on Jason, that's it? It must be more, or is it just that? I wish you were my science teacher back then during my school years 🤣 Keep your style of informative and practical learning video flowing Bro! 👊😎👍

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Appreciate you being here! Glad it wasn't too excruciating. :-)

[@snailgod6794]

tysm for this im 13 this helped me so much

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Good to hear!

[@JohnnyMacalvee-cf7et]

Great info.

[@davidgrant3115]

Hear , Hear , Very good vid , do you know anything about pensions ?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Not sure I can help there. : -)

[@KennyFishbone]

I've been reading about the nitrogen cycle for weeks and you're the first one to COMPLETE the cycle! Now, I'm on a mission to become an advanced hobbist and learn to control or manipulate the cycle!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Awesome!

[@travism7704]

Could you speed up the start of a cycle by giving an ammonium boost right at the beginning? Say once I've set up the tank and it's just rocks substrate and water, if I dropped a dead shrimp in there?

[@pandascribbles7211]

Travis M absolutely you can also add liquid ammonia

[@usmc72409]

If I use an already cycled filter from someone else’s tank, does it matter if the filter dried in between tanks? Or do I need to ensure the cycled filter is submerged in water or remains moist until I get it into my uncycled tank?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Yes - the microbes die if the filter dries out.

[@faditu2781]

Hi, I am trying to cycle my 75 gallon and it is been 2 month and i have some nitrate but still see nitrite, one thing i noticed that my tap water ph is over 8 , but my tank water ph is 6. Not sure what is lower ph after it gets added to the tank. I did some research, and it says that low ph can stall the cycle. I trust your channel the most because you understand this stuff very well. Do you think i need to raise ph in order for the cycle to complete? What could be the reason ph gets low after water gets added to the tank? Note, i do have a couple fishes in there and that's due to not understanding the cycle when i got them. i am trying to keep them alive by adding prime every other day. I have also been adding stability to establish bacteria. Thank you

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

If you have any driftwood in the tank and there is low KH that can happen. Fritzyme 7 will help with the nitrite as well.

[@raysfishroom2929]

Hi Jason i would like your thought on the use of carbon in a planted tank I like to use carbon in my tanks however I have been seeing a lot of fish keepers say the carbon removes fertilizers ok thank you I enjoy your videos

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Hi Ray - that is true. Carbon will remove the fertilizers that you add to your tank. Most aquatic plant-keepers stay away from it. Hope this helps.

[@michellep3814]

Lately, I have seen a little bit discussion about ammonia-oxidizing archaea and and the nitrogen cycle in marine aquariums. Are they still relevant in freshwater aquariums?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Not as easy to establish. Also, because tank maintenance is so much easier it’s often better to just by plants and let them do the job.

[@michellep3814]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thank you for the answer!

[@613J]

I have a question. Is it necessary to put a nitrifying bacteria every 2 weeks? What is the role of nitrifying bacteria? Thank you.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Great question! No, once your tank is cycled their is no need to add more.

[@tony2169]

I never got an ammonia Spike now my nitrite is 15 PPM. Let it ride?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

If there are no fish in the tank - sure. If you have fish I would either add used filter media, Fritzyme 7 or start doing water changes and add salt (if the fish can handle it and there are no plants).

[@halcyon1017]

What's the time frame? I always get a feeling that the good bacteria in the filter is not exposed to the bad water for long enough. The water flows through the filter within seconds. Is that enough time for the bacteria to break down the compounds?

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Sure - the microbes are constantly being exposed to ammonia and nitrites either way.

[@halcyon1017]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks for your response. Yes, technically the microbes are constantly being exposed to the bad compounds, but that's by nature of the filter media being submerged in the water. At any any given moment in time, there is a different volume of water exposed to the filter media. For example, let's say that we have a hypothetical filter media that's 3"x3"x3". At a given instant in time, say 't0', the water is exposed to 9 cubic inches of filter media. After an arbitrary amount of time, say 't1', a separate mass of 9 cubic inches of water is exposed to the filter media. So yes, the water (on the whole) is always exposed to the filter media; but it's not the same finite mass of water at every moment in time. So my question is, however long it takes for the pump to push the water through the 9 cubic inches of media, is that enough for the bacteria to break the ammonia into nitrite and nitrate?

[@infantryveteran2636]

Re-watching videos to give a thumbs up where I didn't before! "Lots of Babies"!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

That's awesome man! Thanks for watching. :-)

[@jvg6541]

I have been having such issues with my tank. I have a 30 gallon aquarium with a Marineland Penguin Pro 375 and 275 filter, with what came with the filter. I had 6 Zebra Daino, 6 Red Platy, 4 Dalmatian Platy, 10 Neon Tetra and 1 Chinese Algae Eater. Since the day I put fish in the tank (I gave the filters and tank a week from filling before I stocked it), fish died every day. I am down to two Neon Tetra's, 1 Dalmatian Platy, 3 Red Platy and all the Zebra Daino's are still alive. I don't want to add more until I figure out what's going on. I finally bought the API Master Test Kit and Nitrite is through the roof. However, all other parameters are fine. From what I found, there's noting to do but a water change and waiting for the bacteria to do it's job. Any thoughts? I'm new to this.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

We have a video on high nitrites, but elevated nitrites can certainly kill fish quick. Hope everything turns out ok.

[@elgezouliabdul4973]

Hi Thank you very much. Please I have a question. I do have an external filter which already cycled now for about 2 month ,it was cycled in water temperature 28/30 C. Now I need to take the same filter and fix it in a new tank for bringing new fish but the new tank is cold water my question is do the beneficial bacteria going to die if I shift the external filter from warm water to cold water? If yes please tell me how can I do it. Thanks a lot

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

You should be fine if it's just a cool water tank (22-23 degrees C).

[@elgezouliabdul4973]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Hi there thank you for your reply,here in belgium now a days is very cold so the water is near to 18 degree C in the the night and around 19/20C in the morning . Thank you

[@PhishHeadxbl]

Why do you not have more subscribers!!!!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Were getting there. : -) Thanks for watching!

[@NielsTichelaar]

Qeustion. Got no ammonia. Low nitrite almost no nitrate. Is in a pond with alot of plants. Pond is month old. I did multiple water changes in the last week but my nitrite readings Stay the same. What to do

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

You could add Fritz Turbo Start. That should help shorten the spike.

[@NielsTichelaar]

@@PrimeTimeAquatics Thanks il take a look online dont think we have it in the stores in the Netherlands.

[@johnwayneaquaria8770]

I would absolutely love to have you as a biological/ science teacher. I’m sure the kids you teach are pretty lucky

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Some probably feel that way, others maybe not as much. Haha

[@FallenAngel20149]

Oh you’re SMART smart

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

: -)

[@Notevenone]

I know you made this a year ago but I have a question. I have been in the hobby for many many years and have cycles countless aquaria. But now this younger generation is saying that the cycle isn’t complete until you have nitrate readings. I don’t believe this to be true. Can you tell me if it is and what ppm is considered cycled? Thank you

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

The idea behind that is if you have nitrates, you know you have nitrobacter and nitrosomonas at sufficient concentrations to convert ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate. Sometimes people think their tank is cycled because they don't ammonia or nitrites only to find out after they start adding fish the microbial populations weren't high enough to deal with the bio-load generated from the addition of fish. It's kind of a safe rule of thumb. However, if the tank is heavily planted, and there are no fish, you may not have nitrates until the fish are present.

[@Notevenone]

Prime Time Aquatics thank you for your fast response. Thank of course makes sense.

[@woollyfae]

My son sent this link and I got stuck on bacterial function. Someone should create learning tools by developing fully rounded characters in the microbiology world. Little bacterial x-men 😜. … I’ll have to watch it again to retain the rest

[@PULAG]

The Jeff Nippard of Aquariums.

[@kalawai2000]

I like science...

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Cool! Thanks for watching

[@jaytee3557]

I've recently become the father to a Beta fish, thanks for the advice

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Have fun!

[@kelleyfranke3372]

This was next level! I appreciate the "why" in anything I am doing! I feel like I just leveled up

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Hope it helped. :-)

[@vishalbhandwalkar4580]

I wish my biology class to be in such a beautiful fish room, and my bio teacher as you. Nice white board explanation

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@AbattoirSiren]

I wanted even more chemistry

[@mollychrisa1]

Yes 👩‍🎓👩‍🏫☯️☮🧝‍♀️💝👨‍🔬👩‍🔬🥰plis

[@Nellykir]

Thank you! Finally a thorough video that explains in details but not too complicated to understand! Would love more videos like that ❤

[@RB-ob2nz]

Amazing breakdown of information. I’ve been in the aquatics hobby for a long time. I’ve never seen the cycle explained in this much detail. Thank you sir for sharing your wisdom and bettering our awesome hobby! I always learn something new with every video of yours that I watch. Keep the awesome videos coming!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Glad it was helpful.

[@TazawaTanks]

I love the scientific breakdown. Good video Jason!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thanks Zenzo!

[@TazawaTanks]

Prime Time Aquatics I will have to reference this video when people want a more detailed, scientific explanation. Bravo!

[@wagnerbaseballgloverepair6853]

I really appreciate the dry erase board. So often people talk about something but only have bullet points. Seeing things laid out in a pattern truly helps my mind memorize the picture...and with it the concepts.

[@ashleeboivin4338]

This was phenomenal! I did have a basic knowledge of the nitrogen cycle, but this just took it to a whole new level and lightbulbs were going off throughout the entire video. Appreciate you so much! Best video out there on this imo. Would love to see more videos like this👌

[@angelad.redcay738]

Same here. This gave a new depth to my understanding of the process. Curious if there’s a follow up video as to what organisms convert nitrates into nitrogen gas, thereby reducing need for as many water changes

[@josh_aqua_arts]

Thank you so much! This is very educational! Always get confused with the nitrogen cycle, this definitely helps in terms of cycling my tank.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Glad it helped!

[@michael-ev5fk]

Thanks Jason 😊 I just started the nitrogen cycle in my 200g tank. Added the Seachem bacteria starter and testing the water once a week now, it's been 2 weeks since the start. No fish in the tank, waiting for the cycle to get ammonia to zero as per this video, it's .5ppm right now. I wasn't really sure when I could add fish, so I'll wait awhile, 4 weeks or so. I've also added a little bit of flake fish food and one raw shrimp to decay and create waste. Hopefully I got this recipe right so far, we'll see. Thanks for all the great information, love the class 👍

[@virtualworldsbyloff]

Why is everyone stressed with water changes ? Rivers, Lakes, Ponds & Oceans, they all do Water Changes

[@generationsphotography1721]

I’m a microbiology undergrad. Can you come teach my micro classes?

[@bradwhite8495]

Thank You for the detailed explanation, loved it!

[@_PlentyofPancakes_]

I just set up my first tank today with live plants! Hearing the nitrogen cycle explained this well and in depth gives me the urge to cry. I've seen quite a few people try but nothing clicked quite like your explanation. Thank you so much for your time and dedication!

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@ericwitt8098]

I did terrible in school but one class i aced was marine bio. I tried fish tanks when i was younger but just too young to actually understand the environment in an aquarium. That being said 10 years later I tried again and now have an efficient stabilized fresh water aquarium and its mainly because of your videos. I tell everyone to watch your videos when they are starting this interesting scientific hobby. Now that i know this is your career and your also a teacher with degrees, MUCH respect! Keep on giving! Ill be purchasing a t shirt soon! Haha

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you Eric! Glad you are enjoying the hobby!

[@doomfloof101]

I would love more videos with scientific explanations like this, and I'm definitely sharing this video! I also have a couple questions: this is from an aside, but if the oxygen humans breathe becomes water, where does the CO2 we exhale come from? I understand that aquarium fish also add CO2 to their water for aquatic plants to tanks so I'd love to know how that works in, say, the cycle of a planted tank where both Nitrogen and CO2 are important. My impression is that CO2 is part of the chemical cycle happening there and that it's entangled with the nitrogen cycle, but I don't even know where it fits at this point - and as someone starting a "low tech" planted tank, I'd like to. The other thing is: what are advanced aquarists doing to try to remove water changes from the current de facto endpoint, where NO3/Nitrate is the end of the road without intervening through water changes? I'm guessing plants are part of the equation. I'd love to hear an evidence-based, scientifically-explained take on what seems like it might be working or not, and what prevents a fully functional cycle from being achievable.

[@melissapappas980]

This was a great explanation for the nitrogen cycle in aquariums. I'd love to see one tailored to corals specifically since they have their own suite of symbiotic microbes that oxidise/reduce nitrogen.

[@factorylad5071]

That's a funny one. I was wondering whether there might be a really strange reason why they are dying , such as why we dispose of all our waste on land when 7/8 surface us water ? Sorry idiot question ask Green peace.

[@curiousbunny2573]

There are some people who get whole eco systems to exist in an airtight glass container! These ecosystems have lasted YEARS! Usually there’s few large animals in these containers. Maybe a crab of some kind.

[@ashleycampbell2266]

Thank you sooo much! Very clear explanation! ❤️ As a beginner I’ve made the first mistake of buying a female koi betta fish before preparing a tank. With all the information across youtube I felt I was doomed to have a dead fish, until I found this vid!

[@deityreefer6617]

Great video really helped me under stand the little things I didn’t get .. keep making these great videos

[@4x4lo8o]

Thanks for making this, it helped me a lot. All of your videos are great

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you! Appreciate you watching!

[@joehanney3495]

A dedicated playlist of "whiteboard science" videos would be great :-)

[@ThePlaybackRoom]

Golden Vid Jason! thank you !! science is one of my favorite topic to talk/learn about, although i am pretty familiar with the process, i thoroughly enjoyed this video, wish i had a teacher like you back in my school days !

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Appreciate you watching!

[@snoopdogg734]

Wow...awesome video. ..you are a true fish nerd, I wish my professor's white board lessons went this well. You have a gift to break complicated science down to manageable pieces. I appreciate your time and energy dedicated to this video...thank you very much.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Thank you!

[@angiebear8727]

Love that you have a degree and share that knowledge to help people take the best possible care of their fish n plants. That and your wife’s enthusiasm for the hobby along with creative talent is why I binged this channel yesterday and am now a subscriber.

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Glad you are here!

[@tuco86x]

Let me get this straight. As a teenager I'd be bored out of my mind and running from this. As an adult I'm here willingly and intrigued....

[@PrimeTimeAquatics]

Too funny 😂