Week 18: The Nitrogen Cycle: In Depth. Beginner How To Guide For Saltwater Aquariums & Reef Tanks

[@sayurasem]

We need this video playing on loop in every local fish store.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)

[@Utubereefer]

You made a dull topic interesting and understandable! 🙏 praise

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Glad you think so! Thanks!

[@laggerpig720]

Awesome explanations!

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

Anaerobic or anaerobic bacteria means no oxygen or void of oxygen. These bacteria reduce Nitrates into ammonia, and no further which is assimilatory denitrification not dissimulative denitrification. What you should’ve said is anaerobic facultative heterotrophic bacteria anaerobes. These bacteria are dimorphic and can live in oxygen free zones along with oxygenated zones; they are called Aerotolerant anaerobes. These bacteria are microarophilic and grow best in very low oxygen zones. These facultative bacteria do dissimulative denitrification in Anoxic zones. Reduce nitrates back to a gaseous element N2 Dinitrogen. Facultative anaerobes can generate fermentation process and behave as respiratory heterotrophs in Anoxic zone. An Anoxic zone only means low oxygen levels but not void of all oxygen. I explain this in quite detail in some of my videos in fact it is a two-part video.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Thanks Kevin for leaving a comment. I read it a few times and I still don't understand! But that's okay! Your knowledge is impressive! Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment!

[@joshua_w]

@@MyFirstFishTank you asked for a scientist to offer corrections! Good job on the comment Dr N! Denitirfication process requires anoxic bacteria. You got the word incorrect. Anoxic means very low oxygen. Anaerobic means NIL oxygen. You even say very low oxygen but get the terms mixed up. It is very common across the hobby for this error but it persists. I do enjoy your content thank you.

[@NanoTankReefer]

Another fantastic in depth video dude!

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Appreciate it!

[@TreverNightingale]

Your best video yet! You made my AP Bio teacher proud too. Now if you can prove that big blocks of marine pure in a low flow area of a sump will house anaerobic denitrifying bacteria, we'll give you a Nobel. (It seems like this is a controversial claim re marine pure blocks.)

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Thanks Trever, and you are right! I've heard this debate before and honestly I have no idea. It seems to me that ceramic media would be too porous for anaerobic areas, but I have not idea!

[@BALD8BIL]

Thank you very much for making this video for us

[@MyFirstFishTank]

It's my pleasure

[@josephkambe1917]

In regards to the atmospheric Nitrogen (N2). There is a significant difference between useable and useless. Yes we do not utilize N2 in our metabolic processes, but it is not useless. Because it makes up most of the atmosphere, it is responsible for most of the atmospheric pressure. It is the atmospheric pressure that keeps our lungs working (the exchange of CO2 and O2 in our lungs is totally dependent on the N2 keeping our lungs open. It's complicated and I would be happy to explain this to you if you would like, just let me know). Also O2, while absolutely necessary for life is highly toxic in high concentrations. So there is a balance between the gases in the atmosphere, too much or too little of any of these gases may not be heathy for us or fish. As an example: If you breathe 100% O2 for any length of time your lungs will start to show degenerative tissue changes. Hope this isn't to simplistic or too complicated to be understandable.

[@nuur2825]

Wait so how do I get anaerobic bacteria into my tank? I hope you cover that soon.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Well, you can't add it to your tank directly. It will eventually colonize your tank over time, all by itself. But will probably take several months. Just make sure you provide the appropriate low-oxygen habitat for the bacteria. You could also get seeded reef rock from another tank and add it into yours.

[@nuur2825]

@@MyFirstFishTank I was planning on adding some bio brick to my Sump when I get a tank. I've heard conflicting things about high or low flow being better for that. Also, wouldn't less frequent water changes early on assuming no coral and hardy fish promote that anaerobic bacteria to grow faster? I have a rough goal of a triton method/low maintenance reef tank as a goal in the end.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Low maintenance is awesome! At the beginning, certainly doing fewer water changes will help keep your nutrient levels high which will provide food for bacteria. It will also supply food for algae, so you may have an outbreak. Using a bio brick, which I use, is definitely good for beneficial bacteria, but there seems to be no consensus on whether or not placing it in a low flow area will actually help encourage anaerobic bacteria. I've found in my tanks, that it takes several months, like six or more, for my anaerobic bacteria to colonize. Also, refugiums with macroalgae really help.

[@nuur2825]

@@MyFirstFishTank Ok thanks so much!

[@gordoncampbell578]

Thought it went from nitrate to nitrite. Another ? is that I've been having trouble getting my tank to finish its cycle, been going on for over 3 months with ether high nitrates to nitrites any suggestions to fix this? I have done water changes also have crabs to help tried Fritzes.

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Hi Bruce, well it sounds like your cycle was done a long time ago. Nitrite NO2- is second after ammonium (NH4+), so after your nitrite spikes and goes back to zero your cycle is over! Sounds like you have some nitrates left in your tank, which is totally normal. Those can be reduced with water changes, but aren't that dangerous to your livestock. Eventually you can add some macroalgae or an algae scrubber to help consume nitrate if you have problem getting them down. but honestly, nitrates don't concern me to much, even up to 40 or 50. If they slowly go down that is totally fine!

[@MadLaserGaming]

Going through this process, my nitrites stay at about 3 no matter what I do. Ammonia go down, but nitrites stay the same, even after a water change. Tank been sitting a month 😑

[@MyFirstFishTank]

As long as your ammonia is down, it is probably okay to add a couple fish. Just keep testing after adding them to be sure the ammonia doesn't spike, and you should be fine! Good work on being patient though!

[@chadb7694]

Thanks for the info. You don't seem like the tattoo type lol

[@MyFirstFishTank]

Ha, they are tattoos of my favorite Bible verse and a quote from my favorite saint!

[@christopherbraxton7289]

I thought it anaerobic bacteria was actually dangerous the gas is built up in the sand bed and could be released into the aquarium

[@MyFirstFishTank]

It certainly can be dangerous if not managed properly. If you have a deep sand bed, you will need to make sure it is full of clean up crew members who will slowly stir the sandbed to release the gas a little bit over time.

[@RogueAquariums]

You explained the nitrogen cycle very well and how denitrification works and the differences between aerobic & anaerobic bacteria 🦠

[@MyFirstFishTank]

:-)