Planted-Pete™
New Member
There are many cycling how-to's out there and they will all get you from ammonia, to nitrate which is removed by water changes, this is called the nitrification process. Any of these guides can and should be followed, however with minor modifications to your tank setup, you and also harbor beneficial anaerobic bacteria that will complete your nitrogen cycle, breaking nitrates into oxygen (which is used) and nitrogen gas which harmlessly offgasses from your tank. This process is called denitrification. There are many sources for this information out there, it's amazingly unknown in the aquarium community.
I've received push back and don't understand why.. here I will post some info and sources for you to make your own informed decision.
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate occurring in separate organisms
Denitrification is a microbially facilitated process where nitrate (NO3−) is reduced and ultimately produces molecular nitrogen (N2) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products.
Source: Wikipedia
Thiobacillus denitrificans, Micrococcus denitrificans, and some species of Serratia, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter are implicated as denitrifiers. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can, under anaerobic conditions (as in swampy or water-logged soils), reduce the amount of fixed nitrogen (as fertilizer) by up to 50 percent. Without denitrification, however, the Earth’s supply of nitrogen would eventually accumulate in the oceans, since nitrates are highly soluble and are continuously leached from the soil into nearby bodies of water.
source: encyclopedia brittanica
By Tony Griffitts:
Aerobic bacteria, also known as the good bacteria in the aquarium ecosystem that helps oxidize ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate (NO3) is the most common bacteria written about in freshwater aquarium articles and books. Often what is left out in publications about the freshwater aquarium hobby is the lesser known beneficial anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria live in areas devoid of oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria use the oxygen attached to the nitrate to respire, which frees up nitrogen gas that then can escape into the atmosphere. The most common areas within the aquarium ecosystem you can find anaerobic bacteria is in the lower layer of sand and deep gravel beds. It can also be found in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, including fish. To encourage large populations of anaerobic bacteria the environment must not have easy access to the oxygen rich water column.
This is a lengthy but quick read and should be referred to for further info
Source:http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/AnaerobicBacteria.html
WHAT IS A FULL CYCLE? *If someone tells you the aquarium nitrogen cycle ends with the production of nitrate that is incorrect - please read on* A full cycle is completed by bacteria - the aerobic part of biological filtration which processes ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate followed by an anaerobic part which processes nitrate into soluble nitrogen which bubbles off to the atmosphere. Therefore it requires a suitable amount of excellent quality filter media to be able to provide the environment for both aerobic AND anaerobic bacteria - that is what Biohome ultimate does perfectly but even with such good media there are limitations and we recommend the following amounts for different stocking scenarios: (1 US gallon = 3.8 litres) (1kg = 2.2 lbs) Average community tropical aquarium = 1kg per 100 litres Average coldwater aquarium = 1kg - 1.5kg per 100 litres Predator aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Large cichlid aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Malawi / Tanganyikan aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Marine aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Average mixed fish pond = 1kg per 200 litres Average koi pond = 1kg per 150 litres Avoid using any products which claim to remove, detoxify or bind ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as they will have a noticeable starving effect on the bacteria which will manifest as an inability to achieve a full cycle due to a low population of bacteria on a starvation diet. Let Nature do the work and as long as you have a suitable sized, well set up filter there is no reason why a full cycle won't be achieved. You may be disagreeing with the above figures but remember that the recommendations are for a FULL CYCLE not half a job - achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is quite easy since aerobic bacteria grows freely on any surface but the anaerobic bacteria responsible for COMPLETING the cycle needs more a specialized habitat. Size a filter properly, set it up sensibly and you will have perfect water - it's that simple....and your filter won't be the dreaded 'Nitrate factory'.
Source: youtube.com "pimp my filter series"
Please do your research, it's valid info that will benefit the livelyhood of our beloved fish. I've had perfect water for months in an overstocked tank that's well overfed by using a super thick substrate and proper media DESIGNED to harbor the anaerobic bacteria. Remember these bacteria are slow growing and can take several months to build up sufficient colonies to completely remove nitrate.
I've received push back and don't understand why.. here I will post some info and sources for you to make your own informed decision.
Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate occurring in separate organisms
Denitrification is a microbially facilitated process where nitrate (NO3−) is reduced and ultimately produces molecular nitrogen (N2) through a series of intermediate gaseous nitrogen oxide products.
Source: Wikipedia
Thiobacillus denitrificans, Micrococcus denitrificans, and some species of Serratia, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter are implicated as denitrifiers. Pseudomonas aeruginosa can, under anaerobic conditions (as in swampy or water-logged soils), reduce the amount of fixed nitrogen (as fertilizer) by up to 50 percent. Without denitrification, however, the Earth’s supply of nitrogen would eventually accumulate in the oceans, since nitrates are highly soluble and are continuously leached from the soil into nearby bodies of water.
source: encyclopedia brittanica
By Tony Griffitts:
Aerobic bacteria, also known as the good bacteria in the aquarium ecosystem that helps oxidize ammonia into nitrite and then into nitrate (NO3) is the most common bacteria written about in freshwater aquarium articles and books. Often what is left out in publications about the freshwater aquarium hobby is the lesser known beneficial anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria live in areas devoid of oxygen. Anaerobic bacteria use the oxygen attached to the nitrate to respire, which frees up nitrogen gas that then can escape into the atmosphere. The most common areas within the aquarium ecosystem you can find anaerobic bacteria is in the lower layer of sand and deep gravel beds. It can also be found in the gastrointestinal tract of animals, including fish. To encourage large populations of anaerobic bacteria the environment must not have easy access to the oxygen rich water column.
This is a lengthy but quick read and should be referred to for further info
Source:http://www.aquaworldaquarium.com/Articles/TonyGriffitts/AnaerobicBacteria.html
WHAT IS A FULL CYCLE? *If someone tells you the aquarium nitrogen cycle ends with the production of nitrate that is incorrect - please read on* A full cycle is completed by bacteria - the aerobic part of biological filtration which processes ammonia to nitrite and nitrite to nitrate followed by an anaerobic part which processes nitrate into soluble nitrogen which bubbles off to the atmosphere. Therefore it requires a suitable amount of excellent quality filter media to be able to provide the environment for both aerobic AND anaerobic bacteria - that is what Biohome ultimate does perfectly but even with such good media there are limitations and we recommend the following amounts for different stocking scenarios: (1 US gallon = 3.8 litres) (1kg = 2.2 lbs) Average community tropical aquarium = 1kg per 100 litres Average coldwater aquarium = 1kg - 1.5kg per 100 litres Predator aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Large cichlid aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Malawi / Tanganyikan aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Marine aquarium = 1.5kg - 2kg per 100 litres Average mixed fish pond = 1kg per 200 litres Average koi pond = 1kg per 150 litres Avoid using any products which claim to remove, detoxify or bind ammonia, nitrite and nitrate as they will have a noticeable starving effect on the bacteria which will manifest as an inability to achieve a full cycle due to a low population of bacteria on a starvation diet. Let Nature do the work and as long as you have a suitable sized, well set up filter there is no reason why a full cycle won't be achieved. You may be disagreeing with the above figures but remember that the recommendations are for a FULL CYCLE not half a job - achieving 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite is quite easy since aerobic bacteria grows freely on any surface but the anaerobic bacteria responsible for COMPLETING the cycle needs more a specialized habitat. Size a filter properly, set it up sensibly and you will have perfect water - it's that simple....and your filter won't be the dreaded 'Nitrate factory'.
Source: youtube.com "pimp my filter series"
Please do your research, it's valid info that will benefit the livelyhood of our beloved fish. I've had perfect water for months in an overstocked tank that's well overfed by using a super thick substrate and proper media DESIGNED to harbor the anaerobic bacteria. Remember these bacteria are slow growing and can take several months to build up sufficient colonies to completely remove nitrate.
Last edited:
