What IS the Nitrogen Cycle in Your Saltwater Aquarium? Ep: 18 

I do have a scientific background, and I will say your research was well done. This is the most complete video on the Nitrogen cycle I have ever seen, in the realm of aquarium videos. I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen Fixation or Denitrification discussed in such a video. Well done. The only error I found was during your discussion on Denitrification, and it’s one few will catch or care about: An area of very little oxygen is known as Anoxic, not Anaerobic. Anoxic conditions are actually where the bulk of Denitrification takes place, where facultative anaerobic bacteria (in non-scientific terms) breath oxygen containing compounds like Nitrate. Conceptually, they need the oxygen in the compound to use as an electron acceptor or in another biopathway, since there is a very low concentration of dissolved O2. It gets more complex, but that is how the oxygen is removed from the nitrate or nitrite, leaving N2 gas. An anoxic condition is something measurable, usually between +50 & -50 on an OPR probe. Once you get below -50, you then have 0 free oxygen and start seeing fermentation or other true anaerobic processes. In our aquariums, Anoxic conditions can be fantastic additions; assuming you can create them, without creating full anaerobic zones (I try to incorporate an Anoxic zone in my Sump). And to contrast, we rarely want large areas of true anaerobic zones in our aquariums. You will get things like sulfides or methanol’s under those conditions, and may start leaching the phosphate from the sediment... An acceptable processes in nature, but not acceptable in a small enclosed system like an aquarium. This really was a Great video, anoxic zones are just a nuance rarely discussed outside of textbooks or research efforts. Anoxic applications are mostly used in places like professional waste treatment, but the underlying theory can be adapted to create benefits in aquariums under certain conditions. As they are a very beneficial process found in both natural fresh and marine biomes. For the few hobbyists who peruses a deep sand bed: They should attempt to research this further. Deep beds should maintain anoxic conditions, and not become anaerobic. A tough line to walk. For everyone else, your video really covered all the bases.

LOL! I literally JUST commented on your last video about you having the heart of a teacher. No wonder you're so good! You are a teacher!

Great video!!! You explained the cycle very well. Subbed

Wow. mind blowing but very educating ❤️

Thanks for the video!

Excellent video 👍🏾

It's interesting how something só simple people make it só complicated, tanks for yr explications.

You came off confused about the orders of Nitro bacteria and Nitroso monas. But overall you corrected it. I've experienced others make this mistake before.

Great Video, I Just would complement that No3 is a good thing on our reef tanks and we must have something aroung 1-5ppm.

Matthew I am a plonker that was far too complicated for this Brit you will have to make it far simpler .I had 10 minutes 48 seconds of words other than that all okay. Thank you

So I'm cycling and new fowlr system. I used Dr tims and live rock I have zero ammonia and I use saliferts test and have 0.2 have to use the low rage for no2 clear looking down but just barely has color thew the side and 10 no3 , my real question is will a cycled tank always have some no2 in it as its part of the cycle ammonia to no2 to no3 to water export any help is greatly appreciated

I think I over dose on dr Tim’s ammonia chloride . It’s been 3 weeks and my ammonia level is still reading 8.0 ppm++. . What should I be doing?

@bulkreefsuply thanks for the video, however the DENITRIFICATION stage… all that was mentioned was a deep sand bed or deep in a reef… can you please EXPOUND on that? I am trying to figure out how to lower the nitrates in my new tank.

There's a freshwater tank I've had in my living room that I kind of neglected for a very long time because of personal issues, only topping off water and feeding every few days. It's a planted tank with a deep soil substrate, and I wanted to redo the aquascape and add more livestock. I didn't realize how much dirt I would kick up while doing it. I was worried that with all the years of not touching the substrate, no water changes, and more livestock, the tank would crash and kill all the fish. After I redid the aquascape, added some new ro/di water, and waited two days for the dirt to settle, I checked the water parameters, and they were perfect. No ammonia or nitrites and an undetectable level of nitrates, even though I kicked up all that ancient substrate and basically doubled the livestock. To this day, all the fish are still looking healthy. I guess the tank's been established for so long that it's become self-sustaining and bulletproof.

I'm currently cycling first ever tank, Nitrate sky high, Nitrite sky High. Ammonia was 0, so I added more (lots) and it was still 0?? do I just leave it or add more Ammonia?? 🤔

Good information! (Thanks for sharing your Catholic background).

so I plan on doing Dr. Tim's cycle. In terms of adding phytoplankton and copepods to the system, am I OK to add both of them once the cycle is complete, or wait until the tank's first ugly stage? Should i wait until I have fish in my system and when my refugium is setup t start adding them, or I can add the pods without having my refugium setup?

No more video s ? When week 19 comes ?

I'm currently on week 2 of my fishless cycling. however my nitrites has been stuck at 5ppm( deep purple) I had 0 ammonia reading + high amount of nitrates reading (orange or red). I did some water changes it dropped the nitrites to light purple (2ppm I'm assuming) but it bounces back to deep purple the next day.what should i do?

Ad maiorem Dei gloriam

With all due respect. Simplification would be more effective. This reminded me of why I don’t ask questions in Facebook groups.

Thanks for the video!