Not a beginner but I NEED YOUR HELP...Please:D

[Daveo]

Well I still in all the time I have been keeping aquarium fish don't understand the consept of amonia, nitrite, and nitrate. I meen I know its bad for the fish but I don't really understand the transformation from amonia to nitrite to nitrate. and all of the ppm(parts per million) and ppt(parts per thousand).

Thanks guys and have a happy new year

Daveo

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The second to last pinned article in the beginners section has links on cycling.

Here's how it goes, though.

Feces, rot, etc. = Ammonia
Nitrosomonas bacteria convert to nitrites
Nitrites are less deadly to fish
Nitrobacter bacteria converts these to nitrates, least harmful, but still deadly in high concentrations.

Also, anaerobic processes convert nitrates to nitrates to nitrous oxide to nitrogen (N2). there should be enough O2 in your tank, though.

As to ppm and the like, I don't use test kits and don't resort to them, so am not qualified to answer that question. Plus, my source does it in mg/L.

 

[corykitty516]

OK I just had this in microbiology so lets see if I can explain: I'm a B student so forgive mistakes please

There are 2 kinds of bacteria you want in your aquarium to take care of this and they are called Nitromonas and nitrobacter.

First the bacteria like NH4 which is ammonia. They use it to get energy or something like that..anyway... The NH4 sticks to the membrane of the bacteria and starts some reactions that pump out Hydrogen Ions. Ultimately the NH4 is reduced to NitrIte.
The second kind of bacteria picks up the NitrIte and does the same thing, reducing it to NitrAte.
O2 is used in this process and an ATP is produced from the reduces compounds. Also this is why some water will change pH just sitting there. H+ ions = change in pH

PPM= If you had a million "parts" or units of water, for example, how many of these units would be purely ammonia or nitrate or soda pop or whatever you are testing for. If I remember correctly there is not really a set amount for how much these units have to be ... Just kind of like percent.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

The ppm of nitrates at which aquarists keep their tanks also differs. Even those with lightly stocked tanks cannot lower their levels to those of overstocked tanks that have lower readings for some reason.

Anyone use the mg/L measurments, by the way?

 

[corykitty516]

The ppm of nitrates at which aquarists keep their tanks also differs. Even those with lightly stocked tanks cannot lower their levels to those of overstocked tanks that have lower readings for some reason

Oh yeah ... sometimes water supplies have high nitrates... The process of cleaning water in processing plants involves adding bacteria to digest and break down the gross stuff. ALSO some sources treat the water with Chloramine, which is broken down to ammonia by water conditioner ... then the cycle continues ... so its like adding an ammonia spike every time you do a water change.

 

[Tempestuousfury]

And not all conditioners take care of the chloramine, either. You need to test your water supply to make sure you have it, and then take measures to break this up.

 

[Daveo]

THanks

This will be good to further understand for marine science class

Daveo

 

[Tempestuousfury]

That a planned course of yours? I take it the info given was for yourself and not a class.