The Chemistry of Fishkeeping

[Matty]

I'm trying to find information about the chemistry of fishkeeping..like nitrates, nitrites, ammonia, the beneficial bacteria and everything that plays a chemical role in maintaining water parameters, the effects on the fish and so on...any info, websites or books you've read about this would be helpful. Thanks alot!!

 

[Oddball]

fish waste and decomposition of organic matter generates ammonia
ammonia->nitrifying bacteria = nitrite (HIghly toxic) (absorbed by plants as a food stuff)
nitrite->nitrifying bacteria = nitrate (absorbed by plants as a food stuff)
nitrate-> denitrifying bacteria = nitrogen which is leaked into the atmosphere

Ammonia, nitrite and nitrate attatch to haemoglobin in blood cells to form taxaehaemoglobin which inhibits the absorption of oxygen into blood cells! this prevents it from transporting it from the gills to the rest of the fish, effectively suffocating it!

this is very, very basic by the way theres plenty more stuff to look at! try researching the nitrogen cycle, phosphates in pesticides, eutrophication good luck!

 

[Matty]

thank you very much!

 

[Inchworm]

Hi Matty

Here are a couple of articles that I think are interesting:

http/www.uniquaria.com/articles/cn.html

http/www.uniquaria.com/articles/wh.html

http/www.auspet.com/fish09.html

http/hjem.get2net.dk/Best_of_the_Web/fis...%20cycling.html

I hope these will be of some use to you.