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- 10 things to avoid with your new fishBringing home a new fish is exciting, but there’s also lots to think about. To help you out, we’ve listed 10 things to avoid with your new fish.
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- 10 things to avoid with your new fishBringing home a new fish is exciting, but there’s also lots to think about. To help you out, we’ve listed 10 things to avoid with your new fish.
- How to maintain good water quality in your fish tankTop tips on maintaining good water quality in your fish tank
- Why is water quality such a big issue when it comes to fishkeeping?Why is water quality such a big issue when it comes to fishkeeping?
- All Blog Entries
- 10 things to avoid with your new fishBringing home a new fish is exciting, but there’s also lots to think about. To help you out, we’ve listed 10 things to avoid with your new fish.
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What is the nitrogen cycle?
To keep a successful aquarium, the aim is to establish a colony of beneficial bacteria within the filter which convert ammonia to nitrites and then into nitrates. These nitrates are then easily removed by water changes and absorbed by plants which is important because high levels of ammonia and nitrities within an aquarium are toxic to aquatic life.
The nitrogen cycle below shows how toxins are removed from an aquarium once a matured cycle has developed.
- Fish waste and uneaten food are broken down into ammonia and then to nitrite
- Nitrite is then digested by bacteria found in the filter – these bacteria are built up when cycling a new tank
- The nitrifying bacteria oxidise ammonia and nitrite into less harmless nitrate
- Some of the nitrate is absorbed by plants and removed during water changes
