The Impact of the Nitrogen Cycle on Fish Keeping
So you have decided to get a pet fish. Well keep in mind, it most certainly won't be all fun and games. Remember, as soon as you get a fish, it is just like adopting a dog! You are committing to care for a life. Fish are not decorations, they are living things just like dogs or cats. If you are not willing to commit time for their care, maybe fish are not for you. There is work involved, even if it is significantly less than a dog or cat.
There is a natural process in the fish keeping hobby. It is the most basic process, and skipping it probably results in more fish deaths than any other beginner mistake. It is called The Nitrogen Cycle. Have you ever wondered why the fish don’t get poisoned by their waste? Well, that is because of The Nitrogen Cycle.
There are three chemicals in the water that get naturally formed because of waste and bacteria. We will discuss the bacteria more in paragraph 4. There is ammonia, very deadly even in small doses to fish. Then nitrite, also as deadly as ammonia. Finally nitrate, which is much less deadly, but still needs to be kept in check.
Then there is Beneficial Bacteria. This is a form of bacteria that lives in the filter of fish tanks. What it does is convert the ammonia that comes out of the waste in the tank into nitrite. Then this harmful nitrite gets converted into the much less toxic nitrate by the same bacteria. This process is called The Nitrogen Cycle.
As you can tell, this bacteria is very important, but where does it come from? Well, you need to introduce it. First you will need an ammonia source. You can buy bottled ammonia, or toss in a bit of fish food into the tank and wait a few days for the ammonia to form. The latter will take longer, but if you are willing to wait, it is also an option. Then you will need to add the bacteria. The bacteria will cultivate by itself as long as it has a food source like ammonia, but if you want to speed things along, you also have the option of buying bacteria in a bottle. Remember, the former is slower, but if you have the patience, it will be just as effective. This step will take two weeks to two months, depending on what method you are using.
If you look back at paragraph four, you will notice that the bacteria does not do anything about the nitrate, and in paragraph three, I stated that if the nitrate, if it builds up, can be deadly. In the wild, this would not be a problem because the water evaporates, and when it rains, the old water will get replaced with the fresh rainwater. But our fish are in tanks and it won’t rain in our homes. Then how do we get rid of the nitrate? Well that is when you, the fish keeper, comes into play. Water changes. Water changes are a process where we take out 10-20% of the dirty water from the tank and replace it with new, clean water from the sink. Remember to dechlorinate this water, or it will kill all the bacteria and the fish! Water changes are typically performed once a month, though it can be done more, depending on how stocked the tank is.
Well, now you know the basics, but there is still much to learn to be a successful fish keeper! Also, remember to keep an eye out for more blog posts from me!
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