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The Nitrogen Cycle

This is an extremely over-simplified, not-very-scientific explanation of the rather complex nitrogen cycle. Knowledge of the cycle is invaluable in the care of your aquarium.





  • You feed your fish.

  • The fish eat and give off waste in the form of ammonia. Uneaten food and dead, decaying fish also contribute to this waste.

  • Bacteria called Nitrosomonas living in your tank take the very harmful ammonia and convert it into the slightly less harmful nitrite.

  • Another type of bacteria called Nitrobacter convert the nitrites into the much less dangerous nitrates. These are only really bad in large amounts.

  • You do a partial water change to remove the nitrates. You then feed your fish, and the process starts over again.

    And that's really about it.

    So how does this relate to aquarium care? Well, you can see why partial water changes are needed to prevent the build-up of nitrates.

    Understanding water chemistry can help you decide on a schedule of water changes. Testing your water frequently while your tank is new and still building up bacteria will enable you to measure your tank's progress and know when to add new fish or do water changes.

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