To keep marine hermit crabs, the saltwater aquarist must have a working knowledge of the nitrogen cycle.
The nitrogen cycle is nature's way of changing organic waste back into food for bacteria and plants. The nitrogen cycle is at work in every place on this planet, but it must be carefully managed in an encolsed saltwater ecosystem.
The nitrogen cycle begins with organic waste, such as food debris or hermit crab feces. The presence of organic waste is detected by measuring the amount of ammonia present in the water. Next, special bacteria changes ammonia compounds into nitrite compounds. From there, a second kind of bacteria changes nitrite into nitrate. Finally, nitrate is absorbed either by the plants growing in the saltwater tank or by a third kind of specialized bacteria. When the plant is eaten, organic waste is produced, and the nitrogen cycle begins again. This entire process must be flowing continuously for the saltwater tank to be a healthy living environment.
Before a fully-funtioning nitrogen cycle can exist in your tank, the tank must go through a four- to six-week "curing" process. During this time, the aquarist adds some organic waste and special bacteria to the water to begin the cycle. Before the cycle stabilizes, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels will sky-rocket to toxic levels. After four to six weeks, none of these should be detected in the water.
The nitrogen cycle is nature's way of changing organic waste back into food for bacteria and plants. The nitrogen cycle is at work in every place on this planet, but it must be carefully managed in an encolsed saltwater ecosystem.
The nitrogen cycle begins with organic waste, such as food debris or hermit crab feces. The presence of organic waste is detected by measuring the amount of ammonia present in the water. Next, special bacteria changes ammonia compounds into nitrite compounds. From there, a second kind of bacteria changes nitrite into nitrate. Finally, nitrate is absorbed either by the plants growing in the saltwater tank or by a third kind of specialized bacteria. When the plant is eaten, organic waste is produced, and the nitrogen cycle begins again. This entire process must be flowing continuously for the saltwater tank to be a healthy living environment.
Before a fully-funtioning nitrogen cycle can exist in your tank, the tank must go through a four- to six-week "curing" process. During this time, the aquarist adds some organic waste and special bacteria to the water to begin the cycle. Before the cycle stabilizes, ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate levels will sky-rocket to toxic levels. After four to six weeks, none of these should be detected in the water.
