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Ammonia is a highly toxic chemical produced mainly by fish respiration and urine,
but also by fish waste and decaying matter (fish food, dying plants, dead fish,
etc.) Ammonia levels should read "0" after the tank has been through it's initial
cycling period. Even low concentrations of ammonia can severly stress fish,
therefore making them much more vulnerable to disease. Further accumulating
ammonia will result in possible death of the fish. However, a nitrifying bacteria
known as nitrosomonas begins to build a colony soon after the arrival of
ammonia, and starts to consume the ammonia...unfortunately, it then produces nitrites.
Nitrite is much less dangerous than ammonia, but is still highly
toxic to your aquatic life. Nitrite interferes with the oxygen metabolism and
destroys the oxygen-carrying cells (hemoglobin) of the fish. For these reasons,
your tank's nitrite levels should also read "0" after the initial cycling period. If you
detect nitrites in your water, it usually means that the biological end of your
filtration is not working properly, or the tank is extremely overpopulated and the
filter can't handle the bioload. Soon, a bacteria known as nitrobacter will begin to
"convert" the nitrites into nitrates.
Nitrate, the result of the of the bacterial breakdown of ammonia to nitrites
to nitrates, is the final stage of the biological metabolic waste conversion known as
the nitrogen cycle. Although nitrate is much less toxic than both ammonia
and nitrite, it can cause stress extreme stress on the fish, at high enough levels. The
increasing stress results in a loss of disease-fighting ability, the fish's ability to
heal itself, and the ability to reproduce. Ever wonder where your all that algae in
your tank comes from? Nitrate is a key nutrient source for algae...most types of
algae thrive in excessive nitrate levels. To remove nitrate from the aquarium,
you need to do water changes, or have a massive amount of plant life.
I found this neat little illustration...for those who don't totally understand the above.
-credit due to the Pond Information Life Line
This post has been edited by Pojo: 06 November 2004 - 08:13 PM
