Transcript Nemo and Friends*Dead or Alive???

Nemo and
Friends…Dead or
Alive???
The nitrogen
cycle and how
to save Nemo
and his friends!!
What does Nemo need to survive?
What is different about Nemo (and
other fish) living in the ocean vs
leaving in your tank?
Our Closed System
• What happens to fish waste, extra food and
decaying plants?
3 Stages of the Nitrogen Cycle
• Stage 1
– Organic matter (aka fish poo) is broken down into Ammonia (NH3)
– Toxic to fish in high levels
• Stage 2
– Nitrosomonas bateria oxidize the ammonia, which eliminates it
– The Byproduct of this process is Nitrite (NO2−)
– Still toxic to fish in high levels
• Stage 3
– Nitrobacter Bacteria then convert Nitrite (NO2−) to Nitrate (NO3−)
– Nitrate is less toxic to fish
• Partial water changes (in addition to the bateria) help keep Ammonia levels
low.
• The bacteria converting the chemical compounds is an example of biological
and chemical processes occurring in the water.
Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen Cycle in Nature
Human’s Impact on Nitrogen Cycle
Thoughts on Global Sustainability
• Global Sustainability: Practices that allow the
earth to continue to support future
generations.
• Can humans cause imbalance in the nitrogen
cycle?
• Can this be harmful for sustainability?
• How can we help?
Human’s Impact on Nitrogen Cycle
Water Quality Parameters for
Saltwater Tanks:
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Temperate Range= 24-27 Celsius
Specific Gravity (Hydrometer)= 1.019-1.024
pH= 7.9-8.4
Ammonia (NH3)= 0ppm
Nitrite= 0ppm
Nitrate= less then 20ppm