The Nitrogen Cycle! The most important aquarium info!
I cannot believe I haven't made this video yet! This is the information that every fish keeper should know, as it gives you the building blocks to succeed with all your aquariums.
Lots more beginner videos coming soon! Let me know in the comments if there's anything you would find useful and I'll add it to my list.
All my aquariums run on @NTLabsOfficialSite products, go check out their channel for all sorts of awesome fishy content.
Support the channel by joining the channel members area here.
/ @fishshopmatt
Find my merch below!
my-store-d0bef8.creator-sprin...
Affiliate links to some of my favourite products below:
NT Labs test kit UK amzn.to/48FI854
NT Labs Axosafe UK amzn.to/3ZHqg5T
NT Labs Axocure UK amzn.to/3POA9Kx
NT Labs Axolotl Junior food amzn.to/3F81OkI
NT Labs Axolotl adult food amzn.to/48Guqio
NT Labs PRO-F tropical UK amzn.to/3RA6S8b
NT Labs PRO-F nano UK amzn.to/3GDIjRu
NT Labs PRO-F micro crumb amzn.to/3RBTy3p
Fluval FX2 UK amzn.to/45k4hTE US amzn.to/46FhJTi
Fluval FX6 UK amzn.to/3ZIrEoP US amzn.to/3ZITTU8
Fluval 407 UK amzn.to/3F81baQ US amzn.to/3PDHtbG
Fluval Plant LED UK amzn.to/46BLGUb US amzn.to/46F4dyR
Fluval Aquasky LED UK amzn.to/3Q9zO6A US amzn.to/3ZN9QZN
Water Lettuce UK amzn.to/3RHNXce
Fish featured:
Festive Cichlid
Snow White Bristlenose Pleco
Sterbai Corydoras
Cardinal Tetra
Rainbow Tetra
Kyburzi Tetra
San Marcos redtail splitfin
Red Stripe Tetra
Plants Featured:
Various Anubias
Various Crytocoryne
Echinodorus Red Diamond
Water lettuce (floating plant)
Aquarium:
Oase scaperline 100
Lighting:
Fluval Plant pro
Filtration:
Fluval FX2
This is one of the best beginner-friendly explanations of the nitrogen cycle. The most crucial part that I just didn’t get at first is that the cycle is constant and doesn’t just happen when you first set up a tank. I think the visual graphics and animations really helped, especially for someone like me who’s a visual learner.
Thank you, that's awesome to hear. It took me a while to make the graphic so glad it's useful hahaha
Matt , you made perfect sense especially after me watching several videos about fish less cycling. Your betta tank build was the first one I watched to get me introduced into getting a new aquarium.
I had to make myself stop over cleaning my aquariums. I thought I was being the best fishkeeper, and didn't understand why I was getting bacteria blooms. Now I know some things do need cleaning, but I try to never do everything all at once, and I've learned to appreciate all that life in there is important.
Exactly, there is definitely a level you need to clean too and then stop. I was the same as you when I first started fishkeeping though.
Thank you Matt. Now I know why I kept failing with problems constantly. First not enough water change and then too much cleaning. I never had it explained in a way so easy and simple to understand as you just did. I had a pile of aquarium books I just ended up giving away, because they weren't helping. Maybe you should write fishbooks as well :D
Honestly Matt I've been keeping fish for about 10 years now that has to be the best advice I've ever heard brilliant video thanks so much that was super helpful all the best 👍 👌
Great to hear! Thank you!
Yes more lovely chats about fish. I like to see everyone opinion on everything. Nice you updated your video after helping Md with his tank. Have a lovely day Matt
Awesome glad you enjoyed it!
🐡🐠🐟🐡🐠🐟Good morning from California, it’s 7am here! Happy to see you this morning chatting about fish. Have a great day Matt!🐡🐠🐟🐡🐠🐟
Have a great day! Thanks for tuning in!
This couldn't have been better timed. I've been watching for months but I just set up my first aquarium today.
Wow. Thank you. Perfect timing for me. My mature aquarium has seen increasing nitrate-to my surprise-and I’d assumed the plants and great filter would take care of it. The fish load has gradually increased because of fry born in the tank maturing. I thought water changes/filtration/heavy planting would handle it. Now I know better. Thanks again for this super explanation, Matt 🙏🙌👏
Would like to see you do a live feed where people could bounce questions off of you. Its something that would interest quite a few I'm sure.
Probably one of the best Fish Shop Matt vids so far! Knowledge spraying all over the place 😁. Great watch even though I'm well accusotmed with the nitrogen cycle you can't beat an expert going through it. And the expertise shows Matt!
I'd very much like to see a video going over which aquarium gadgets are worth getting in your opinion as an ex store manager - is a digital pH probe and nutrient checkers vs the strips, electrical thermometers vs glass, etc etc. It's always nice to see the impressions of peoples that sell/have sold these things.
Ooooo I like that idea new tech Vs no tech sort of thing. I will definitely look into this.
I'd have to say this may be the best explained and engaging video about the nitrogen cycle I've seen. And that's hard to do lol - well done.
Hahaha I definitely didn't film this video twice and looked at the first version and realised I bored myself let alone all of you.
Very good explanation of the Nitrogen cycle. But what people rarely seem to mention is that submerged plants can take up Ammonium directly and even prefer that over Nitrate for their Nitrogen source (costs them less energy).
I was an over-cleaner when I started. You’re such a great teacher. This is so perfect for newbies. ❤❤❤
Thank you so much, I used to clean too much too.
Matt thank you for the beginner video! I haven't started my own aquascaping journey (yet!!) but your channel has inspired me so much!
That's amazing thank you so much and good luck for when you start your adventure.
I've seen a few videos about the topic and somehow still don't fully understand. After watching this video now it makes perfect sense because you didn't just talk about the topic but you also mentioned not fully cleaning the tank itself keeps the bacteria alive in order to help you. Thanks Matt
That's awesome to hear that it helped you! Thank you!
Coming up to 50000 😮subs.i agree anybody thinking 🤔 of buying a fish tank for the first time.learn the nitrogen cycle first 👌🏻oh and obtain a full ( NT LAB )test kit around £22-£25 just hunt around..nice one Matt 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻steve
I'd like to see your video. your English so friendly and easy for me to hear
Really well made video Matt, this should be the go to video for learning about the Nitrogen Cycle, best I’ve seen 👍
This is a great simple way to explain part of the nitrogen cycle, and is how it is utilized for most people in the aquarium hobby. I'm an environmental engineer who has been through a number of classes that we talked more in depth about the nitrogen cycle. Nitrates can actually be broken down in an aquarium if it is built with nitrate removal in mind. Ammonia to Nitrite to Nitrate is all performed by nitrifying bacteria that breath oxygen just like fish do. Then there are denitrifying bacteria that will break Nitrate down into N2 gas and H2O. The N2 gas will then escape out of the water just like CO2 and other gases do. The key for denitrifying bacteria is that oxygen is toxic to them. They need anaerobic and anoxic zones to survive and they BREATH NO3 instead of O2. When they breath NO3 it is converted into N2 and H2O. There are a number of ways to encourage anaerobic and anoxic zones within an aquarium setup. By having deep sand beds that are undisturbed the denitrifying bacteria will have a safe haven that they can thrive in. Another way, that is likely more effective at removing all of the nitrates in the water would be to have a very large filter with very low flow. Another KZheadr explained this with graphics, but I can't remember the KZhead channel... Basically, the first half of the filter will have oxygenated zones and the nitrifying bacteria will do their thing, and actually consume all of the oxygen. The last half of the filter media will receive water high in nitrates, but 0 oxygen. This allows for the denitrifying bacteria to convert the nitrates into N2 gas and water. The trick is that the filter has to be designed in a way that it has anaerobic and anoxic zones to allow for denitrifying bacteria to survive. Denitrifying bacteria colonies happen to be very susceptible to change and can be wiped out very quickly if exposed to any oxygen and these colonies grow and reproduce very very slowly... A deep sand bed is the simplest solution. But it is paramount that the deep sand bed goes undisturbed so that the growing colony of denitrifying bacteria are not killed.
I can't tell you how many times I've had to repeat everything said in this video when working at Maidenhead Aquatics myself😂
Hahaha yep if I had a pound for every time I said this to a customer.
Since discovering KZhead fish videos many years ago I have watched lots of videos on the nitrogen cycle. Your video is one of the best. I find people either over complicate the subject or they treat the viewer like they are completely stupid. Thank you for making a video that will actually help a new fish keeper.
Great video thank’s Matt, I’m struggling with one of my aquariums at the mo and it’s driving me mad as my others are great so this helps. I look forward to your other video on cycling aquariums 😊
Im looking forward to seeing the jellyfish setup that we got a teaser for in the shell dweller video.
It's slowly coming together
Everybody who wants to get, or already has a tank needs to watch this. Really well put Matt, you make things so much easier to understand and everyone understands it better in laymans terms and by example.
Thank you so much!!!
Some pet shop outlets are to blame for the lack of knowledge given to customers who buy a tank setup. Ive been sorting a mates tank out for him,they bought the setup,then bought some fish for it(same time).angel fish guppies neon tetras and harlequins.No one told them to Walt before adding the fish.nothing about cycling the tank.they set the tank up water,temp.tap safe. bottled bacteria and fish.BIG fish kill.nitrite levels though the roof.Now added some of my filter media and 10/15 percent of my water to his tank.I think shops need to ask the customer the question,do you know what you're doing..this might prevent fish deaths..top video.10/10..🎣
One of your best videos! Congrats!
well described by an expert
Excellent! Now I can get my aquarium set up. I've had everything ready to go for over a year but was afraid to get it going. Best explanation I have heard of the nitrogen cycle. Now I feel confident that I can handle anything that the aquarium can throw at me, well almost anything... Looking forward to more information!
Thanks Matt! This is the best explanation I've seen on the subject! Can you do more videos on the basics like this please?
Yep loads more starter videos coming!
@@FishShopMatt YAY! Could you talk about pH soon? Asking for a friend ;)
Wish I had your advice when I started the hobby. Great and understandable video!
Best and easiest explanation I’ve seen so far! I’ll be showing this to my boys (18 & 22). Pretty sure my explanation scared them away and just confused them 😅😂
Thanks Matt, been a fish keeper on and off for 40 years and many things and thoughts have changed over that time. Working a two on two off (weeks) Im exploring alternative ways to reduce Nitrate. My tanks hsve to go teo weeks without water changes. Father fish has opinions on how much nitrate you can allow in a tank anf Dr Knovak has a possible method of removing Nitrates and competing the cycle. Im experimenting with dr Knovaks plenum at the moment. Just putting it out there that there may be alternatives to the water change as an end result. Enjoying the videos 😃👍
Absolutely there are alternatives, I think the hardest thing is those alternatives can be unsightly or difficult to understand.
Excellent description. Thanks
I do really liked the Illustration of the piles of poos, lol, nice video.
great insight Matt, I have had a tank for about 5 year once I moved house. Now between watching you and MD - I've decided to get back into. You both are great. Thanks.
Fantastic information for me. Thank you. I have an older aquarium that has been having nitrate and algae issues and this just made it all click in my head. It's heavily planted and I do regular water changes but still couldn't quite get the nitrate level down enough. Bigger changes and lighter feeding are clearly needed.
I love the information. Very easy to understand
Matt, good explanation for the new folks and vital info for everyone to remember. Understanding nature is essential. Nature is not a sterile environment. A tank without plants (unless fish dictate otherwise) is going to always be a challenge to maintain good water quality.
Thank you Matt
Everyday, all day, everywhere.
Good explanation. Gina
Mat, that was the best explanation I have ever had the pleasure to listen to in regards to keeping a tank ticking over. You're a star.
So glad you made a new one of these. I send everybody to you for info and I actually just handed all my fish stuff off to a beginner because I have to move. So this was perfectly times.\
Nice video dude. Think it is 15 or so years since working in the shop together plus whatever you had prior to that… could be nearly 20 years!!! 🤯🤣
Yeah I bet it is nearly 20 years!!!!
Perfect series, I'm really excited for this, thank you!
Glad you enjoy it!
Gotta say this is the best explanation of the nitrogen cycle I ever heard, except the accent. ‘Merica!!! Just kidding. It had a bit of chemistry, math, biology, botany, self-discipline, and the scientific method!
100k soon ez
Well done mate great video as always
Thank you for explaining that Matt xxx❤
Really enjoyed this video. Can’t wait for the next video
Well done!
Thanks Matt great video ❤
Great video, thanks man ! Lots of useful info
Brilliant!
amazing video , thank you
Excellent video. 👍
Brilliant 👍
The plant that uses the most nitrate is corn. I've never seen anyone plant corn into their aquarium. Legumes (Beans, peas lentils, etc.) actually put nitrate into the soil, so never plant beans in your aquarium. I've never thought of putting lions or wildebeests in my aquarium, but I would like to raise rhinos in it. I've heard that they don't do well in water though. Maybe I'll go with something smaller like rams. Blue ones. Ewes are straight out. Only rams will do. There are problems keeping rams in tanks too. First off, their poo is absolutely gigantic compared to the size of the aquarium, second, the plants keep getting tangled in their fur, and third, they don't do much better underwater than rhinos. Dying the fleece blue doesn't seem to help either. Matt, can you tell me how to keep a ram underwater? I fancy a Leicester longwool to any others. I don't really care if it's dyed blue or not. What would you say the minimum tank size would be for one, and will it be aggressive toward my other fish? I want to keep corys and tetras in with it. Maybe even a khuli loach too if there's room. I'd also like to know what to feed it. Do you know? Also, does Maidenhead carry Leicester longwools, or is that something I'll need to get from the Maiden's Bum. the pub nearest my flat? If I have enough to drink there, I can see just about anything, but somehow I always come home bankrupt, and wake up in the morning with nothing to show for it other than a whopping headache. I really should not shop there as often as I do. Maidenhead has much nicer things. 0I wonder how hops would do growing in an aquarium? I've grown sweet basil, lemon grass, and even raspberry canes in aquariums, and I grow spearmint in my Oase hang on back filter (have it sitting in the big space just before the filter media, and leave the top off the filter), but I've never thought of growing hops in one until now. Not that it would matter. I don't know how to brew beer anyway.
Great advice.simple explanation for us new fish keepers,Thanks
By far the best video of this information - very well done, just started keeping a betta with some neon tetras and have been loving your content! Would love to see more build videos 👊🏻 keep it up man
You're guidance and advice is true I also take my used filter floss from my mature fish tank and use it for my new tanks and it works!
Very educational video, I listen well and made notes. Thank you for sharing.
Awesome 🤩 You make it easy. 😊
Thanks a lot 😊
Thank you Matt 🎉
My pleasure!
Great video very informative 😊
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent info Matt! These beginner vids are excellent😃🐟🐠🐡
Glad you like them!
Great video, thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Best explanation I've ever heard. Even my half a brain got this. Thanks Matt
Glad it helped!
Thanks for doing this video Matt.
My pleasure!
Great advice 😊 I just hope people listen 😅
Thank you, I hope so too!
Thanks Matt
You're welcome!
I enjoy watching ur video's. Would u do an indepth video on all types of alge and the best way to get rid of it.........
Nice video I remember all those years ago when you explained this to me in the shop
Oh my word that must have been many years ago!
Finally....easy to understand❤..tks Matt...Vancouver IslandBCCanada
Glad it's easy to understand! Thank you!
Hi Matt! Awesome advice! Hope all is well! ❤
Hey, thank you! All is good, hope all is good with you?
I'm great! Enjoying my first betta live planted tank! It's doing great, thanks to your advice!@@FishShopMatt
Great simple to grasp video on the nitrogen cycle and nitrate creep! If you have a minute I’d LOVE to know what your substrate system is for the tank in this video (or if you have a video already out on this a link :)…getting ready to setup an ADA 120p heavily planted, low tech tank on a 20 gallon sump that I’d like to keep going longer term. Love the look of your tank here (most tanks I’m drawn to are only set up for a year or less)
There is a video of me and MD fish tanks setting this up over on his channel (before my KZhead adventure had properly started) it's called the rare tetra tank. It's really nothing exciting but it was a long time ago so I maybe remembering it wrong. But normally it was fluval stratum with then some root tabs thrown in for good measure.
Oh my gosh! I’ve watched “the rare tetra tank” a few times!!! Didn’t put it together it was the same tank! Loving your content Matt! Keep up the good work and thank you for your reply! :)
Great explanation Matt and ideal for any newbie aquarists. Historically, I've always been one for a slow cycle without resorting to chemical additives, building up stock levels over a period of several months (regular water changes and testing obvs). Mainly this was due to a lack of viable alternatives, but things are certainly different now!
Thank you! Yeah I can understand that, I also slowly add fish but like the back up of the bottled bacterias.
Hi Matt, I'm a beginner and have started small (i.e. with a 25 litre tank). Got various rocks, a piece of redmoor and 3 different plants. Sand over a plant substrate. Done a fishless cycle and after bang on three weeks, water parameters were pretty much spot on, i.e. 0 for ammonia, nitrites and nitrates. Plants are all growing well btw. Your first suggestion on the control of nitrates is to do weekly 20-25% water changes. Each time that is done, should I put the required dosage of de-chlorinator and some more bottled beneficial bacteria (NT Labs filter starter?) into the 'new' water?
nice video
Hi Matt. Loving the vids as always. You and MD have inspired me to get back into fish keeping after a five year break. Currently building a heated fish room with 8 tanks and sump. Just want your opinion on something. Do you think it would be a bad idea to seed my sump in the heated fish room with media from my outside carp pond? Wanting to speed things up when it comes to adding fish, you know the score 😬😬
Thank you so much! In theory there would be nothing wrong with doing this. The only issues would be if you were super unlucky and introduced a cool water bacteria or parasite. But I think the risk of that would be so so small.
Thanks for the reply. I’ll give it a whirl 👍🏼
Hi Mat enjoyed your vid, see you installing the 8 ft tank I now whats it like when I install a 800 Ltr tank, Can you advise me on the lights for my 700mm depth aquarium with live plants?
Totally depends on your budget ONF, kessil and hyperspot would be good places to look. If you're on more of a budget have a look at fluval and superfish plant lights.
Subscribed
That’s Matt! This was a great video as someone new to the aquascaping hobby. I have shrimp rather than fish, and I know they’re less heavy on production of waste. I’ve just upgraded their tank, and I made sure to not clean any of the plants of hardscape that I moved from the old tank to new. I’m assuming this will have helped with the cycle?
Thank you! Yeah absolutely everything that you can move across that hasn't been disturbed too much will help cycle the new tank.
Hi Matt, brilliant explanation. I've never realized that the cycling is ever going on.....then my question. Once the aquarium is good for fish, after cycling, does the amonia/nitrite/nitrate cycle starts over or the nitrite does not come again when you put fish there?
Thank you, ammonia and nitrite shouldn't really ever appear in your aquarium once it's cycled but. When adding new fish, feeding lots, doing a big clean you can get rid of enough bacteria that there ain't enough to cope with the waste so you end up with a spike.
Thank you so much for this! What is your take on gravel vs sand in an aquarium?
I'd be interested to know too.
Personally I like sand but it can't be a fine play sand. The main reason being is sand has less gaps between it so fish waste sits on the surface where as gravel has bigger gaps and the poo and uneaten food can get in there. But really with the correct setup both can work well.
@@FishShopMatt thank you! What do you do with the poo that sits on the top? Stir it up so it goes into the filter? Vacuum it?
@@meglh23 both to be honest.
@@FishShopMatt thank you for your help! We are researching to get our first family fish tank!
How is this video popping up when I’m planting my new aquarium 😂
Great video as usual. Audio not as good as your other videos, I see lots of other youtubers using Rode but they all say they just stop working and you don’t find out until you edit. Most have gone over to DJI and have great results even when dropped into water by mistake. Not advised😬
Oh weird! Used my normal audio set up. Yeah I'm tempted by the DJI just have gone for it yet.
The sound was great on my end.
@@FishShopMatt No criticism I just had to turn up my volume on my pc more than usual on your other videos. Found the problem looking where the mic is on? some videos its on your tee shirt collar and this video its halfway between head to shoulder just a bit further away. Again keep up the good work.
Matt, How do you get rid of brown algae? I had to dismantle my 55gal do to it. Miss it though.
Depends on the type of brown algae, could be down to nutrients in the substrate, it could be to little lighting. I would just keep changing things like more water changes, less feeding and changing the lighting until I see a difference in the algae.
Hi Matt, I’ve been keeping large severums for many years in my 850ltr aquarium, I’m now switching to a planted rainbow tank, I’m running 2 fx6 filters. With a planted tank do you think it’s best I keep both fx6 or could I reduce to a single unit as the fish won’t be as large or heavily fed and should be less waste. Thanks.
You could certainly reduce to one but you may find you have some slower moving or dead spots around the aquarium. I would use one and keep the other for a few months before getting rid of it.
Thanks for the reply appreciate it.
Hey Matt. I cannot get the testkit you´ve recommended in Denmark. Do you know if the sticks with an app reader from JBL are good ?
I would always go with a liquid test kit over strips as they are normally a bit more accurate. That being said for a quick test strips will work. I've not used any of the JBL products for a number of years but they are a respectable company so don't think you would have an issue.
Thank you. , oh and I love the way you explain this.
What about things that can add ammonia etc to the water? For example I am using a lot of pond soil and I've read that it can add ammonia to my tank which may explain why it's been cycling for a week with what seems to be 0 drop in ammonia? Should I water change to remove this or will that also reduce the bacteria too much? Edit: Tank is otherwise empty, a few stem plants, pots and gravel - Will be stocked with rams once it's safe.
You could certainly do a few little water changes and as long as you don't disturb a lot of hardscape and the filter you should be fine. Eventually the filter should deal with this but it may leach ammonia for a while so it will probably be a waiting game.
@@FishShopMatt Thank you for the reply and advice! I'm about as patient as MD, want to put fish in there right now but know I have to wait! haha.
"I can't believe I haven't made this video" ..literally every video lol
Hahaha no surely not
Can you add comparable products for the U.S.? Totally understand if you can’t due to agreements, etc.
❤❤❤
Do you recommend feeding every day? I have had my tank set up for 1.6 months and have had fish in it for about a month. I still feed them every other day, but is it more beneficial for the bacteria if I feed smaller amounts every day instead?
Yeah you are absolutely right, small amounts every day is way better. This way the filter doesn't have to deal with a big feed then nothing for a day or two.
@@FishShopMatt Great! Then i Will start feeding every day instead :)
Eh, Matt, any advice why the snails in one of my tanks are turning white? Something tells me calcium, but the water is harder than most British bread.
Yeah probably calcium try some decent shrimp and crustacean food
❤
It's a shame that you didn't cover filter media that can harbour anaerobic bacteria which can break down NO³. That's the complete nitrogen cycle, as I understand things.
It is but I wanted to keep this as simple as possible. My problem is if I keep talking about all the little different things it ends up as a hour video and people get bored.