The nitrogen cycle effortlessly

Every aquarist knows it: the nitrogen cycle is important in an aquarium.

"If he doesn't know it, he learns it from the mouth of the pet store seller who reminds him that you don't introduce fish into a newly set up aquarium without waiting 3 to 4 weeks for the 'nitrite spike' to pass, and this is thanks to the bacteria that develop in the filter."

That is the dogma.

The one who allows the seller to convince you to buy the magic vial of "water conditioner", the strain of bacteria straight out of the lab and from its fridge, and of course the little chemist's case to measure that famous "peak".

But, as always, things are more nuanced, but above all simpler for those who want a little corner of soothing aquatic nature, and not a laboratory for chemical analyses!

When I created the concept of low-tech natural aquaristics in 2011, it was primarily out of love for laziness and weariness of spending more time serving technology than watching my little aquatic world. It was the discoveries made during the poubellarium adventure, which started in 2004, that made me realize that all of this was often more useful to the merchant than to the fish!

Nitrogen exists in everything that is alive. It is even the mark of the living.

Living organisms therefore emit waste containing nitrogen in their waste: excrement, urine, tissue renewal (dead leaves, molting), carcasses. Immediately, this waste decomposes.

Bacteria and molds transform this nitrogen into ammonia. And that is toxic.

Then, bacteria convert this ammonia into nitrites. It is also very toxic.

Finally, bacteria transform these nitrites into nitrates, which are less toxic and consumed... by plants. And the circle is complete: the nitrogen from the living returns to the living!

The manual (and the seller) will tell you that each step is ensured by a type of bacteria: the Nitrosomas transform ammonia into nitrites, then pass the baton to the Nitrobacter which turn it into nitrates. All of this is nestled at the heart of the filter masses.

At the beginning of an aquarium, it is therefore necessary for the Nitrosomas to have time to produce nitrites (toxic) so that the following ones can transform all of this into nitrates (less toxic). And so, while waiting for the second ones to appear, there is a moment when nitrites are not degraded, and this produces the famous "nitrite spike." It is estimated that it takes 3 to 4 weeks for nitrites to allow Nitrobacter to appear. Then, the cycle is set in motion, and with Nitrobacter in place permanently, nitrites no longer have time to appear: they are consumed in a minute!

 

Except that, that's in the manual.

In reality, we keep discovering new bacteria that also do this work, alongside those in the manual. And there are probably even more that exist.

What makes the small vial of bacteria from the merchant quite ridiculous is that it contains only a single cloned strain of a single species supposed to trigger the famous cycle.

In fact, we observe that this formidable "nitrite peak" does not always occur, and not always in a very pronounced way.

For example, if you introduce invertebrates (or the water that contained them) right from the start of the aquarium, you are not introducing just one species of bacteria, but thousands (or more). Instead of a laboratory experiment, you are activating an ultra-complex and abundant biodiversity. Not only will you have all the bacteria that ensure the nitrogen cycle even before a nitrite spike occurs, but you will also trigger all the other cycles of life (phosphorus, potassium, various trace elements...).

And above all, all of this absolutely does not require the presence of a filter, as these bacteria work perfectly comfortably in the sand (each grain is covered with them!) or on all surfaces (leaves, windows, rocks, etc.). It is even thought that some live freely in the water, without any particular support.

In short, like in any body of water in nature!

The filter allows for the obtaining of nitrates, not for reducing the quantity by even a single gram.

Exactly as this microbiota does very well without it.

It is the plants, and they alone, that will consume (and thus eliminate) the nitrates, if they have enough light to live.

Nature is varied and complex, and unlike laboratory conditions, there are always multiple species that perform the same function, each ready to take over if the others weaken.

This is why biodiversity ensures cycles in a much more robust way.

The ZollaBox Start is based on this principle. It doesn't matter if the fish end up eating the invertebrates it contains: it is their varied and countless microbiota that will be established durably, with each microbial species, known or unknown, taking its place in the ecosystem.

The refills for this ZollaBox allow you to renew this seeding every year (which I recommend), like a vaccination booster.

Once again. Letting nature take its course with its complexity, instead of vainly trying to control every parameter, is simpler and above all much more relaxing!

"Intervening excessively is always a bad sign, as no single action on one of the countless parameters of an ecosystem can do anything but disrupt it. This will allow the merchant to recommend the next vial to you, and then the one after that!"

The artificial requires constant effort to maintain a deeply unstable balance.

Nature balances itself, provided that we make available to it all possible diversity, from which it will draw its own solutions.

And there, the nitrogen cycle becomes a spectacle that we observe from the couch, not a "problem" that requires intervention.