In depth explanation of nitrogen and amino acids?

ScottR

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When we say we want nitrates in our tank to feed corals, that nitrate means nitrogen. And that is a building block of amino acids which help to build proteins. This is just all from what I understand and I may be very wrong.

Does anyone have any way to explain how this works in a reef tank? There are many different amino acids that are required for corals to grow. Some can be synthesized directly by the dinoflagellates inside the corals themselves but others must be acquired from an outside source.

One thing I’ve always wondered is: we measure how many nitrates we have, but how does this actually break down into feeding our corals? Is this for amino acid uptake?
 
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Randy Holmes-Farley

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Nitrogen is needed for far more than amino acids. DNA in all cells, chitin for shrimp and crab shells, the list is very, very long.

Also, I would not assume that amino acids you might add stay as amino acids. Many will be metabolized, releasing the nitrogen to ammonia, making it available to be made a into lots of other things.

So while it may very well be useful to dose amino acids or other forms of nitrogen, amino acids are not the sole end game.
 
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I see, so basically nitrates are used as needed by each organism and converted accordingly?
 

Piranhapat

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Great topic, I just starting adding a little Nitrogen. Reason I have zero nitrates. I'm running Low nutrients tank. No sand bed. Tank about 8 months old. Finally got nitrates .05 ppm. But noticed cyano growing all over the rocks. Phosphate between .03-.0 It definitely came from nitrogen. After the lights turn off cyano quickly disappears. Lights go on it comes back. Since Cyano is more a bacteria issue and nutrients are low. What is actual going on?
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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I see, so basically nitrates are used as needed by each organism and converted accordingly?

Yes, but many prefer ammonia as a nitrogen source, so some may not need to use nitrate.
 

Randy Holmes-Farley

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Great topic, I just starting adding a little Nitrogen. Reason I have zero nitrates. I'm running Low nutrients tank. No sand bed. Tank about 8 months old. Finally got nitrates .05 ppm. But noticed cyano growing all over the rocks. Phosphate between .03-.0 It definitely came from nitrogen. After the lights turn off cyano quickly disappears. Lights go on it comes back. Since Cyano is more a bacteria issue and nutrients are low. What is actual going on?

I’m not sure I understand the question. If there is a sufficient source of BOTH N and P (and many other things), algae or cyano will grow. It is never caused by an excess of one thing, but enough of many things.
 

Dr. Dendrostein

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When we say we want nitrates in our tank to feed corals, that nitrate means nitrogen. And that is a building block of amino acids which help to build proteins. This is just all from what I understand and I may be very wrong.

Does anyone have any way to explain how this works in a reef tank? There are many different amino acids that are required for corals to grow. Some can be synthesized directly by the dinoflagellates inside the corals themselves but others must be acquired from an outside source.

One thing I’ve always wondered is: we measure how many nitrates we have, but how does this actually break down into feeding our corals? Is this for amino acid uptake?
Besides recommended foodz(ex. Reef Roids) for my Children of the sea. I throw in raw egg, of course dose it slowly through the whole week because of the protein and amino acids. My thinking
 

Hemmdog

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Besides recommended foodz(ex. Reef Roids) for my Children of the sea. I throw in raw egg, of course dose it slowly through the whole week because of the protein and amino acids. My thinking
What kind of bird ?
 

Dr. Dendrostein

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Chicken, but i just remember i also did Balut blend it with RR. Yum yum. Im getting hungry. Heeeee

Todays pic

20190623_122547.jpg
 

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I’m not sure I understand the question. If there is a sufficient source of BOTH N and P (and many other things), algae or cyano will grow. It is never caused by an excess of one thing, but enough of many things.

Randy, I guess what I’m trying to say. When I had no nitrates I added Nitrogen. I got cyano. Is that because I added Nitrogen which caused cyano to bloom. I never had cyano in this tank until I brought up nitrates.
 
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ScottR

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Chicken, but i just remember i also did Balut blend it with RR. Yum yum. Im getting hungry. Heeeee

Todays pic

20190623_122547.jpg
You put balut in? Isn’t that where the bird is actually partially formed?
 
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ScottR

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Can I use seagull eggs? I got a whole mess of gulls nesting in my gutters. At least this way they would be contributing.
That seagull mommy is gonna seek revenge and fly through your window and eat all your fish!!!
 
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ScottR

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Can I use seagull eggs? I got a whole mess of gulls nesting in my gutters. At least this way they would be contributing.
Actually, I believe chicken eggs aren’t fertilized. A seagull egg would most likely be? There could be a live bird already formed/forming inside.
 

Hemmdog

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Actually, I believe chicken eggs aren’t fertilized. A seagull egg would most likely be? There could be a live bird already formed/forming inside.
Oh great. The last thing I need is more gulls yapping every morning. :eek:
 

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