The Nitrogen cycle is the main cycle in your tank for converting toxic waste products to non toxic products.

Without it, waste from your fish or corals would quickly cause the aquarium water to become toxic and kill all the life in it.

The nitrogen cycle is important because it describes the primary way primary way that waste products are removed from a system. Unlike the oceans, your aquarium is a closed system and the waste products wont leave your system unless you remove them. Waste will stay in your system unless its either removed through biological processes, through water changes, or through protein skimming. So we recommend that you understand the nitrogen cycle and know how to make sure it is functioning in your tank.

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Ammonia -> Nitrite -> Nitrate

The complete biological cycle involves bacteria (Nitrosomonas sp. )converting the toxic ammonia waste (from fish primarily) converted into toxic Nitrite first. Then another bacteria (Nitrobacter sp.) converts the toxic Nitrite into relatively non-toxic Nitrate. Fortunately live rock is one thing that can do all three conversions by itself, naturally. It contains all of the types of bacteria necessary once its properly cured.