Coincidence? Plant/nitrites

[Bethany1979]

I finally got a few plants for my 10g (java moss and a couple of anubius) and 24 hours later the nitrites and nitrated dropped significantly. Is this because of the plants or is my tank cycling completing on it's own?

 

[KarlTh]

Nitrate will not drop as a result of the cycle; only water changes or poncy filter media will reduce it. It's dropping because the plants are taking it up.

 

[Bethany1979]

I know that plants utilize nitrate, but what about nitrite?

 

[avionics30]

Plants are likely improving your nitrogen cycle. Good job!

 

[KarlTh]

I know that plants utilize nitrate, but what about nitrite?

Yup. And ammonia. In fact, it's easier for them to use these than nitrate. The process to get from nitrate to protein involves reducing the nitrate, the opposite of the oxidation which takes it from ammonia to nitrate in the first place. Energetically, therefore, turning the more reduced nitrogen found in nitrite and ammonia into protein is easier than using nitrate.

http://www.springerlink.com/content/j000gk612203k4vg/

 

[Bethany1979]

Wooohoooo! I did something right!
Thanks for the info.

 

[Cory Keeper]

Yeah, plants will eat the ammonia so to speak, dropping the amount of ammonia to the bacteria that converts it to nitrites. Plants will also take up nitrates as well.