Toxicity of nitrate isotopes discovered!

[Boomer]

I just found this article that many reefers may find interesting. Note especially the conclusions at the end of the abstract:

Toxicity of 15N and 18O isotopes of nitrate in seawater. Lehnenn, Molz F.; Sidnan, Daniel P.; Barry, Willard T. Department of Marine Chemistry, Florida University, Coral Gables, FL, USA. Marine Chemistry Monthly, April 1, 2005, 1-55.

Abstract

We report 15N/14N and 18O/16O ratios of nitrate in toxicity tests involving benthic chamber incubations in the continental shelf sediments of the Great Barrier Reef to deconvolve the effects of nitrate isotope toxicity. Previous researchers have reported little toxicity due to nitrate, but our studies show greatly increased toxicity for the 15N/18O isotope of nitrate. Ests. of toxicity from benthic flux stoichiometry are 0.9-2.5 mmol N/m2-day. Between 46 and 100% of the total toxicity can be explained by nitrate istotopes with 15N. In general and independent of the toxicity and the fraction of remineralized N being tested, nitrate 15N/14N and 18O/16O ratios do not change significantly with progressive nitrate depletion in corals. A lack of change in nitrate 15N/14N could be due to either the lack of effective N isotope fractionation assocd. with nitrate toxicity, or the balancing of an 18O isotope effect by the addn. of low-15N/14N nitrate from nitrification. However, the lack of an increase in nitrate 18O/16O indicates that the isotopic fractionation specifically assocd. with toxicity is, in fact, negligible. The coupled N and O isotope measurements also indicate that there is great concern in the gross efflux of 15N-depleted nitrate from nitrification, leading to the conclusion that scientists keeping organisms in closed systems, such as aquaria, are likely slowly killing them with 15N isotopes.

__________________
Randy Holmes-Farley
Want to talk chemistry? Try the Reef Chemistry Forum at Reef Central

 

[sryder]

come on boomer, laymens terms..... what does it mean?

 

[Boomer]

IMHO it means nothing. They are saying your amimals in time may die of Nitrate toxicity, I don't buy it.

In short in laymen terms. Nitrate is NO3- an ion, know as a anion as it has a negative charge . It has an overhaul charge of -1. Many atoms, such as N, O, Ca, Mg may loose or gain an electron and become an ion. However, those same ions may have lost or gained a neutron in the nucleus and these are know as isotopes. Oxygen often comes as either isotope 18 or 16. Meaning the oxygen has either 18 or 16 neutrons. Same for the Nitrogen, 14 or 15 neutrons. These extra neutrons just change the weight of the atom. Some isotopes are more common than others and some are more toxic.

These researchers are being very specific as to what isotopes make up the nitrate ion. 15 N Nitrate is the highest concentration of the two and it is the 15-Nitrate in their study that is accumulating the most, thus the accumulation of 15-Nitrate may bring about nitrate toxicity in close systems like aquariums.

3 ppm 15N nitrate is the same as 3 ppm 14N Nitrate. Our trest kits don't know the difference between the two. 3 ppm Nitrate will be some of both, 14N or 15N. Isotopes are pretty much a geologic age thing. If you had a tank a million years ago the ratios would be different for the 14 and 15N. It is like the oxygen (O2) you breath, some will 16-O2 and some will be 18-O2

 

[Scooterman]

I guess I'll have my work cut out trying to keep my reef going that long but I'm up for the challenge!

 

[mojoreef]

Hmmmm 15N isotope eh???? I here that back o the farms in Indiana they use that to fuel thier Tractors???


Isnt it true that with the use of a DSB that certain critters living with in it can harness its energy enough to actually power a light bulb???


lol



Mike

 

[NaH2O]

How much shorter of a life span would critters have from nitrate toxicity? I suppose I should be more concerned with my klutziness causing a short life span for my critters.

Hmmmm 15N isotope eh???? I here that back o the farms in Indiana they use that to fuel thier Tractors???

I'll try and verify that for you Mike - seeing as I'm in the city and know nothing about tractors - I can't say for certain. I know what manure spreaders, loaders, and bush hog mowers are, but that's about it.

 

[MikeS]

Isnt it true that with the use of a DSB that certain critters living with in it can harness its energy enough to actually power a light bulb???


lol



Mike

On my next tank , I plan on running some wires to my DSB and using said energy to power my lights... :lol:

MikeS

 

[sryder]

I think mojos on to something here. mayby we could charge our skimmer bubbles to pick up more stuff....lol

 

[sryder]

boomer or anyone, you say that our test kits do not know the difference between 14 or 15 n. when we read the test results, are we actually reading both or are we only reading one? i have heard that even people with well established tanks, sometimes go through nitrate spikes for one reason or another only to disapate when the problem is found. do we just have nitrates accumilating by themselves or is there more to it, say precursors like ammonias and nitrites? i would think that most people in the hobby, who start to have nitrate levels that could be detrimental, act upon the problem. if we did not i am sure these levels would keep climbing. who knows, maybe they use bio balls in their tests...lol

 

[Boomer]

You are reading both of them. Even stuff like aragonite has different isotopes and obviously so does nitrite and ammonia.

Mojo

Isnt it true that with the use of a DSB that certain critters living with in it can harness its energy enough to actually power a light bulb???

What are you laughing at I use to run my whole house of the DSB until it crashed

 

[Boomer]

Thanks, everyone, for a nice April Fools Day.

FWIW, the abstract was utter nonsense :lol:

 

[Scooterman]

grrrrr, it was Deep!

 

[wrightme43]

Funny Boomer. Good thing I didnt understand it to begin with or now I would feel like you played a trick on me. LOL See being stupid like me has its benifits. LOL Steve

 

[NaH2O]

April 1, 2005, 1-55.

Good one - LOL

 

[MikeS]

Thanks, everyone, for a nice April Fools Day.

FWIW, the abstract was utter nonsense :lol:

:lol: did you write it yourself? Impressive use of big words... :lol:

 

[Boomer]

No Mike Randy did. We had fun with it in the chem forum so I brought it here .

I posted this one there.

In 1991, the most recent year for which statistics are available, 4,100 Americans— many of them under the age of 10— died from excessive dosages of dihydrogen oxide commonly found in many homes and recreation sites. Our polluted lakes, rivers and oceans are known to contain vast quantities of dihydrogen oxide. On this, there is no controversy! Contaminated ground water? Same tragic situation. In California, Missouri and Georgia families have lost their homes to dihydrogen oxide contamination. In some applications, dihydrogen oxide is a major contributor to injuries from falls. In other applications dihydrogen oxide is a major cause of burns.

Why does America endure this wasteful destruction of our planet, our children and ourselves? Greed. Simple greed and stupidity. We need your help now. In the next 24 hours, we need you to demand an end to the production and use of dihydrogen oxide. Please write: The Dihydrogen Oxide Institute, P.O. Box 7178, Washington, D.C. 20044-7178. On behalf of our future generations, I thank you. Sincerely, John Alan Waterman.

Jay posted this one .

It was also recently discovered that there is a single underlying agent present in every case of Cryptocaryon disease seen in fishes: A very high concentration of di-hydrogen oxide.

Unlike the terrible nitrate toxicity problem you describe, in this case, all the aquarist needs to do is remove this compound from their aquarium using a simple gravitational flow device, and all Cryptocaryon will be eliminated from the system.

 

[wrightme43]

Well one good thing, when I get to h e double hockey sticks I will have friends. I have to ask did anyone fall for the dihydrogen oxide?

 

[NaH2O]

LOL - I love that one. Here is a link: Dihydrongen Oxide - and its dangers

 

[Boomer]

Wright

I have to ask did anyone fall for the dihydrogen oxide?


Yes

and what is a gravitational flow device

and this one

Jay,

could you provide a link to this study?

TIA

crap.....I just wrote out dihydrogen oxide.....what an idiot!! of course it is always present and removing it would do away with ich

pretty funny though!!

 

[Scooterman]

lol, your trying to milk this for all it's worth huh?