Nitrogen is an element vital to all life processes on Earth. To appreciate the importance of nitrogen in our biosphere, simply realize nitrogen comprises 78% of the atmosphere, and is embedded in every living tissue! It is a component of amino acids, proteins and nucleic acids. With the exception of carbon, nitrogen is the most universal element of life Put simply: Life could not exists without nitrogen. Aside from organic development, nitrogenous compounds are also required by some organisms for metabolic functions and respiration. Nitrogen exists in many states. In its most common gaseous state of N2, nitrogen forms very strong covalent bonds that can only be broken when great force or energy is applied (e.g. seismic event or lightening), or by particular bacteria species which use nitrogenous compounds for metabolism. The fact is various bacteria are critical to every step of the nitrogen cycle. It is these bacteria and their specific roles that are of particular interest to reefkeepers. It is never fully "completed." There is no end to the nitrogen cycle; Matter can neither be created or destroyed, and nitrogen is no different. Instead, nitrogen is continuously recycled from one form to another. So if the nitrogen cycle doesn't end, what happens to the aforementioned byproducts of nitrification?