i don't know about cycling and PH, ...
i know that day/night can affect pH
day plants gobble up CO2, and your PH can rise
night, critters release CO2 and your pH can fall
i have no idea how dramatic this is, i think a full point or so it could swing
as for your nitrates, ... plants
plants can gobble up your nitrates (if you don't have them in there already)
or lava rock (personal suggestion for freshwater tank) will eventually develop bacteria in it's deeper centers that can process nitrates into nitrogen gass ... same idea as live rock (from coral rock) in saltwater tanks
i know that day/night can affect pH
day plants gobble up CO2, and your PH can rise
night, critters release CO2 and your pH can fall
i have no idea how dramatic this is, i think a full point or so it could swing
as for your nitrates, ... plants
plants can gobble up your nitrates (if you don't have them in there already)or lava rock (personal suggestion for freshwater tank) will eventually develop bacteria in it's deeper centers that can process nitrates into nitrogen gass ... same idea as live rock (from coral rock) in saltwater tanks
