Our aquariums are in a constant state of flux, with decaying organic matter breaking down into varying amounts of ammonia all of the time. Every time we feed the fish, every time a fish defecates, and during all of the metabolic processes that go on in our established tanks, some byproduct is being released that fuels the nitrogen cycle. So in a sense, our tanks are constantly cycling. Fortunately, through diligent work and proper husbandry, our aquarium systems can handle the influx of nutrients (for lack of a better word) and we rarely see the side effects. With the proper techniques, the saltwater aquarium bacteria populations are healthy and diverse, allowing things like ammonia and nitrite to be removed from the water at a very rapid pace.