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Nitrifying bacteria is a term used to group species of bacteria that do useful work in an aquarium in turning toxic forms of nitrogen dissolved in water (typically ammonia (NH³/NH⁴) and nitrite (NO²)) into other forms of less toxic nitrogen (typically nitrate NO³).

[edit] Species

Nitrosomonas Species: These are the ones that convert ammonia (released by rotting fish or plant waste) into Nitrite.

Nitrobacter sp.^[1] and Nitrospira Species: They convert the nitrite into nitrate. Both of these are usually present in the filter.

• Nitrosococcus and Nitrococcus are the main nitrifying bacteria used in salt water aquariums.

• Denitrifying Bacteria: This is the term used for a range of anaerobic bacteria that feed off oxygen from nitrate and work in conditions where there is no free oxygen to use. (In cases, they can turn nitrate back into nitrite).

• See also Bacteria.

[edit] References

1. ↑ Dr. Tim Hovanec claims that it is Nitrospira sp. and not Nitrobacter that is the primary species for converting nitrite into nitrate. See PDF Paper.