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Aquaponics Nitrification - the biological oxidation of ammonia

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2 Answers

Nitrification is the biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrite followed by the oxidation of the nitrite to nitrate. The transformation of ammonia to nitrite is usually the rate limiting step of nitrification. Nitrification is an important step in the nitrogen cycle in soil.

This process is key also in aquaponics. To master this symbiotic process in my opinion is one of the most sustainable and yields great results in most all production.

Anybody want to share your case studies and tips?

Barry Thoele

There has been considerable research into the biological aspect of this. Nitrobacter, nitrosomonas, nitrosocaccus and nitrococcus are the dirvers of the conversion. The balance of food and temperature are essential. Aquaponics is essentially three systems. Animals that produce ammonia, bacteria to convert that to nitrate and plants to reduce the nitrate to manageable levels. Any one part fails and the system will fail.

Marginal systems are possible but knowing the process and inadequacies are important to manage a larger system. There is also the shortcomings of these systems in that iron, manganese, calcium and a few other nutrients are low or lacking. This does not promote healthy grow.

Jack Terry Hillger III

Do you know if they have developed any such enzymes to do these such conversions?

Jack Terry Hillger III

very good. I'm a fiend for new info. I have had a lot of success in my garden, but trust it was a lot of trial by error. I pulled my water from a large aquarium. Added a product of ezymes to break down the bad into good. But never fully understood what was going on. In the end all I really added along with was micro and cal/mag. I appreciate your input.

Barry Thoele

NCRAC and SRAC both have done extensive work in aquaculture and biofiltration and conversion. Most geared toward pond culture. The process is the same though. Temperature is the key to avoid a crash or slow growth of the bioconversion. Nitrite is toxic to both fish and plants. Nitrate less so to fish and a plant nutrient, but only one of 16 needed fr healthy and nutritious plants. I stress nutritious as growing is easy, growing growing nutritious is what makes the plant tasty.

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Aquaponics Nitrification - the biological oxidation of ammonia