Aquaponics Nitrogen cycle

Fish Bacteria and Plants - The Aquaponic Nitrogen Cycle

The core of our system is the Nitrogen Cycle. This nitrogen cycle, when in balance, keeps the fish water clean, the plants fed with nutrients and the bacteria happily multiplying in our system.

Fish eat their food and excrete ammonia (NH4+)

Nitrosomonas bacteria consumes the ammonia and produces Nitrites (NO2+)

Nitrospira bacteria consumes the Nitrites and produces Nitrates (NO3+)

The plants consume the Nitrates and by doing so, filters the water for the fish, producing clean H20 for the fish

This cycle needs to be in balance so that all the natural processes are at the correct levels. Balancing the mass of fish and mass for plants growing is the critical components, but also are the two types of bacteria that must be in large enough numbers to convert the ammonia to Nitrate.