Waterdrop And Other Experienced Hobbyists

[Primous]

I was wondering if anyone here could give me the names of the ammonia and nitrite consuming bacterias we grow and maintain in our filters?

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Read about the Nitrogen Cycle in the beginners resource section:

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=271928&hl=

 

[Primous]

Hi Barry

Thanks for the link. I have already cycled my filter and have been keeping fish for a while now. I was just wondering if anyone here new the names of both bacterias that are commonly referred to "A and N bacs"

 

[SensesFail]

Hi Barry

Thanks for the link. I have already cycled my filter and have been keeping fish for a while now. I was just wondering if anyone here new the names of both bacterias that are commonly referred to "A and N bacs"

A bacs - ammonia?
N bacs - Nitrite?

That is whats meant ain't it?

 

[BIG BAD BARRY]

Your welcome.


The names are in the article:
The bacteria which remove the ammonia are called 'Nitrosomonas'.
The other bacteria is called 'Nitrospira'. They convert nitrite to nitrate.

 

[Primous]

Thanks a bunch

 

[waterdrop]

Your welcome.


The names are in the article:
The bacteria which remove the ammonia are called 'Nitrosomonas'.
The other bacteria is called 'Nitrospira'. They convert nitrite to nitrate.

Yes, this is correct. As with all bacteria, mutation is very rapid, so we think of each species as a grouping of extremely similar individuals with slight genetic variations.

Both Nitrosomonas (the A-Bacs or ammonia oxidizing bacteria) and Nitrospira (the N-Bacs or nitrite oxidizing bacteria) are chemolithoautotrophs. It is useful to understand that heterotrophs process organic (molecular material from previously living things,) whereas autotrophs can process inorganic material. In the case of our two species, the "litho" part of the designation comes from "eaters of rock," which I think is interesting!

In much of the older, outdated material you may find references to Nitrobacter instead of Nitrospira but this was proven wrong by a series of papers, of which one of the authors is Tim Hovanec, who you will hear us refer to from time to time.

Some strains of these autotrophs are thought to be among a number of species that are thought to be somewhat resistant to chlorine products, which may explain part of why they find their way into just about any tapwater source in the world. Regardless of this unproven resistance, a few are virtually always present.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[Aqua Tom]

 

[waterdrop]

o com'on tom, you already knew that stuff