Results of nitrifying bacteria on aquaculture

Nitrifying bacteria  convert the most reduced form of soil nitrogen, ammonia, into its most oxidized form, nitrate. In itself, this is important for soil ecosystem function, in controlling losses of soil nitrogen through leaching and denitrification of nitrate. Nitrifiers also contribute to other important processes, including nitrous oxide production, methane oxidation, degradation of organic compounds, and carbon monoxide oxidation.

Aerobic nitrifying bacteria are vital in mixotrophic biofloc systems for oxidizing potentially toxic ammonia produced by shrimp metabolism

So-called Nitrifying bacteria or pond bacteria are bacteria which turn waste substances in your pond into CO2 or carbon dioxide. This is important for oxygen producing plants, because they need CO2 to grow. So, these nitrifying pond bacteria are playing an important part as to the biological equilibrium in your pond.

In general by biological equilibrium is understood a more or less natural balance between the supply of organic material in your pond and its decomposition by micro-organisms, including nitrifying bacteria and the final absorption of residual products (nutrients) by water plants. An upset to the population of micro-organisms may have a certain number of causes.

A too big supply of organic material in your pond, for example owing to falling leaves, withered parts of plants, dead fish, etc. The quantity of nutrients that are released as a result of this is so large, that the pond bacteria present can not turn it all into CO2. A culture medium for algae will form. Upsets can also be caused by a stagnating decomposition of bacteria, for example owing to lack of oxygen, rigorous refreshment of water of the use of medicine.

Furthermore upset may occur if too many plants have been removed from your pond.

By whatever reason an upset is caused, the result will always be undesired.

Sometimes the environment will acidify, with the result that fish and plants can no longer live in it. However, nature will often take action in a correcting way and an explosion of algal growth will occur. However, this is undesired for a pond too. Although fish are not bothered by algal growth, especially the growth of underwater plants will be seriously checked.