Nitrifying

Nitrifying is the process where one form of nitrogen is converted into another with the presence of oxygen.

Nitrifying bacteria like nitrosospira for example will typically convert ammonia into nitrite or another species like nitrospira will convert nitrite into nitrate.


 * Note: At one time in the late 1970s Nitrosomonas and nitrobacter was thought to be the main groups of bacteria doing nitrospira's job but this has been disproven and new [Bacteria#Commercial_Bacteria commerical bacteria seeding] products have came out as a result of this. Unfortunately there are still old bacteria products using these two incorrect species and they actually do little in speeding up the cycle of your new tank. So buyer beware.

Links

 * Nitrifying bacteria on Wikipedia