Ammonia oxidising bacteria

What is is?
Ammonia oxidising bacteria (AOB) is the species of bacteria (typically the autotrophic type) involved in converting ammonia into nitrite during the cycling of a tank.

These species are different for salt water and fresh water aquariums.


 * Dr. Tim Hovanec claims that it is Nitrosococcus sp. and not Nitrosomonas sp. that converts ammonia into nitrite.


 * See Comparative Analysis of Nitrifying Bacteria Associated with Freshwater and Marine Aquaria Paper.

Links

 * The Life You Don't See In Your Aquarium by Christopher Taylor