Nitrification- two step microbial process in which NH4+ is oxidized to NO3-
2 NH4+ + 3O2 = 2 NO2- + 2 H2O + 4H+ + energy
2NO2- + O2 = 2 NO3-
Can go to N2(gas) under anaerobic conditions)..... https://www.fairbankssoilwater.org/user-files//ChemistryNitrogen.pdf
Follow the number of N's
NOW that said it's not exactly always what you measure..but chemically yes 1=1=1(+1)=2
Ammonia,nitrite,nitrate,nitrogen gas
first step uses oxygen to produce water, energy and protons..
Ammonia in tap water would also explain algae troubles since the algae readily takes up ammonia directly without requiring conversion to nitrate first.
ammonia is necessary (or extremely preferred) for spore germination..
Algae spores eat ammonia (NH4) and algae eats nitrate (NO3) and phosphate (PO4). You have to start adding nitrate (NO3), phosphate (PO4) and all other important nutrients including CO2. It doesn’t make any sense? No, it makes sense. You have to care about your plants, because they aren’t in a good shape right now. Old leaves produce ammonia (NH4) and algae spores become an algae. Fertilizing will cause that your plants will be in a good shape and they won’t produce more ammonia (NH4) so there wont’t be a new algae. Additionaly, healthy plants will eats ammonia so algae spores will suffer. On the other hand, algae which is present in aquarium right now will be grow because it is full-grown algae which eats nitrate (NO3). Yeah, that’s true, but you will remove it after a while and there won’t become another one, because you removed ammonia, so no other spores will become an algae. Pretty cool, isn’t it? If there is an algae bloom in your tank, and you will cut the dosage of fertilizer down, it is the worst you can do because your plants will suffer from lack of nutrients, their leaves will be unsightly and will cause ammonia (NH4) -> algae. Plants have to be healthy, only in that case algae won’t be present in your tank!
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