Nitrobacter bacteria break down ___________ into ____________ in an aquarium or aquaponics system

Nitrobacter bacteria break down ___________ into ____________ in an aquarium or aquaponics system

• A. ammonia (NH3); nitrates (NO3)
• B. ammonia (NH3); nitrites (NO2)
• C. carbon dioxide (CO2); nitrates (NO3)
• D. nitrites (NO2); nitrates (NO3)

Answer: (D)

The action being tested is the second step of nitrification. Nitrobacter is a nitrite-oxidizing bacterium, meaning it takes nitrite (NO2−) produced by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and converts it into nitrate (NO3−). This two-step process keeps toxic ammonia and nitrite levels low while building up nitrate, which plants can use. So, in an aquarium or aquaponics system, the sequence is: ammonia (from waste and decaying matter) is first converted to nitrite, and then nitrite is converted to nitrate by Nitrobacter. The other options don’t fit because ammonia is converted to nitrite in the first step, not directly to nitrate; carbon dioxide isn’t part of this nitrification pathway; and nitrite is the substrate, not the product, in the step performed by Nitrobacter.

The action being tested is the second step of nitrification. Nitrobacter is a nitrite-oxidizing bacterium, meaning it takes nitrite (NO2−) produced by ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and converts it into nitrate (NO3−). This two-step process keeps toxic ammonia and nitrite levels low while building up nitrate, which plants can use.

So, in an aquarium or aquaponics system, the sequence is: ammonia (from waste and decaying matter) is first converted to nitrite, and then nitrite is converted to nitrate by Nitrobacter. The other options don’t fit because ammonia is converted to nitrite in the first step, not directly to nitrate; carbon dioxide isn’t part of this nitrification pathway; and nitrite is the substrate, not the product, in the step performed by Nitrobacter.