what kind of bacteria produces nitrites
Chapter 2 discussed the vital role of nitrifying bacteria in regard to the overall aquaponic. process. The nitrifying bacteria convert the fish waste, which enters the system mainly. as ammonia, into nitrate, which is fertilizer for the plants (Figure 5.1). This is a two-. step process, and two separate groups of nitrifying bacteria are involved. The first step. is converting ammonia to nitrite, which is done by the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria. (AOB). These bacteria are often referred to by the genus name of the most common. group, the Nitrosomonas. The second step is converting nitrite to nitrate is done by. the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). These are commonly referred to by the genus. name of the most common group, the Nitrobacter.