Nitrogen Cycle

October 8—Explain in detail the nitrogen cycle and how the animals, plants and bacteria in your ecosystem participate in it.  Is it possible to have a functioning ecosystem without one of these components (plants, animals, bacteria?)  Explain.

The Nitrogen Cycle is the biological process of ammonia (NH3) being converted to nitrite (NO2), and then the nitrite is converted to nitrate (NO3).

Most living animals or fish produce waste, creating ammonia in the tank. The ammonia is turned into nitrite as it decomposes and converts to nitrates that are used by the plants to complete photosynthesis and then releases oxygen into the aquarium. It is not possible to have a functioning ecosystem without one of those components, there has to be a bacteria source to keep everything in check. Without that, the ammonia would rise too high and the fish can become sickly because the water would not be truly going through any form of cycle.