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Beneficial Bacteria

Historically, Nitrosomonas europaea has been believed to be the bacterium responsible for the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite in nitrifying systems (1). Dr. Tim Hovanec et. al. (2) found that the strain of bacteria responsible for converting ammonia to nitrite in aquaria is likely Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB (ammonia oxidizing bacteria). When there are different concentrations of ammonia in water, then different AOB strains come into play. In low ammonia environments, such as in aquaria, Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB predominate. However, when the concentration of ammonia increases, such as in wastewater and sewage treatment facilities, then Nitrospiras tenuis-like AOB and Nitrosomonas europaea-like AOB predominate and at the highest levels of ammonia, Nitrosococcus mobilis-like AOB will predominate. The “take home” point is that the bacteria responsible for the conversion (oxidation) of ammonia to nitrite in the aquarium, are Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB, rather than the previously thought bacteria, Nitrosomonas europaea.

Oxidation of nitrite to nitrate in the aquarium is typically attributed to Nitrobacter in the class, Proteobacteria. However, recent research by Dr. Tim Hovanec et. al. (3) showed that there were no Nitrobacter species growing in aquaria but rather Nitrospira-like bacteria were readily present and their establishment coincided with nitrite oxidation. This suggests that Nitrospira-like NOB (nitrite oxidizing bacteria) are the major nitrite oxidizers in freshwater aquariums.

So, if one was making a product that added established beneficial bacteria to an aquarium, such as Bio-Spira, it likely would include Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB (to convert ammonia to nitrite) and Nitrospira-like NOB (to convert nitrite to nitrate).

References:

1. Argaman, Y., 1991. Biological nutrient removal, p. 85-101, In A.M. Martin, Biological degradation of wastes. Elsevier Applied Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2. Burrell, Paul C., Phalen, Carol M., and Hovanec, Timothy A., Identification of Bacteria Responsible for Ammonia Oxidation in Freshwater Aquaria, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Dec. 2001, p. 5791-5800 (Vol. 67, No. 12).

3. Hovanec, Timothy A., Taylor, Lance T. , Blakis, Andrew and Delong1, Edward F., Nitrospira-like Bacteria Associated with Nitrite Oxidation in Freshwater Aquaria, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Jan. 1998, p.258-264 (Vol. 64, No. 1).

	Beneficial Bacteria
	Historically, Nitrosomonas europaea has been believed to be the bacterium responsible for the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite in nitrifying systems (1). Dr. Tim Hovanec et. al. (2) found that the strain of bacteria responsible for converting ammonia to nitrite in aquaria is likely Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB (ammonia oxidizing bacteria). When there are different concentrations of ammonia in water, then different AOB strains come into play. In low ammonia environments, such as in aquaria, Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB predominate. However, when the concentration of ammonia increases, such as in wastewater and sewage treatment facilities, then Nitrospiras tenuis-like AOB and Nitrosomonas europaea-like AOB predominate and at the highest levels of ammonia, Nitrosococcus mobilis-like AOB will predominate. The “take home” point is that the bacteria responsible for the conversion (oxidation) of ammonia to nitrite in the aquarium, are Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB, rather than the previously thought bacteria, Nitrosomonas europaea.
	Oxidation of nitrite to nitrate in the aquarium is typically attributed to Nitrobacter in the class, Proteobacteria. However, recent research by Dr. Tim Hovanec et. al. (3) showed that there were no Nitrobacter species growing in aquaria but rather Nitrospira-like bacteria were readily present and their establishment coincided with nitrite oxidation. This suggests that Nitrospira-like NOB (nitrite oxidizing bacteria) are the major nitrite oxidizers in freshwater aquariums.
	So, if one was making a product that added established beneficial bacteria to an aquarium, such as Bio-Spira, it likely would include Nitrosomonas marina-like AOB (to convert ammonia to nitrite) and Nitrospira-like NOB (to convert nitrite to nitrate).
	References:
	1. Argaman, Y., 1991. Biological nutrient removal, p. 85-101, In A.M. Martin, Biological degradation of wastes. Elsevier Applied Science, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
	2. Burrell, Paul C., Phalen, Carol M., and Hovanec, Timothy A., Identification of Bacteria Responsible for Ammonia Oxidation in Freshwater Aquaria, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Dec. 2001, p. 5791-5800 (Vol. 67, No. 12).
	3. Hovanec, Timothy A., Taylor, Lance T. , Blakis, Andrew and Delong1, Edward F., Nitrospira-like Bacteria Associated with Nitrite Oxidation in Freshwater Aquaria, Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Jan. 1998, p.258-264 (Vol. 64, No. 1).