Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 3 : Agricultural wastes and eutrophication

3.13.2.1.Nitrogen

Nitrogen is provided readily by decomposing organic matter, from soil and/or fish food. Though it is used in large quantities by aquarium plants (and microscopic aquatic life), it is rarely, and should not be purposely amended. Commercial aquarium plant fertilizers contain nil to a few percent nitrogen.

Nitrogen comes in several formats (nitrates, ammonia, ammonium) and the formation and form of nitrogen compounds is influenced by bacterial action, pH, temperature and more. Nitrogen is rarely a/the rate-limiting factor in aquarium plant culture, and that a stable, system will produce sufficient nitrogen for your plants use. Under varying conditions, your plants are able to utilize nitrogen from several fixed sources; high nitrates, and/ or detectable levels of ammonia are not necessary or desirable.