The grower must know the best nitrate level for aquaponics to avoid these problems. according to the food and agriculture organization of the united nations (fao), the recommended nitrate level for aquaponics is 5-150 mg per liter or 150 ppm.. The ideal amount of nitrates in an aquaponics system lies somewhere between 40 and 80 parts per million (ppm). however, this does depend on the type and number of fish you keep. maintaining nitrate levels between 40-80ppm is ideal for healthy plants and isn’t excessive for the fish either.. In an aquaponic system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by nitrifying bacteria into nitrites and then into nitrates, which are utilized by the plants as nutrients, so the water is recirculated back to the aquaculture system. aquaponics has ancient roots..
The nitrifying (beneficial) bacteria grow in an aquaponics system when starting the cycle. there are two types of nitrifying bacteria. the fastest breeding and feeding bacteria are nitrosomonas that eat the ammonia and produce nitrites. nh3 -> no2. the other one is nitrospira that convert the nitrites to nitrates (no2 -> no3). it has slower reproduction rates and takes more time to establish.. In aquaponic systems, maintaining safe nitrate levels is essential. nitrification is defined as the process by which ammonia is oxidized to nitrite and then to nitrate in wastewater with the help of bacteria and chemical reactions..
