Nitrifiziertes

Nitrifiziertes is a German term that translates to "nitrified" in English. It refers to the process of nitrification, which is a crucial part of the nitrogen cycle in both natural and artificial environments. Nitrification is an aerobic biological process where ammonia or ammonium compounds are oxidized.

This oxidation is carried out by specific groups of bacteria and archaea, primarily nitrifying bacteria. The process typically occurs in two main steps. First, ammonia-oxidizing bacteria convert ammonia (NH3) or ammonium ions (NH4+) into nitrite (NO2-). Common genera involved in this step include Nitrosomonas and Nitrosococcus. In the second step, nitrite-oxidizing bacteria convert the nitrite (NO2-) into nitrate (NO3-). Genera such as Nitrobacter and Nitrospira are responsible for this conversion.

Nitrification is vital for several ecological and practical reasons. In natural ecosystems, it makes nitrogen available in a form that plants can readily absorb, thus supporting plant growth. In wastewater treatment, nitrification is a key step in removing nitrogen from sewage, preventing eutrophication of receiving water bodies. In aquariums and aquaculture systems, nitrified filters are essential for converting toxic ammonia produced by fish waste into less harmful nitrate. The term "nitrifiziertes Wasser" would therefore refer to water that has undergone this nitrification process, typically meaning it has been filtered or treated to remove ammonia and convert it to nitrate.