The Nitrogen Cycle of an Underwater Aquarium

The cycle of which nitrogen is converted between a numerous amount of chemical forms, or as we commonly call it: the nitrogen cycle, is crucial for any life on Earth. Nitrogen is needed for growth and is common among air, ground, and water. Speaking of water, the aquarium of Earth is home to many aquatic animals and plants. Many people do seem to forget that there is chemistry even behind the aquarium. The nitrogen cycle of the aquarium is much like a natural filter to it.
Chemical processing, also known as natural fixation, are needed to convert gaseous nitrogen into usable forms for living organisms to live; which makes it quite important to the food production, whether it be in animals or plants. Nitrogen is around in an environment in a diverse set of chemical forms including organic nitrogen, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, and nitrogen gas. Organic nitrogen may be found in the form of a living organism, or humus, and in the intermediate products of organic matter decomposition or humus built up. The nitrogen cycle of converting it from one chemical form to another has many of the processes done through microbes either to create and produce the energy or to obtain the nitrogen in the form needed for growth.
Nitrogen fixation must occur for the plants to use, it could occur from lightning strikes, but in most cases is done by free-living symbiotic bacteria. The symbiotic bacteria has the nitrogenase enzymes that combines gaseous nitrogen with hydrogen to produce ammonia; which is then further converted by the bacteria to make their own organic compounds, so the plant may live by those organic compounds which were produced for them to survive. Plants get nitrogen through their roots and from the soil they rest in, including aquatic plants. All nitrogen obtained by animals can be traced back on the food chain to eating plants, that of course have nitrogen, this is both land and aquatic animals. When an animal releases waste or dies, or if a plant dies, the initial form of nitrogen it leaves behind is organic. That allows itself to be formed to ammonium for other plants to obtain and then an animal to do so, then another, so on and so forth.
Nitrification and Denitrification both take place, as well. Nitrification is the process in which the conversion of ammonium to nitrate is primarily by soil-living bacteria. Due to their high solubility the nitrates can occur and enter at ground water. When underwater and creating algal , if too much, it can demand too much amounts of oxygen which can then lead to the death of other aquatic living organisms that require some of the water’s oxygen it withholds. Denitrification is the reduction of the nitrates , so an electron acceptor replaces the oxygen needed.
The aquarium of Earth is home to many living organisms amongst plants and animals. They can live in the water and survive off the energy, shelter, food sources, water, nitrogen, and water it can find underwater.  The nitrogen cycle helps the plants survive and grow, and intern supplies food for the aquatic animals. The stuff that is decomposed is helpful for the next that is to come. Every part of the nitrogen cycle is important for the aquatic life.
When learning all this information from wikipedia and aquarium and aquatic websites, I learned to appreciate the nitrogen cycle. I also enriched myself with knowledge I did not have before hand. Thus, giving even more appreciation for the chemistry we can find in our everyday lives almost anywhere. Whether we know it or not, chemistry is important, and it is there.