Nitrification In Aquaponics

The Nitrification Cycle in an Aquaponic System is key to a successful system -- Fish, Plants, and Bacteria working together.
Fish excrete ammonia . The ammonia is toxic to fish and if left unmodified will kill both fish and plants.
Naturally occurring nitrifying bacteria convert the ammonia to nitrite and then to nitrate.
The nitrate produced by the bacteria is used by the plants as food. The plants readily uptake the nitrate and in consuming it keep the water safe for the fish.
A lovely natural life cycle.