How do the plants get the nutrients they need for survival? The fish and snails in the aquarium produce a toxic waste called ammonia. The bacteria in
the aquarium convert the ammonia into nitrate. The plants can use the nitrate as a
nutrient to make protein. Plants also produce glucose through photosynthesis. This requires
carbon dioxide from the respiration of all the living creatures.
What would cause a high level of ammonia in the ecojar? A high level of ammonia is created from too much waste being produced from the fish and
snails. It could also indicate that there is too much decaying organic matter in the ecojar.
This could also mean that the level of good bacteria (the one that converts the ammonia to
nitrate) is low.
What is the purpose of the light? The aquatic plants and the algae require light for photosynthesis.
What do you think will happen if all the plants and algae die? If all of the plants and algae died, then no photosynthesis would take place. Without
photosynthesis, there would be no oxygen for all of the living things to respire. As a result,
the entire ecosystem would collapse.
