High Nitrate Removal

bongobrian · 08-02-2002, 09:46 AM

I'd have to agree with orion that the red sea kits aren't the best... in fact, they are ALWAYS a little bit off IMO.

Triggers · 08-02-2002, 10:34 AM

i use aq pharm test kit

Great Reefer Man · 08-07-2002, 01:02 AM

Actually, the problem with bio balls is that they are TOO EFFECTIVE at their job. The bacteria on the bioballs convert nitrite to nitrate so fast that the liverock cannot keep up with the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas which exits the tank. Thus a build up of nitrates results. A better idea might be to SLOWLY remove the bio balls and replace them with pieces of liverock.

Good Luck!
Dennis

bongobrian · 08-07-2002, 09:32 AM

I don't know about that, bacteria is going to grow on just about anything and EVERYTHING! including live rock, sand, bio balls, macro algea, plumbing, pumps, heathers, WHATEVER... anything that has surface area that the bacteria can set up colonies on. I don't think more bacteria is going to grow on bioballs than sand (as someone else mentioned before). Sand gives you the absolute most surface area out of anything in the tank (if you have a DSB that is). If the bio-balls were being that effective as you say they are, then you wouldn't be getting a back-up of nitrate. The possibility of them becoming the primary exporter of nitrate... well that just depends on the tank. I gotta believe that in my tank, it's the sand and live rock doing most of the exporting. I'm sure the bio-balls are still growing nitrate and exporting nitrate, but I don't think they're the primary biological filter. By the way, I have 0 nitrate in my tank and I use bio-balls.

jedimaster · 08-08-2002, 11:39 AM

Do you have any live rock? I have a fo with nearly 0 nitrate ut I have 60-70 pounds of LR with a DSB Sump/refuge.

bongobrian · 08-08-2002, 11:45 AM

Who are you directing your question towards jedimaster? my tank is quite full with live rock. I'm not sure how many pounds exactly, but my system is based entirely off of biological filtration. I rely on live rock, a DSB, and a 13 gallon Ecosystem refugium for all of my filtration.

jedimaster · 08-08-2002, 12:00 PM

Mine was posted to the original poster, bongobrian, the best way to get rid of nitrate imho is naturally process it with LR and a dsb

08-02-2002, 09:46 AM	#21
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	I'd have to agree with orion that the red sea kits aren't the best... in fact, they are ALWAYS a little bit off IMO. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

08-02-2002, 10:34 AM	#22
Triggers Mayor Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Boston Posts: 636	i use aq pharm test kit __________________ Triggerfish - Reef Central - BRS

08-07-2002, 01:02 AM	#23
Great Reefer Man Citizen Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Portland, OR USA Posts: 192	Actually, the problem with bio balls is that they are TOO EFFECTIVE at their job. The bacteria on the bioballs convert nitrite to nitrate so fast that the liverock cannot keep up with the conversion of nitrate to nitrogen gas which exits the tank. Thus a build up of nitrates results. A better idea might be to SLOWLY remove the bio balls and replace them with pieces of liverock. Good Luck! Dennis __________________ Dennis

08-07-2002, 09:32 AM	#24
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	I don't know about that, bacteria is going to grow on just about anything and EVERYTHING! including live rock, sand, bio balls, macro algea, plumbing, pumps, heathers, WHATEVER... anything that has surface area that the bacteria can set up colonies on. I don't think more bacteria is going to grow on bioballs than sand (as someone else mentioned before). Sand gives you the absolute most surface area out of anything in the tank (if you have a DSB that is). If the bio-balls were being that effective as you say they are, then you wouldn't be getting a back-up of nitrate. The possibility of them becoming the primary exporter of nitrate... well that just depends on the tank. I gotta believe that in my tank, it's the sand and live rock doing most of the exporting. I'm sure the bio-balls are still growing nitrate and exporting nitrate, but I don't think they're the primary biological filter. By the way, I have 0 nitrate in my tank and I use bio-balls. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

08-08-2002, 11:39 AM	#25
jedimaster Tenant Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 50	Do you have any live rock? I have a fo with nearly 0 nitrate ut I have 60-70 pounds of LR with a DSB Sump/refuge. __________________ http://jedifish.20m.com

08-08-2002, 11:45 AM	#26
bongobrian Mayor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan Posts: 657	Who are you directing your question towards jedimaster? my tank is quite full with live rock. I'm not sure how many pounds exactly, but my system is based entirely off of biological filtration. I rely on live rock, a DSB, and a 13 gallon Ecosystem refugium for all of my filtration. __________________ Brian For those about to rock... I salute you! www.bongobrian.com Talk to me! aol: bongobrian78 msn: bongobrian@hotmail.com yahoo: bongobrian78

08-08-2002, 12:00 PM	#27
jedimaster Tenant Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 50	Mine was posted to the original poster, bongobrian, the best way to get rid of nitrate imho is naturally process it with LR and a dsb __________________ http://jedifish.20m.com

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