How long does denitrifying bacteria take to kick in?

Discussion in 'General Reef Topics' started by yheartsp, Oct 18, 2009.

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  1. yheartsp

    yheartsp Purple Spiny Lobster

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    I'm talking about those that live within the pores of live rock, and for DSB too :)
     
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  3. Dr.Fragenstein

    Dr.Fragenstein Panda Puffer

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    To convert NO3 to N2 gas?

    Boy that would depend on the ability for you to create a TRULY anoxic enviroment, which can be tough to do.
     
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  4. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

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    There will be plenty of anoxic environments under your algal and bacterial biofilms, plus a massive one in the pores of your rocks and sand. These are micro environments and the anaerobic bacteria will be there especially if you have used live rock.
     
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  5. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

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    Anerobic bacteria require nitrate, phosphate, an organic carbon source and a low oxygen environment. There are also some bacteria which are classed as denitrifiers that can live in aerobic environments.
     
  6. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

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    They need the nitrate for an oxygen source NO3, plus phosphate and carbon as part of a food source. Each chemical has to be in the right proportions.
     
  7. yheartsp

    yheartsp Purple Spiny Lobster

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    uh huh, i have all of that

    [​IMG]

    i mean my tank is one and a half month old, is it at it's full nitrate reducing capacity? or the denitrifying bacteria is still growing? :)
     
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  9. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

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    To answer your question, you need to know what your nitrate and phosphate levels are? Plus are you dosing a carbon source? Corals produce and excrete sugars (a carbon source) which the denitrifying bacteria feed on but with the usual amount of fish and inverts in a reef tank this won't be enough to fuel your bacteria to see there full benefit and reduce PO4 and NO3 to near zero levels. Thats where dosing a carbon source helps. You don't want to cause a bloom with bacteria as this will also affect oxygen levels in your tank as I mentioned before some organic bacteria can use O2 as a oxygen source not just NO3.
     
  10. yheartsp

    yheartsp Purple Spiny Lobster

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    my nitrate level is 15ppm, i'm not sure about my phosphate level but i'm sure i have it because there's a little bit of red slime algae going on in my sump, where the flow is smaller but none in my DT. what do you mean by carbon source? i only know i have activated carbon running in my sump since the starting of the tank but i havent chagned it since so i assume it's useless already, gonna decide if i still wanna run carbon in the future.. so what now? o_O
    and erm, is there any products for carbon source?
     
  11. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

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    How much carbon did you use and what is the volume of water in your system?
     
  12. invert phil

    invert phil Millepora

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