a dumb question

[Peter Pan]

I know this is a dumb question but here is goes: Does oxygenated water
reduce Nitrates?

[Wayne Sallee]

No oxygen does not reduce nitrates.

However on a similar note, ammonia degases fairly
well, so aeration will degas ammonia, thus less
ammonia to be converted into nitrates. In fact there
are degassing towers that are sometimes used in the
industry to degas ammonia, in fact that is one of
the advantages of a wet dry filter, it helps degas
ammonia, though I don't recommend a wet dry filter
for reef tank.

Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Peter Pan wrote on 5/16/2007 9:19 PM:
> I know this is a dumb question but here is goes: Does oxygenated water
> reduce Nitrates?
>
>

[Peter Pan]

> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.

Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
adding macro algea?
The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them under
15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a way I
could do even less and get the same results

[KurtG]

Peter Pan wrote:
>> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.
>
> Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
> adding macro algea?
> The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them under
> 15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a way I
> could do even less and get the same results
>
>

Read up on the nitrogen cycle:
http://faq.thekrib.com/begin-cycling.html

Denitrification occurs with bacteria in the absence of oxygen. Oxygen
starved bacteria pull the oxygen off of nitrate and release nitrogen gas
which out-gases from the water. This bacteria lives in deep sand beds
and in crevices of live rock.

--Kurt

[Wayne Sallee]

You should own at least one good book on reef
keeping. Any book on reef keeping will explain
denitrification.

Basically it is bacteria in low oxygen environments
like down in the sand, and deep in the live rock.
The oxygen is very low there, and so the bacteria
takes oxygen from nitrates, and converts it to
nitrites, and then converts the nitrites into
nitrogen gas.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Peter Pan wrote on 5/17/2007 4:14 PM:
>> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.
>
> Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
> adding macro algea?
> The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them under
> 15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a way I
> could do even less and get the same results
>
>

[Peter Pan]

Chemistry was never my strong suit, thats why I needed someone to break it
down for me. In other words I have no clue as to what you just wrote
"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
link.net...
> You should own at least one good book on reef keeping. Any book on reef
> keeping will explain denitrification.
>
> Basically it is bacteria in low oxygen environments like down in the sand,
> and deep in the live rock. The oxygen is very low there, and so the
> bacteria takes oxygen from nitrates, and converts it to nitrites, and then
> converts the nitrites into nitrogen gas.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
> Peter Pan wrote on 5/17/2007 4:14 PM:
>>> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.
>>
>> Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
>> adding macro algea?
>> The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them under
>> 15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a way I
>> could do even less and get the same results

[Pondmeister]

Well if its a dumb question then it ought to be right up Waynes and
Pszemols alley......



On Thu, 17 May 2007 17:14:59 -0400, "Peter Pan" >
wrote:

<<>>
<<>>> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.
<<>>
<<>>Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
<<>>adding macro algea?
<<>>The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them under
<<>>15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a way I
<<>>could do even less and get the same results
<<>>



-------
I forgot more about ponds and koi than I'll ever know!

[Wayne Sallee]

Ok,

Nitrate NO3

Nitrite NO2

Nitrogen N2

Bacteria in a low oxygen environment takes oxygen
away from NO3 making it NO2, and then bacteria takes
oxygen from NO2, making it N2.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Peter Pan wrote on 5/17/2007 7:32 PM:
> Chemistry was never my strong suit, thats why I needed someone to break it
> down for me. In other words I have no clue as to what you just wrote
> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
> link.net...
>> You should own at least one good book on reef keeping. Any book on reef
>> keeping will explain denitrification.
>>
>> Basically it is bacteria in low oxygen environments like down in the sand,
>> and deep in the live rock. The oxygen is very low there, and so the
>> bacteria takes oxygen from nitrates, and converts it to nitrites, and then
>> converts the nitrites into nitrogen gas.
>>
>> Wayne Sallee
>> Wayne's Pets
>>
>>
>> Peter Pan wrote on 5/17/2007 4:14 PM:
>>>> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.
>>> Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
>>> adding macro algea?
>>> The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them under
>>> 15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a way I
>>> could do even less and get the same results
>
>

[Peter Pan]

Wayne,
I understand that this is the chemical breakdown, at least I understand it
to a point, but I still dont know is there anything I need to do or was this
a simple chemistry lesson.

"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
link.net...
> Ok,
>
> Nitrate NO3
>
> Nitrite NO2
>
> Nitrogen N2
>
> Bacteria in a low oxygen environment takes oxygen away from NO3 making it
> NO2, and then bacteria takes oxygen from NO2, making it N2.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
> Peter Pan wrote on 5/17/2007 7:32 PM:
>> Chemistry was never my strong suit, thats why I needed someone to break
>> it down for me. In other words I have no clue as to what you just wrote
>> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
>> link.net...
>>> You should own at least one good book on reef keeping. Any book on reef
>>> keeping will explain denitrification.
>>>
>>> Basically it is bacteria in low oxygen environments like down in the
>>> sand, and deep in the live rock. The oxygen is very low there, and so
>>> the bacteria takes oxygen from nitrates, and converts it to nitrites,
>>> and then converts the nitrites into nitrogen gas.
>>>
>>> Wayne Sallee
>>> Wayne's Pets
>>>
>>>
>>> Peter Pan wrote on 5/17/2007 4:14 PM:
>>>>> Denitrification (low oxygen) reduces nitrates.
>>>> Thanks Wayne, can you explain Denitrification for me? Does this mean
>>>> adding macro algea?
>>>> The end result is I would like to reduce my nitrates. I keep them
>>>> under 15pmm via 1/3 water changes each month. I was hoping there was a
>>>> way I could do even less and get the same results
>>

[George Patterson]

Peter Pan wrote:

> I understand that this is the chemical breakdown, at least I understand it
> to a point, but I still dont know is there anything I need to do or was this
> a simple chemistry lesson.

What *you* have to do is provide the low-oxygen environment that is conducive to
the growth of this type of bacteria. A good quantity of live rock and sufficient
water flow is one environment. A deep sand bed under the right circumstances is
another. The so-called "nitrate reactor" is another. Be aware that this type of
bacteria will take months to become established. The live rock route is favorite
because, with any luck, there will be a small starter colony of bacteria in the
rock.

George Patterson
If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
to anything.

[Wayne Sallee]

It's a common conception that this can only be done
by bacteria that can't live in a well oxygenated
environment, but I don't agree to that. In other
words, a collony of aerobic bacteria placed in a low
oxygen environment will reduce nitrates. That is my
belief. I could be wrong, but I don't think I am. So
while it takes time to get an establishment of
bacteria growing,it does not take much time to cause
a colony of aerobic bacteria to change it's protocal
to work towads reducing nitrates, by changing the
enviroment so that the bacteria is in low oxygen levels.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


George Patterson wrote on 5/18/2007 8:34 PM:
> Peter Pan wrote:
>
>> I understand that this is the chemical breakdown, at least I
>> understand it to a point, but I still dont know is there anything I
>> need to do or was this a simple chemistry lesson.
>
> What *you* have to do is provide the low-oxygen environment that is
> conducive to the growth of this type of bacteria. A good quantity of
> live rock and sufficient water flow is one environment. A deep sand bed
> under the right circumstances is another. The so-called "nitrate
> reactor" is another. Be aware that this type of bacteria will take
> months to become established. The live rock route is favorite because,
> with any luck, there will be a small starter colony of bacteria in the
> rock.
>
> George Patterson
> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
> to anything.

[Peter Pan]

OK So what should I do. So far everyone has offered an opinion as to how
things happen, but no one has said what needs to be done. Can someone please
tell me what to do in simple terms.
Thank you
"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
link.net...
> It's a common conception that this can only be done by bacteria that can't
> live in a well oxygenated environment, but I don't agree to that. In other
> words, a collony of aerobic bacteria placed in a low oxygen environment
> will reduce nitrates. That is my belief. I could be wrong, but I don't
> think I am. So while it takes time to get an establishment of bacteria
> growing,it does not take much time to cause a colony of aerobic bacteria
> to change it's protocal to work towads reducing nitrates, by changing the
> enviroment so that the bacteria is in low oxygen levels.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
> George Patterson wrote on 5/18/2007 8:34 PM:
>> Peter Pan wrote:
>>
>>> I understand that this is the chemical breakdown, at least I understand
>>> it to a point, but I still dont know is there anything I need to do or
>>> was this a simple chemistry lesson.
>>
>> What *you* have to do is provide the low-oxygen environment that is
>> conducive to the growth of this type of bacteria. A good quantity of live
>> rock and sufficient water flow is one environment. A deep sand bed under
>> the right circumstances is another. The so-called "nitrate reactor" is
>> another. Be aware that this type of bacteria will take months to become
>> established. The live rock route is favorite because, with any luck,
>> there will be a small starter colony of bacteria in the rock.
>>
>> George Patterson
>> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
>> to anything.

[Wayne Sallee]

What you can do is to have more live rock, and more
live sand.

Wayne Sallee
Wayne's Pets


Peter Pan wrote on 5/19/2007 9:20 PM:
> OK So what should I do. So far everyone has offered an opinion as to how
> things happen, but no one has said what needs to be done. Can someone please
> tell me what to do in simple terms.
> Thank you
> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
> link.net...
>> It's a common conception that this can only be done by bacteria that can't
>> live in a well oxygenated environment, but I don't agree to that. In other
>> words, a collony of aerobic bacteria placed in a low oxygen environment
>> will reduce nitrates. That is my belief. I could be wrong, but I don't
>> think I am. So while it takes time to get an establishment of bacteria
>> growing,it does not take much time to cause a colony of aerobic bacteria
>> to change it's protocal to work towads reducing nitrates, by changing the
>> enviroment so that the bacteria is in low oxygen levels.
>>
>> Wayne Sallee
>> Wayne's Pets
>>
>>
>> George Patterson wrote on 5/18/2007 8:34 PM:
>>> Peter Pan wrote:
>>>
>>>> I understand that this is the chemical breakdown, at least I understand
>>>> it to a point, but I still dont know is there anything I need to do or
>>>> was this a simple chemistry lesson.
>>> What *you* have to do is provide the low-oxygen environment that is
>>> conducive to the growth of this type of bacteria. A good quantity of live
>>> rock and sufficient water flow is one environment. A deep sand bed under
>>> the right circumstances is another. The so-called "nitrate reactor" is
>>> another. Be aware that this type of bacteria will take months to become
>>> established. The live rock route is favorite because, with any luck,
>>> there will be a small starter colony of bacteria in the rock.
>>>
>>> George Patterson
>>> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
>>> to anything.
>
>

[Peter Pan]

Thank you Wayne
"Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
link.net...
> What you can do is to have more live rock, and more live sand.
>
> Wayne Sallee
> Wayne's Pets
>
>
> Peter Pan wrote on 5/19/2007 9:20 PM:
>> OK So what should I do. So far everyone has offered an opinion as to how
>> things happen, but no one has said what needs to be done. Can someone
>> please tell me what to do in simple terms.
>> Thank you
>> "Wayne Sallee" > wrote in message
>> link.net...
>>> It's a common conception that this can only be done by bacteria that
>>> can't live in a well oxygenated environment, but I don't agree to that.
>>> In other words, a collony of aerobic bacteria placed in a low oxygen
>>> environment will reduce nitrates. That is my belief. I could be wrong,
>>> but I don't think I am. So while it takes time to get an establishment
>>> of bacteria growing,it does not take much time to cause a colony of
>>> aerobic bacteria to change it's protocal to work towads reducing
>>> nitrates, by changing the enviroment so that the bacteria is in low
>>> oxygen levels.
>>>
>>> Wayne Sallee
>>> Wayne's Pets
>>>
>>>
>>> George Patterson wrote on 5/18/2007 8:34 PM:
>>>> Peter Pan wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I understand that this is the chemical breakdown, at least I
>>>>> understand it to a point, but I still dont know is there anything I
>>>>> need to do or was this a simple chemistry lesson.
>>>> What *you* have to do is provide the low-oxygen environment that is
>>>> conducive to the growth of this type of bacteria. A good quantity of
>>>> live rock and sufficient water flow is one environment. A deep sand bed
>>>> under the right circumstances is another. The so-called "nitrate
>>>> reactor" is another. Be aware that this type of bacteria will take
>>>> months to become established. The live rock route is favorite because,
>>>> with any luck, there will be a small starter colony of bacteria in the
>>>> rock.
>>>>
>>>> George Patterson
>>>> If you torture the data long enough, eventually it will confess
>>>> to anything.
>>