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.