a dumb question

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.